BUFFALO - Fredonia Mayor Michael Sullivan joined Attorney General Andrew M. Cuomo Thursday to applaud the enactment of the "New N.Y. Government Reorganization and Citizen Empowerment Act." Cuomo was in Buffalo to demonstrate how the legislation gives citizens and local officials the power to cut the nation's highest local taxes by consolidating and dissolving the numerous layers of local government that exist in the state today.
The historic measure, authored by Cuomo, overwhelmingly passed both houses of the Legislature with bipartisan support and was signed into law on June 25.
Cuomo also announced the creation of a new interactive Web site to help New Yorkers learn about and use the new law.
"This law is all about empowering taxpayers. After 75 years of studies and failed efforts at reform, communities across the state now have a powerful new tool for cutting government waste and slashing the highest local taxes in the nation," said Cuomo.
"Today we are instituting real and lasting reform and ushering in a new era of greater public involvement and more efficient governing across New York state. My office will also continue working to provide the resources to help New Yorkers help themselves."
The Web site www.reformnygov.com is a single source for information regarding the new law. The site features:
New interactive maps detailing the number of local governments and special districts in each county;
Sample petitions to help citizens initiate the process;
Two simple step-by-step instruction guides as to how the process works: one for citizens and another for local officials;
Interactive communication features to connect citizens across the state allowing them to share ideas about reorganizing local government.
Cuomo's "New N.Y. Government Reorganization and Citizen Empowerment Act," is designed to cut government waste, reduce taxes, and provide vital services in a more efficient manner. Today, there are more than 10,500 governmental entities imposing taxes and fees across New York state. This includes towns, villages, districts, and special districts such as water, sewer, and lighting districts. These numerous overlapping governments saddle residents with the nation's highest local taxes.
The new comprehensive law streamlines the often Byzantine and cumbersome process for consolidating and dissolving local governmental entities, including the myriad special districts across the state. The new law does not mandate reorganization of local governments; rather, it empowers citizens, local officials, and counties to make these decisions themselves.
Assemblyman Sam Hoyt, Chair of the Assembly's Committee on Local Governments, said, "Attorney General Cuomo's law gives communities across New York state the power, if they choose, to initiate the once-burdensome process of consolidation. With today's announcement, Attorney General Cuomo's Office is making sure that citizens and local elected officials have the information at hand to bring about real change. As chair of the Assembly's committee on local governments and member of the Lundine Commission, I am honored to have helped usher this measure into action."
Fredonia Mayor Sullivan said, "The issue of consolidation is not a partisan issue. Local elected officials need to work with citizens to bring about change to improve the way we provide services in New York. The same old way of doing business has not been working very well and the changes which the Attorney General drafted and has now succeeded in getting adopted in New York will open the door for citizens to lead their local officials toward necessary change."
As the state's chief legal officer, Attorney General Cuomo is often tasked with advising local governments on the laws regulating them. It became clear that existing laws were filled with inconsistencies and complexities making meaningful reform virtually unattainable. The law repeals and amends these outdated laws to allow for meaningful reform of local governments throughout the state.
