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HomeMy WebLinkAboutSupervisor Desch to State Senator SewardFINAL TOWN OF ITHACA DISPOSITION DATE 1:26 EAST SOIECA STRRT (K ITHACA, NEW YORK J 14850 February 26, 1988 Honorable James L. Seward New York State Senator 809 Legislative Office Building Albany, New York 12247 Dear Mr. Seward: There are a number of disturbing signals caning out of the Governor's budget. The most serious deficiency is the lack of understanding of the needs of Towns for a more appropriate share of State revenue sharing. Governor Cuano has had an entire year to look at the Senate proposal to increase and more properly distribute State aid an now a further misunderstanding with regard to the use of CHIPS money. Saneone in his office ought to look at trends in Town/City/County tax rates to see vhat the root causes are for the major increases in the past two to three years. Ironically, it is due to a lack of proper State support in all those areas the Governor now treats as low priority, i.e., solid waste handling and disposal, local infrastructure and effective local government. In the case of CHIPS, the idea to use it for bridges is ludicrous. The Tcwns in Tatpkins County do not repair or replace bridges. The County has always had an excellent program for this. Furthermore, the current program is working extremely well. It is non-bureaucratic, provides the right incentives and the Tcwn Highway Superintendents like it. Vfe finally have a program that works. VJhy taiiper with it? I agree with your approach to aid for education and your interest in State support for the construction and operation of solid waste facilities. If there is anything I can do to help in this matter, please let me know. Finally, can you let me know the status of our request for special legislation with regard to the use of our share of County sales tax for Fire Protection District appropriations. Why should cities be able to do this and not Towns? Those viio might argue that Fire Honorable James L. Seward 2 February 26, 1988 Protection Districts are really iirprovement districts are wrong. They should check more closely. Towns having Fire Protection Districts are not authorized to issue debt for the functions performed in those districts. We, as you know, contract with the City of Ithaca for fire protection. Thanks for you very able assistance. Very truly yo\irs. Noel Desch Supervisor ND/js r- wJ 9 enate I^eport from Senator James L. Seward 50th District — Otsego, Northern Chenango, Cortland, Tompklns and Cayuga Counties District OUice: 41 South Main Street, Oneonta, N.Y. 13820 Oneonto (607) 432-5624 - Albany (518) 455-3131 - Auburn (315) 252-7585 - Ithaca (607) 272-3403 THE GOVERNOR'S BUDGET CREATES HILL STREET BLUES • • • The action has been intense in the Albany precinct. The Captain has released his 1988-89 budget, setting the stage for legislative action between now and April I. Major points: — an 8 percent increase in state spending from the same Governor who last year proposed an annual cap on spending increases of 5.6% ; — an increase in per diem reimbursement to counties for housing state ready inmates; — a $325 million increase in aid to education (this is $75 million less than what he proposed last year, and half of what the Legislature appro priated for the current year); — a freeze on revenue sharing aid to local governments; — no state financial assistance for constructing landfills, trans fer stations, or recycling centers; — expansion in Medicaid eligibility to provide state sponsored health insurance for 90,000 people at or near the federal poverty level at a cost of $76 million annually, to be split between the state and counties; — restricting CHIPS money (road and bridge aid to local govern ments) for use only on bridge reconstruction and repair. — assorted financial programs for AIDS, child care, universal pre-K programs, the homeless, land acquisition for parks, welfare employment initia tives, expanded Medicare coverage, an SSI increase, and new drug interdiction programs, .to name only a few. SLEDGE HAMMER! That's what local governments will need to get money out of Albany this year. That's because the Governor's budget has two distinct themes: the "Decade of the Child" and the "Year of Property Tax Hikes," Here's why: the Governor has proposed significant new financial burdens on local governments without offering them a penny's worth of finan cial assistance. By freezing revenue sharing aid and at the same time requir ing major new local spending on garbage disposal and Medicaid, for instance, the Governor is ensuring property tax increases for homeowners across the state. In addition, I have always maintained that school aid from Albany, based on the broad revenue sources of income and sales, helps to reduce pressure on the school property tax. And for senior citizens and young families, keeping a lid on school taxes is a vital element of tax justice. ADDITIONAL STATE AID: MISSION IMPOSSIBLE? The traditional position of the Senate Majority is that when state government hands down mandates to local government, the state should hand down some money to pay for them. Unfortunately, the Governor does not agree. I have sponsored legislation with Senator Owen Johnson, Chairman of the Senate Social Services Committee, that would freeze the counties' share of Medicaid costs at the 1987 level. If we agree to expand Medicaid eligibility, the state should pick up the tab, period. You may want to write to the Governor and urge him to support increased financial aid for local govern ments. Or you may wish to express your views in person at public hearings being held in Syracuse on February 19 or in Albany on March 2. Contact the Senate Committee on Local Government at 518-455-3181 for additional informa tion. TAX CUTS MAY ELIMINATE HEED FOR ''MOONLIGHTING" Fiscal year 1988-89 will include the second stage of the Senate Republican tax cuts that were initiated last year. Those tax cuts will reduce paycheck bite by over 1 billion dollars 1 That means more money in your pocket for savings, spending or investing. But overall state revenues are expected to grow by $ 1,7 billion, excluding the state's $850 million "Infrastructure Trust Fund," which is targeted for state roads and bridges and low income housing improvements. That means that that Senate Republicans were correct all along ~ tax cuts generate more state revenues. My view is that we still have some tax cutting to do: — dropping the state sales tax on clothing purchases of less than — giving taxpayers a direct tax credit for their school tax pay- $75; and ments. Returning tax dollars to their rightful owners — taxpayers — is an important aspect of family financial security. A BRAT. "CRIME STORY" ... is our alarming shortage of volunteer firemen and emergency medical technicians, especially in rural areas. Training requirements and associated expenses make volunteering very unattractive. As Vice Chairman of the Senate Task Force on Emergency Volunteer Services, I took part in hearings around New York last fall on ways to maintain and increase our important and vital volunteer forces. The Task Force is prepar ing legislation to address these problems and will release its legislative agenda within the next month. Without a full complement of volunteers in rural areas, many people are at risk. Whether it is a heart attack, an auto accident, or a mishap in the home — our rural residents need to know that help is on the way. By providing appropriate state financial assistance, we can help with costly purchases of equipment and clothing. Stay tuned. RIGHT HEAT • • • ... is available only when we have an affordable and adequate supply of energy to heat our homes. As Chairman of the Senate Energy Committee, I will oversee the Senate's legislative agenda on energy issues. On tap: — overhaul of the state's regulations on telecommunications; — coordinated energy planning; — phasing out the utility gross receipts tax (GRT). Already this year, we have renegotiated hydropower contracts that In essence keep inexpensive hydropower upstate, helping to reduce pressure on your electric bill, AND FINALLY — Please be sure to contact me when you have questions or need assis tance with a state related problem. My offices are here to help. TOWN OF ITHACA FINAL 126 EAST SENECA STRBH DISPOSITION DATE March 30, 1988 Honorable James L. Seward State Senator New York State Senate Roan 809 Legislative Office Building Albany, New York 12247 Dear Senator Seward: This is in response to your letter of March 23 on the matter of the possibility of another bond issue for road and bridge repairs, I personally am opposed to the State of New York assuming more debt for this purpose because the useful life of much of vtot will be done will be too short in relation to the probable retiranent schedule. The real issue is the inadequacy of the State Department of Transportation operating budget. Let's face up to the resolution of that issue as a hi^er priority than many other far less vrorthwhile operations. We clearly should not be using a State wide borrowing for an upgrade to the New York State mass transit system. If the State restores the local subsidy for mass transit, I would prefer to see a gasoline tax levied to support the New York City problem. I now this won't be popular but gasoline prices are unrealistically lew. Good luck. Very truly yours. Noel Desch Supervisor ND/js NEW YORK STATE SENATE ALBANY. NEWYORK 12247 ♦A (ft JAMES L SEWARD SENATOR SOTH DISTRICT ROOM 609 LEGISLATIVE OFFICE SLOG. ALBANY, N.Y. 12247 Harch 23, 1988 Mr. Noel Desch 132 Updike Road Itnaca, New York 14850 Dear Mr. Desch: A major problem facing New York is the condition of our roads and bridges. Several years ago, voters of the state approved a $1.2 billion bond issue to finance the reconstruction of our highways, bridges, canals, airports and New York City's mass transit system. At the time, many of us were concerned about our roads and incurring debt to pay for what should be routine, annual road repair. Unfortunately, the problem is still with us. Last year, because of a substantial State Budget surplus, the Legislature set aside $850 million, called the "Infrastructure Trust Fund," part of which will be used for state road and bridge repair. Now, some legislators are suggesting that may not be enough. Several state leaders have proposed a $3 billion bond issue in 1988 to finance road and bridge repair. The proceeds of the bond issue, added to a portion of the $850 million Trust Fund, would pay for the reconstruction of state roads and bridges, and local bridges, over the next several years. I would very much appreciate your opinion on this issue. Certainly, New York is a large state and can claim (to our advantage) a substantial transportation network. But the maintenance and repair of our network can be costly. Is a bond issue the proper approach? Or should we budget an annual euaount, even if other programs must be sacrificed? If you would like to share your opinion with me on this issue, please write to me at the State Senate, Albany, New York 12247, and pass along your thoughts. I appreciate having the benefit of your views. Sincerely, T JAMES L. SEWARD State Senator JLS:cm FINAL TOWN OF ITHACA disposition date 126 EAST SENECA snm ITHACA, NEW YORK 14SS0 21, 1989 Honorable James L. Seward New York State Senator 41 South Main Street Oneonta, New York 13820 Dear Jim: Congratulations on getting the State budget ^3provedI It sounds like a reasonable cotprcmise has been reached. My purpose in writing is to ask about the status of our request to have a local bill introduced that would permit the Town of Ithaca to use our share of the County sales tax, in part, to reduce Fire Protection District taxes. As we pointed out last year, this is the part of our budget vhere the greatest upward pressure is expected to continue. With the large amount of tcix exesnnpt property in our district, sales tax as a source of revenue is more consistent with the source of the demand for higher levels of protection. In the case of the Tcwn of Ithaca, our Fire Protection District is oo-terminous with the boundarys of the Tcwn outside the Village of Cayuga Heists and we already have authority to use sales tax for part-tcwn purposes. There is sane notion that a Fire Protection District is a benefit district. That would be fine but there is no authority to charge for fire protection on a benefit basis as with water and sever. Ihere is also no authority for a Town with a Fire Protection District to finance capital improvements so ve have a catch 22 situation. Please let me knew v^t additional information ycu may need. I believe sonething was introduced last year. Very truly yours. Noel Desch Supervisor ND/js