The New York State Association of Counties is asking the governor and Legislature to boost funding to reimburse counties and other local governments for the cost of maintaining and rebuilding local roads and bridges. The state has a five-year freeze on funding for the Consolidated Highway Improvement Program—CHIPS—and Marchiselli state-federal… Read More →
Acting State Inspector General Catherine Leahy Scott released four reports this week alleging malfeasances on the part of public employees. Here are the details on four separate investigations: —Yesterday, she announced the arrest of a state Department of Transportation employee who is accused of stealing scrap metal from a DOT facility,... Read More →
More than a quarter of tax filers in all but one state do not pay any income taxes, according to a recent analysis by The Tax Foundation, a nonpartisan tax research group. In many states, well over a third of tax filers do not owe income taxes. One third… Read More →
The state’s network of regional education agencies, called the Board of Cooperative Educational Services, spends close to $3 billion a year on special education, career and technical education, and back-office support for local school districts around the state. Supported by local property taxes and state aid, the agencies routinely overcharge… Read More →
The leader of the statewide teachers’ union said Friday the organization is preparing to challenge in court the state-mandated property-tax cap. During a radio interview Friday, New York State United Teachers President Richard Iannuzzi said, “We will go to court” over the tax cap, which has limited school districts’ revenue…. Read More →
Government and Metro-North officials held a ribbon-cutting ceremony yesterday on a nearly $40 million project to renovate the Tarrytown train station, which serves almost 6,000 people a day, The Journal News/Lohud.com reports today. The improvements include new platforms and canopies, heated shelters, a new overpass and a wireless monitor that gives… Read More →
Westchester County officials estimate they will save more than $400,000 annually as a result of the recent decision to relocate parts of the Health Department to county-owned buildings and reduce the department’s leased space in New Rochelle, The Journal News/Lohud.com reports today. With additional department downsizings and lease changes, the county… Read More →
The state Thruway Authority expects to meet soon on a potential toll increase for New York’s superhighway system but the amount of the hike appears unclear. Thruway Authority Executive Director Thomas Madison said Thursday he expects the authority will go ahead with a toll increase but declined to say if… Read More →
In a report released this afternoon, Gov. Andrew Cuomo declares the first year of the cap on the property-tax levy in New York a success. Ninety-five percent of school districts—642 of 678—and 81 percent of local governments that reported a proposed levy—1,944 of 2,399—stayed within the cap, according to the… Read More →
Homeowners in a neighborhood off Bedford Road in Pleasantville received bills for $543.21 from the Water Department this month to fix a water line that serves 14 houses, The Journal News/Lohud.com reports today. A pipe at the intersection of Locust Road and Park Street recently broke, and the repair bill… Read More →
