Editor's note: For a PDF file of tables
showing proposed tax and spending increases in individual school districts
in New York State, see www.ppinys.org/taxes/schooltax2007.pdf.
Or, to receive e-mailed information on any specific school districts.
ALBANY—Armed with a record increase in state aid, school districts
across New York State plan to increase average per-pupil spending by twice
the rate of inflation, a new "School Tax Watch" study by the
Public Policy Institute finds
Governor Eliot Spitzer has proposed broad changes to the
state's Wicks Law and other mandates that increase
local taxpayer burdens.
“This legislation enacts necessary measures to reduce
the heavy financial burden, ease the cumbersome workload,
and roll back the excessive mandates that for too long have
handcuffed New York State's local governments,” said
Governor Spitzer
The state Department of Insurance has made "substantial
progress" in its efforts to put administrative policies
in place that are considered key components of the landmark
workers' compensation reform agreement announced earlier
this year
New Yorker's will celebrate Tax Freedom Day on May
16th this year – the second latest freedom day in
the nation, according to an analysis from the Taxpayer Foundation.
The analysis, America Celebrates Tax Freedom Day, calculates
the date on which taxpayers have earned enough to pay federal,
state and local taxes
G. Thomas Tranter, president of Corning Enterprises and
chairman of The Business Council's government affairs
council, has been appointed to a newly-created commission
studying local government consolidation.
The Commission on Local Government Efficiency and Competitiveness
was created by Governor Spitzer through an executive order
on April 23
A report analyzing states' progress in moving to
a technology and innovation-driven economy gave New York
high marks for knowledge, technology and innovation.
The report, The 2007 State New Economy Index,
which was released by the Information Technology and Innovation
Foundation in cooperation with the Kauffman Foundation,
measured 26 different factors across five categories to
give each state its final index score
The new state budget reduces New York's primary business-tax
rate and provides especially significant tax cuts for thousands
of manufacturing companies, while substantially reducing
new tax costs that had been proposed for banks
New York State's 6,927 "special districts"
cost the average New York household $257 a year and contribute
to taxpayer confusion, according to a new report from state
Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli.
“As towns respond to increasing demands and property
tax pressures, they need to evaluate the methods they use
to deliver services
ALBANY—Randy Putnam, president and chief operating officer of Specialty
Silicon Products, Inc., of Ballston Spa in Saratoga County, has been presented
with the 2007 Small Business Advocate of the year award.
The award, sponsored by The Business Council of New York State and the
Chamber Alliance of New York State, is given to to recognize an individual
from the small business community who makes extraordinary efforts to persuade
Albany to enact policies that will improve New York's business climate
for small businesses
Small businesses should be encouraged and fostered by New
York government, Senate Majority Leader Joseph Bruno told
participants at The Business Council's Annual Small
Business Day at the Empire State Plaza on March 27.
“The most important aspect of what goes on in New
York State revolves around you,” Senator Bruno told
the nearly 250 participants