News from Assembly Minority Leader Brian M. Kolb
Assembly Office:
933 Legislative Office Building • Albany, NY 12248 • (518) 455-3751
District Offices:
607 West Washington Street • Suite 2 • Geneva, NY 14456 • (315) 781-2030
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For Release: IMMEDIATELY, February 1, 2013
Contact: Doug Finch (315) 781-2030
Gov. Cuomo's 2013-14 Executive Budget: Springboard For A Serious Dialogue On Economic Development And Government Reform In The Empire State
Legislative Column from Assembly Minority Leader Brian M. Kolb (R,C,I-Canandaigua)

Gov. Andrew Cuomo recently delivered his State of the State Speech and presented his 2013-14 Executive Budget, events that marked the beginning of the 2013 Legislative Session. As we continue to analyze the information and the details of the governor's budget, I am encouraged by his commitment to keeping the growth in state spending under two percent and closing the estimated budget deficit of $1.35 billion.

Creating quality jobs; reducing unfunded mandates on school districts and local governments; shrinking the size and cost of state government; ensuring a quality education for students in low-wealth, high-need districts; reducing the tax burden on families and businesses; and regulatory reform are among the key themes I was listening for during the governor's Executive Budget presentation. Based on my initial snapshot, in this column I will outline three areas where I believe Albany needs to go further – reducing the tax burden on hard-working families and small businesses, shrinking the size and cost of state government and providing unfunded mandate relief. By focusing on these priorities, Albany will be taking a step in the right direction toward much-needed government reforms.

1. ALBANY MUST DO MORE TO HELP TAXPAYERS, FAMILIES AND SMALL BUSINESSES

As a gap closing measure, the 2009-10 State budget created a new 1% surcharge called the Temporary Utility Service Conservation Assessment under section 18-A of the Public Service Law, which I opposed. This assessment is a tax charged to utility companies, but is ultimately handed down to business and residential customers. This temporary 18-A assessment is a frustrating example of what is, in laymen's terms, a tax without a purpose. In a June 11, 2012 article in Forbes titled 'The Nasty Truth About Energy Taxes in the Empire State,' contributor William Pentland characterized these assessments as being "straight out of the dark ages of state-run utilities."

The bottom line: every bill you pay to keep the lights on at your home contains this 'assessment.' This costs New Yorkers more than $500 million per year, and your valuable money is not even dedicated for a specific program - it is dumped into the state's General Fund. The "temporary" assessment is set to expire at the end of the year, but Gov. Cuomo is proposing that New Yorkers continue to foot the bill for an additional five years. I offered a repeal of the temporary 18-A assessment as a smart solution to last year's state budget, but it was rejected. We need to flip the switch OFF on this unnecessary 'assessment' and reduce these types of onerous taxes and fees on already overburdened families and businesses. I think the State Budget should not be balanced on the backs of utility customers.

2. WE MUST WORK TO REDUCE THE SIZE AND COST OF GOVERNMENT

Last May, I was the first legislative leader to call on the New York State Thruway Authority to put a stop to its proposed toll hike on trucks, and I am committed to working with my colleagues to fix the chronic problems at the broken Thruway Authority. I introduced the 'Thruway Authority Accountability Act' (A.2088) to end unnecessary toll hikes that put jobs at risk, giving drivers on the Thruway peace of mind that their tolls are being used wisely.

My proposal merges the Thruway Authority with the State Department of Transportation (DOT); creates a new Thruway Authority Board whose members must have either transportation or financial expertise (or both); makes the DOT commissioner chair of the Thruway Authority Board; sets a forensic audit of Thruway Authority finances every three years; requires any proposed Thruway toll hikes to be clearly identified in the DOT's budget; and streamlines the authority through attrition. New York taxpayers deserve to have an effective state government that is responsive to their needs and spends every tax dollar wisely. This reform is a good first step.

3. PROTECT NEW YORK TAXPAYERS, SCHOOL DISTRICTS AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS BY STOPPING UNFUNDED MANDATES

When Albany tells local governments to do something – start a program or offer a service – but does not provide any funding for it, the local taxpayers have to pick up the bill. Mandate relief would stop this financially destructive practice. While the governor did open the door for this conversation, Albany must do more to reduce the crushing burden on local governments and school districts.

Small steps are good, but Albany must go further. My "Taxpayer Protection and Mandate Relief Act" and the "New York State Mandate Relief for School Districts Act" are the most comprehensive mandate relief proposals ever introduced in the New York State Legislature. These bills are designed to protect taxpayers, school districts and local governments from budget-busting unfunded mandates.

THE NEXT STEP: STARTING A DISCUSSION WITH YOU, THE TAXPAYER

Legislators in Albany must consider the needs of county and local officials, school districts as well as small businesses and taxpayers during the budget hearings currently underway in Albany. Convened by fiscal committees in the Assembly and Senate and this year held through February 27th, the purpose of these meetings is to take testimony on the Governor's Executive Budget proposals from State Agency officials and interested organizations. We must engage in meaningful discussion and analysis of our state's needs with an eye toward creating a budget that will serve all 19 million New Yorkers. The proposed reforms must actually get the job done, lowering taxes for families and small businesses, shrinking the size and cost of state government and reducing the crushing pressure on local governments and school districts. In the coming weeks, we will continue to analyze the governor's proposals. The good news is that this is not the final budget, just the starting point.

While the budget hearings are being held in Albany, I would like to hear more from local families and businesses in the Finger Lakes about their views on the Executive Budget. What do you think? I want to hear from you. Send me your feedback, suggestions and ideas regarding this or any other issue facing New York State. You can always contact my district office at (315) 781-2030 or e-mail me at kolbb@assembly.state.ny.us.