Assemblyman Will Barclay
124th Assembly District Fulton Community Update

photo Assemblyman Barclay reads to a classroom of Fulton students.
Barclay Delivers Record School Aid!

As your Assemblyman, providing quality education to our children and providing property tax relief are two of my top priorities. This year, to stabilize property taxes and help our schools, I fought to increase school aid in the 2007-2008 Budget. The good news is that in this year’s budget, Fulton City School District’s state aid increases by $2 million! This additional aid will keep school tax levies down and will continue to support Fulton City School District in providing a first rate education.

Middle-Class STAR Reminder

photo The new Middle-Class STAR helps to ease property tax burden for homeowners.
Attention homeowners: Don’t forget about this new program! It provides direct property tax relief by sending you a State rebate check for a portion of your school taxes. The rebate is provided to all homeowners currently enrolled in the STAR program with household incomes less than $250,000. If you are already in the Enhanced STAR program, your rebate check will be automatically mailed to you. If you are in the Basic STAR program, the state Department of Taxation and Finance will notify you of the application process. Taxation and Finance will inform you how to obtain an application. Qualifying homeowners have until November 30, 2007 to apply for their rebate. If you have any questions, call the New York State Department of Taxation and Finance 1-877-678-2769 or visit their Website at www.nystax.gov.

Keeping Oswego Safe

I recently teamed up with the Oswego County Sheriff’s Department to purchase a new software program called Offender Watch. Once this program is fully operational, it will allow the Sheriff’s Department to enter a sex offender’s information into a database and monitor their movement in the county. Offender Watch also provides a website where the public can: access a listing of all registered level 2 and 3 sex offenders living in the county; sign up to receive e-mail or mailed notifications when an offender moves within a one-mile buffer of an address that is important to you; and receive automatic notification of registered sex offenders’ movement on more than one address, such as a child’s school, playground or a relative’s home.

I am pleased that I was able to assist with the purchase of this program. Offender Watch is a great way to keep the community informed and to keep our children away from these dangerous predators.

Working to Lower Property Taxes

The state can help ease homeowners’ tax liability in several ways. I am working in Albany to enact my "New York State Property Taxpayer Protection Plan." This plan provides for real property tax reform and relief by limiting the property tax burden on homeowners and businesses; relieving school districts of unfunded mandates; reducing county Medicaid costs; strengthening financial accountability over school tax dollars; promoting local government efficiency and encouraging (a local option) insurance pooling for municipalities. The general idea behind these measures is to cut costs and control spending, which, in turn, will reduce property tax burdens.


Listening to You...
photo Assemblyman Barclay converses with constituents at the Fulton town hall meeting.
Since first getting elected to office, I have always enjoyed meeting with constituents on a regular basis. These meetings keep me informed on the issues that are important to you and it allows me to let you know what I am working on in Albany. Earlier in the summer, I held a constituent outreach meeting in Fulton.

For me the message was clear - we must reform how we conduct business in Albany. We need to improve transparency in state government and move away from "three men in a room." I will continue to work on reform that will improve the Assembly Committee structure, allow for legislation to make it to the floor if it has widespread support and shift more power to rank and file members. We have had victories in the past and I will continue to fight for further reform.

Another big issue discussed at the meeting was property taxes. High property taxes are the number one complaint that I hear from constituents. It is clear that we need to further address this growing problem. This year, I was pleased that the state legislature was able to provide record school aid while doubling the STAR Rebate program. I know that this is not a permanent fix, but I think it is a start to providing relief to taxpayers.

Lastly, this meeting was an opportunity for constituents to use my office to obtain assistance in cutting through the red tape that accompanies the bureaucracy of government. Several attendees required assistance with government agencies or needed information on legislation and my office was able to directly provide the help needed. I’m proud that my office provides excellent constituent services and I welcome you to contact my office if we can be of assistance.

I would like to thank those individuals who made it to my meeting. If you were unable to attend, but need assistance with a state-related matter, please feel free to contact my office.

Economic Development

I support legislation aimed at reducing the tax burden and supported successful efforts to cut the Corporate Franchise Tax by $55 million fully effective for manufacturers this year. This move will help create manufacturing jobs and allow companies to reinvest savings into the local economy. Employers are now realizing savings on their Workers’ Compensation premiums, thanks to measures I fought to have passed earlier this year which lowered costs while improving benefits.

photo The new ethanol plant in Volney, scheduled to be online next year, will provide jobs and independence from foreign energy.
Outside Fulton, the Miller Brewery site is nearing completion of the retrofit that will allow the facility to produce alternative fuels, such as corn-based ethanol. This is an example of how our existing manufacturing infrastructure can be redeveloped to meet the growing demand for alternative fuel sources. The new ethanol plant will provide cleaner burning fuels for flexfuel vehicles and at the same time increase the demand for local corn production and reduce our dependence on foreign energy sources. I am supporting legislation in Albany that calls for the statewide development and manufacture of alternative fuels. The success here in our own community is an example of what can be done across the state if we would reinvest in alternative fuels.


CONTACT ASSEMBLYMAN WILL BARCLAY:
200 North Second Street • Fulton, NY 13069
• (315) 598-5185

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