A Recent History of Consolidation
Given the harsh economic climate both on Long Island and nationwide, far more scrutiny has been placed upon the appropriation of taxpayer dollars. As a result, many in government statewide have focused their attention upon the consolidation, streamlining, or reform of various kinds of Special Taxing Districts as a vessel by which one can reduce wasteful spending, eliminate corrupt practices, and save taxpayers money.
In January of 2009, following the recommendations of the Commission on Local Government Efficiency and Competitiveness, Governor David Paterson attempted to place a provision within that year’s operating budget that would consolidate all Special Sanitation Districts statewide, and eliminate commissioner compensation. For various reasons, it was eventually stripped from the budget.
Around the same time, Attorney General Andrew Cuomo proposed a program bill that would eventually be dubbed the “New NY Government Reorganization and Citizen Empowerment Act.” The bill, which has been passed and signed into law, will drastically ease the process by with counties, towns and empowered citizens can explore methods by which they can consolidate or dissolve Special Districts and other similar government entities.
After passing the Assembly and Senate by wide margins with bipartisan support, the bill was signed into law by Governor Paterson on June 25, 2009 and will become law nine months after that date.
During this time, it is imperative that citizens and organizations on Long Island who are interested in exploring the idea of consolidation are educated in every conceivable facet of the “New NY Government Reorganization and Citizen Empowerment Act”.
Cuomo’s office has already provided citizens with an outstanding resource that outlines his bill, which can be found here.
The political landscape of Long Island, especially when it comes to local governments, is as vast as it is complicated. It is an area unlike most of New York state because of it’s numerous overlapping governments that include, but are not exclusive to, Towns, Hamlets, Incorporated Villages, and, most notoriously, Special Taxing Districts.
Unlike New York City, where there is one form of all-encompassing government, Long Island has roughly 700 different independent taxing jurisdictions- all of which impose their own taxes at a variety of different rates that range in scale from very miniscule to massively oppressive.
This “Citizen’s Guide” is intended to build upon the existing resources provided by the Attorney General’s Office, and offer a guide to consolidation or dissolution that is Long Island specific in nature. This guide breaks down the specific districts that are most notorious for abuses, and the inherent problems one might face when choosing to take action to reform them.
