Timothy Theberge, an official with the US Department of Labor, was in Albany last week to provide an update of the administration’s efforts on several key employment programs, including:
- The Summer Jobs Plus initiative aims to provide 250,000 summer job opportunities for youth nationwide through partnerships with industry, state and local governments.
- The expansion of the Veterans Retraining Assistance Program to better coordinate Department of Defense retraining programs, Veterans Administration benefits and use of 1-Stop Employment centers.
- $500 million has been dedicated for the second round of the Trade Adjustment Assistance Community College and Career Training (TAACCCT) Grant Program.
Mr. Theberge said the administration’s goals in the federal budget process include merging several federal dislocated worker programs into a single effort that has consistent standards and goals. More information on each of these efforts is available at: http://www.doleta.gov/. (Katy Vescio)
The New York State Department of Public Service’s Board on Electric Generation Siting and the Environment (Siting Board) is promulgating rules and regulations to implement provisions of Article 10 of the Public Service Law. This law creates a new procedure for the siting of Electric Generating Facilities in New York State. The public comment period for these regulations is currently open.
The Siting Board’s proposal outlines procedural processes and filing requirements for a Certificate of Environmental Compatibility and Public Need to construct and operate major electric generation facilities in New York State. According to the PSC, the draft regulations are designed to: accommodate state and local permitting requirements in a streamlined regulatory process; provide for a pre-application consultation process with established deadlines for procedures, as well as provide for active public involvement in the siting process.
The draft regulations also provide for consideration of environmental justice issues early in the siting process, as well as intervenor funds for municipalities and local parties, during both the pre-application and post-application phases of a siting proceeding. The Siting Board’s decision, when issued, will be available on the Siting Board’s Web site at www.dps.ny.gov/SitingBoard under case number ‘12-F-0036’.
Comments on the proposed regulations are being accepted electronically through the Department of Public Service’s Document Matter and Management (DMM) system or via email to the Secretary at secretary@dps.ny.gov. Comments will be accepted through May 29, 2012. (Katy Vescio)
With New Yorkers voting on school budget propositions today, the Empire Center last week released the latest data for its Internet-based tool BenchmarkingNY’s Property Taxes by Location—allowing taxpayers to compute and compare total school district, municipal and county tax burdens in thousands of communities across the state.
The Empire Center also issued a summary report ranking the “Top 20″ and “Bottom 20″ effective tax rates in every region of the state, along with a ranking of effective tax rates in cities. The rankings are based on data from the state comptroller’s office and New York State Association of Realtors Housing Survey.
- For the Empire Center’s property tax rankings report, click here.
- The “Property Taxes by Location” tool can be accessed here.
The Regional Economic Development Councils begin a series of workshops this week to be held throughout May and June. These statewide training workshops will provide an overview of the Consolidated Funding Application (CFA) process and how to access up to $750 million in economic development funding from agency programs through one application. Each workshop will include informational breakout sessions on specific areas of funding available for economic development projects. The training workshops are open to local economic development officials, municipalities, non-profits, businesses and members of the public. This week, 8 workshops will be held around the State.
| Region |
DATE |
TIME |
CITY |
LOCATION |
| Mohawk Valley |
5/14/2012 |
2:00-4:30pm |
Utica |
Mohawk Valley Community College |
| Western NY |
5/15/2012 |
2:00-5:00pm |
Buffalo |
Buffalo State College, Bulger Hall |
| Finger Lakes |
5/15/2012 |
5:30-8:00pm |
Geneva |
Hobart William Smith College |
| Finger Lakes |
5/16/2012 |
5:30-8:00pm |
Rochester |
Memorial Art Gallery |
| Mid-Hudson |
5/16/2012 |
7:00-9:30pm |
Purchase |
SUNY Purchase |
| Central NY |
5/18/2012 |
1:00pm-3:30pm |
Cortland |
SUNY Cortland |
| North Country |
5/18/2012 |
1:00-3:30pm |
Watertown |
State Office Building |
| NYC |
5/18/2012 |
8:00am-10:30am |
Queens |
LaGuardia Community College |
To see the full list of workshops, visit: regionalcouncils.ny.gov/generic/workshop-table.
The Senate and Assembly are in session Monday May 14 – Wednesday May 16.
NYS Association of Clerks of County Legislative Boards, May 16-18, 2012
Adirondack InterCounty Association Meeting, Fulton County, May 17
On Thursday May 3rd, Governor Cuomo announced that up to $750 million in state funding and tax incentives will be awarded through the second round of Regional Economic Development Councils. The second Regional Council competition will focus on the implementation of each region’s strategic plan and identifying and investing in locally significant priority projects.
In the summer of 2011, Governor Cuomo launched the Regional Economic Development initiative, creating the 10 Regional Councils as well as the Consolidated Funding Application (CFA) process. The CFA streamlines the application process for funding that flows through NYS agencies by creating a single, web-based application. These initiatives changed the way the State invests in economic development by emphasizing a community-based strategic planning process to identify regionally significant projects and engage counties in a collaborative, regionally-minded economic development planning process. The administration awarded $785 million during the first round of grants in December 2011.
Funding for the second round includes $220 million ($150 million in capital and $70 million in tax credits from the Excelsior Jobs Program) to implement regional strategic plans and support priority projects, and up to $530 million from state agency programs through the CFA to support regionally-significant economic development projects. Five awards of $25 million will be made. The competition will have two parts: The four regions with the 2011 Best Plans will compete for two awards of up to $25 million each in capital funds. Awards will be made based on the progress the Regional Councils have made implementing their strategies. The remaining six regions will compete for three awards of up to $25 million each in capital funds. Awards will be made based on the regions’ revised and updated strategic plans and progress made implementing their strategies. The balance of the $25 million in capital will be available for priority projects in the remaining five regions. In addition, each region will also be eligible for up to $10 million in Excelsior Tax Credits to help attract and grow business in the region.
For more information, including application materials, the 2012 Regional Council Guidebook, and the CFA Available Resource Guide and calendar of CFA workshops, visit http://nyworks.ny.gov (Katy Vescio)
On May 3, Governor Andrew M. Cuomo and Legislative leaders announced the membership of the NY Works Task Force, consisting of finance, labor, planning, and transportation professionals charged with coordinating a statewide infrastructure plan with the goal of effectively and strategically allocating New York’s capital investment funding and creating thousands of jobs.
The 2012-13 Budget established the New York Works Task Force to fundamentally change the way state agencies and authorities spend billions in taxpayer and commuter funds each year. Prior to the creation of the Task Force, there was no single comprehensive state plan for the $16 billion in capital expenditures by 45 state agencies and authorities. This new task force will develop a coordinated infrastructure investment plan for the state. This will ensure that taxpayer dollars are being targeted at the most critical infrastructure and job creation needs.
The NY Works Task Force Membership: The New York Works Task Force, made up of leaders in finance, labor, government, planning and transportation, will consist of fifteen members. Nine of those members will be appointed by the Governor, and six by the Legislature.
The full list of the members of the Task Force can be found at http://www.governor.ny.gov/press/05032012-ny-works
Staff to the Task Force will include a team of state officials led by Margaret Tobin, a finance and economic development specialist, who will serve as Executive Director.
On Tuesday May 1, Comptroller DiNapoli released the 2010 Annual Performance Report on Industrial Development Agencies (IDAs). This is the Comptroller’s fifth annual report examining the performance of the state’s IDAs. The report analyzes the aggregate net tax exemptions provided by IDAs in each region compared to the average home value in the region to gauge the additional taxes a typical homeowner may be paying to cover the exemptions. The report also examines the role of LDC’s in local government transactions. The Comptroller used the report to highlight his call for reform of IDAs and LDCs in 3 pieces of legislation introduced in the Assembly. According to the Comptroller’s office, New York’s IDAs supported 4,444 projects and provided nearly $500 million in net tax exemptions in 2010. A full copy of the report is available at www.osc.state.ny.us. (Katy Vescio)
If your county is a member of the National Association of Counties (NACo), the nomination process for membership on one of NACo’s 11 policy steering committees is underway. If you want a voice in creating the national legislative policies of the National Association of Counties, consider filling out a NACo nomination form. The nomination form can be accessed here and should be submitted to Jackie Dederick at NYSAC no later than June 15, 2012. The nominations are processed in our office and will be forwarded to NACo by June 29, 2012 for approval by the incoming NACo President after the NACo Annual Conference in July.
As a NACo steering committee member, you are responsible for debating and creating national policies and priorities affecting counties and serve as NACo’s front line in their grassroots efforts. Committees meet at the NACo legislative and annual conference and one other time during the year. You will be responsible for your own travel expenses.
Thank you for considering involvement at the national level. If you have any questions or need additional information please contact Jackie Dederick at 518-465-1473 or jdederick@nysac.org. We look forward to hearing from you in the coming weeks. (Mark LaVigne)
