As part of the Affordable Care Act the federal government is accepting grant applications related to public health initiatives that help to reduce chronic disease, especially those that can reduce health disparities.  All local governments and not-for-profits are eligible to … Continue reading →

The Department of Homeland Security and Emergency Services (DHSES) Office of Interoperable and Emergency Communications (OIEC) is accepting applications from counties for Statewide Interoperable Communications Grants. Counties are eligible to apply for these grants to facilitate the development, consolidation and/or … Continue reading →

This week NYSAC joined 911 coordinators from 38 counties across New York for their spring conference in Alexandria Bay. The conference included presentations from the Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services, the Upstate New York Poison Center and Center … Continue reading →

Despite a May 9th ruling by the United States Court of Appeals that would allow collection of taxes on cigarettes sold on Native American reservations, two procedural motions have delayed implementation until June 1st at the earliest. Soon after the … Continue reading →

A State working group examining the future of the juvenile justice program in New York State met this week in New York City. The working group is being organized by the NYS Division of Criminal Justice Services (DCJS) and is … Continue reading →

Governor Cuomo today launched a website designed to accept ideas that would be considered by the Spending and Government Efficiency (SAGE) Commission. The website, http://www.governor.ny.gov/sage, was created for the public to electronically submit ideas for streamlining and right sizing government. … Continue reading →

The Senate has been queuing up nearly 50 local sales tax extension bills over the last couple of weeks by moving them through the Committee level in order to prepare them for Floor consideration. The Senate has introduced a couple … Continue reading →

This week members of Council 82, a relatively small state union representing about 1100 workers, overwhelmingly rejected a negotiated agreement designed to avoid layoffs and provide savings for the State. The terms of the rejected agreement included: a pay freeze … Continue reading →

Despite the fact that for decades the State has effectively converted county property taxes into State revenue to pay for its own programs and services, Governor Cuomo and his cabinet are arguing that a cap will force mandate reform in … Continue reading →

In January, the State Senate passed the Governor’s proposal (S.2706) to cap increases in property taxes by 2 percent or the cost of inflation, whichever is less. The bill has yet to be taken up in the State Assembly. Speaker … Continue reading →