More than 900 gathered in Albany this week—from Monday through Wednesday—for NYSAC’s 2012 Legislative Conference. For sights and scenes from the conference, view photos here.

The three day conference included a forum on Mandate Relief efforts, sessions on leadership, the State Budget and the tax cap, and ended with a presentation by Governor Andrew M. Cuomo. Attendees were encouraged by the Governor’s message of responsible leadership, mandate relief, and a partnership.

NYSAC Standing Committees and county delegates discussed and adopted a series of resolutions designed to steer the Association’s advocacy efforts over the course of the year. To review these resolutions please visit the NYSAC website.

County leaders emerged from the conference with renewed vigor to make 2012 the year State lawmakers enact mandate relief. NYSAC launched a citizen action website designed to help New Yorker’s ask their State Lawmakers to enact mandate relief. The site, www.mandaterelief.com, includes a 3-step form that enables county officials and their residents to email their State Senators and Assemblymembers. Counties across the state are promoting the website and putting a link to www.mandaterelief.com on their home pages to urge residents to spread the word!

In addition, a group of Warren County supervisors have started statewide grassroots movement to educate New Yorkers about the direct link between State mandates and county property taxpayers. The group, www.enoughmandates.com, is a nonpartisan, community based initiative devoted to promoting a productive dialogue between state, local government and the public. The website includes a wealth of information about current mandates, a tool kit that can be down loaded and used by anyone interested in helping the cause, materials that can be used to educate, inform and engage the public, photos, videos, and helpful links.