Newsday.com
Bill to merge local governments clears a hurdle
BY JAMES T. MADORE
james.madore@newsday.com
10:03 PM EDT, May 26, 2009
Five members of the 20-member Assembly Local Governments Committee urged caution, saying the proposed petition process to abolish governments could be perverted by nonresidents.
They also called for a larger number of signatures to make petitions valid, for referendums to coincide with general elections and for the financial consequences of consolidation to be known before balloting.
The bill, unveiled last week in Melville, seeks to streamline the process whereby voters can collapse towns, villages and special districts. Supporters said it's a way to reduce property taxes.
Last night, Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver told Newsday some of the objections had been addressed, and others he pledged to discuss with Cuomo.
The committee adopted the measure in a 16-4 vote and sent it to the Ways & Means Committee. The bill also was introduced Tuesday in the State Senate, where the main sponsors are Andrea Stewart-Cousins (D-Westchester) and Betty Little (R-Queensbury).
In the Assembly committee, the five members from
Alessi questioned why the bill didn't cover school districts and said committee members were given insufficient time for review.
Still, committee Chairman Sam Hoyt (D-Buffalo) noted Cuomo worked closely with Silver and Senate Majority Leader Malcolm Smith to write the bill, which was inspired by a Newsday series.
The measure is expected to pass because of the leaders' support.
Copyright © 2009, Newsday Inc.
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