New York Codes, Rules and Regulations › Title 9 - EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT › Subtitle A - Governor's Office › Chapter I - Executive Orders › Part 8 - Executive Orders (Andrew M. Cuomo) › Section 8.6 - Executive order no. 6: establishing the mandate relief redesign team

Current through Register Vol. 46, No. 28, July 10, 2024
WHEREAS, New York State's municipalities and school
					 districts are encumbered with unfunded and underfunded mandates from state
					 government;
WHEREAS, New York State's municipalities and school
					 districts should administer services in the most efficient and effective manner
					 possible so as to minimize the impact on local property taxpayers;
WHEREAS, property tax levies in New York grew by 73 percent
					 from 1998 to 2008-- more than twice the rate of inflation during that
					 period;
WHEREAS, New York has the second highest combined state and
					 local taxes in the nation and the highest local taxes in America as a
					 percentage of personal income --79 percent above the national average;
WHEREAS, the median property taxes paid by New Yorkers are
					 96 percent above the national median;
WHEREAS, when measured in absolute dollars paid,
					 Westchester, Nassau and Rockland are among the five highest taxed counties in
					 the nation, ranking first, second and fifth, respectively;
WHEREAS, in 2009, when property taxes were measured as a
					 percentage of home value, nine out of the top ten counties in the nation were
					 all in Upstate New York;
WHEREAS, New York State government now faces unprecedented
					 budgetary challenges, requiring fundamental changes in the way it does
					 business, eliminating failed approaches and creating improved ways to serve the
					 public;
WHEREAS, in order to reduce the burden of local property
					 taxes, it is of compelling public importance that New York State conducts a
					 rigorous, systematic and comprehensive review of mandates imposed on local
					 governments, school districts and other local taxing districts, the reasons for
					 such mandates and the costs on local governments, school districts and other
					 local taxing districts that are associated with complying with such mandates;
					 and
WHEREAS, such a review will look for the best and most
					 cost- efficient and cost- effective ways to deliver mandated programs and
					 services and identify mandates that are ineffective, unnecessary, outdated and
					 duplicative;
NOW, THEREFORE, I, Andrew M. Cuomo, Governor of the State
					 of New York, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and
					 statutes of the State of New York, do hereby order as follows:
A. Definitions
As used herein, the following terms shall have the
					 following meanings:
1. "State agency"
				  or "agency" shall mean any state agency, department, office, board, bureau,
				  division, committee, council or office.
2. "State officer or employee" shall have the
				  meaning given in Section 73  of the Public Officers Law.
3. "Local government" shall mean a county,
				  city, town, village or special district.
4. "School district" shall mean a common,
				  union free, central, city or central high school district.
5. "Unfunded mandate" shall mean (i) any
				  legal requirement that a local government provide or undertake any program,
				  project or activity, or increase spending for an existing program, project,
				  regulation or activity on behalf of New York State; or (ii) any legal
				  requirement that a local government grant a new property tax exemption or
				  broaden the eligibility, or increase the value of an existing property tax
				  exemption; or (iii) any legal requirement that otherwise would likely have the
				  effect of raising property taxes, and which fails to provide any
				  funding.
6. "Underfunded mandate"
				  shall mean (i) any legal requirement that a local government provide or
				  undertake any program, project or activity, or increase spending for an
				  existing program, project, regulation or activity on behalf of New York State;
				  or (ii) any legal requirement that a local government grant a new property tax
				  exemption or broaden the eligibility, or increase the value of an existing
				  property tax exemption; or (iii) any legal requirement that otherwise would
				  likely have the effect of raising property taxes, and which fails to provide
				  sufficient funding.