Assemblyman Phil Palmesano (R,C,I – Corning) today joined his Assembly Minority colleagues and local government officials and organizations, as well as Stephen Acquario, Executive Director of the New York State Association of Counties, and Tim Kremer, Executive Director of the New York State School Boards Association, in a push for unfunded mandate relief to protect taxpayers in New York. Palmesano has cosponsored the Taxpayer Protection and Mandate Relief Act, Assembly Bill A.8447, which would work to address unfunded mandates that are impacting local governments, school districts and taxpayers.

“Rising Medicaid, health care and pensions continue to drive up the costs of local budgets for school districts and local governments, and in turn, increase local property taxes,” said Palmesano. “We must address the cost drivers which are the root causes impacting local budgets and the hardworking taxpayers of New York.”

At the press conference, Palmesano and his colleagues spoke about their plan to significantly reduce costs for local governments, school districts and taxpayers. Highlights of Palmesano’s Taxpayer Protection and Mandate Relief Act include the following:

• Placing a moratorium on unfunded state mandates,
• Restoring fiscal restraint to state government by capping state spending,
• Reforming public pensions,
• Reining in Medicaid mandates by freezing the municipal share of local Medicaid costs,
• Addressing health care and education costs,
• Cutting the expenses of local construction projects, and
• Providing relief from state administrative and paperwork requirements.

“As we reach the end of this year’s legislative session, we must continue to push to enact real, responsible and effective mandate relief for our local governments and schools,” said Palmesano. “The Taxpayer Protection and Mandate Relief Act will help reduce costs and the property tax burden that is placed on New York’s families and businesses.”