Assembly OKs local-government-consolidation bill
The Assembly this evening approved a bill to make it easier to consolidate local governments. The vote was 118-26. It now goes to the Senate, where action is expected later this week.
The adoption is a big win for Attorney General Andrew Cuomo, who proposed the plan. It’s considered a major plank in the platform of his still-unannounced campaign for governor next year.
The measure, which was sold in part as a way to control property taxes, will allow citizens to petition to abolish special districts, towns, villages or other units, and also remove some roadblocks for local officials who want to consolidate operations. The state now has more than 10,000 local governments, according to Cuomo’s count.
Those opposed to the bill said they doubt it will save much money and fear that the threat of consolidation would be used as a weapon in political disputes.
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Schools, schools, schools! Does no one, Republican or Democrat, have the nerve to question school spending and do something about it? At the rate it’s progressing, the malady is terminal.