An editorial in the Jamestown Post-Journal points to the analysis done by the State Comptroller’s office on how local governments and school districts are dealing the 2% tax cap as they put their budgets together.

“More than 70 percent of local governments reviewed by auditors had adopted budgets with a property tax levy that was within the allowable limit, while 5 percent exceeded the cap inappropriately, according to an analysis by New York State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli’s office.

In the last few weeks DiNapoli sent more than 200 auditors across the state to review the new budgets of 798 municipalities.

“My auditors will be visiting the municipalities that exceeded their tax cap improperly to make sure they have taken corrective action and reduced their tax bills or put any excess property tax revenue into a reserve as required by the law,” DiNapoli said. “Our review assisted local governments by providing insight into common issues and errors calculating the new tax cap, and I have directed my staff to develop additional training and expand our outreach to eliminate these errors.”

To read more click here.

The following piece is by the Buffalo News Editorial Board:

“Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo’s second executive budget address directly hits upon many of the key issues facing Buffalo, especially as it relates to education policy and whether the struggling traditional school district can leverage millions in federal funding.

In his Executive Budget and Reform Plan, Cuomo proposes the state increase spending on public schools by $805 million in the coming year, but he wisely imposes a caveat — or threat, if you will — but hardly an objectionable one, unless you object to tying increased funding to evaluating teacher performances.

The governor will release increased aid only to those districts implementing “effective” new teacher evaluation programs. The governor promised to become the students’ only “lobbyist” in a system he accurately described as catering too much to adults.”

To read more click here.

According to NCNow News:

A local state assemblyman is pleased with the mandate relief proposals in Governor Andrew Cuomo’s budget plan, described yesterday in Albany.

Manufacturers and business groups were happy to see a budget with no new taxes.

But unions representing state workers say they are concerned the budget continues to undercut the value of their members.

Assemblyman Ken Blankenbush, a Republican representing the 122nd Assembly District, and 48th District Sen, Patty Ritchie are also pleased about a plan for the state to assume more of the cost of Medicaid.

‘Blankenbush says he is ‘happy unfunded mandate relief is included’ in Cuomo’s budget released yesterday.

He cited the budget’s focus on ’shifting Medicaid administrative costs back to the state, reducing future public pension costs and reforming several other programs.’

However, he warned, ‘we need to work for more unfunded mandate relief before we pass the final budget.’

Ritchie said she is pleased that the plan “protects the jobs at local prisons in my district, and by the governor’s attempt to address the inequity in existing school aid formulas that hurt our rural, local schools. The budget also maintains funding that I fought hard to restore last year for agricultural research, marketing and education programs that are essential to farmers’ success and growth.

‘The governor’s Medicaid takeover proposal is a welcome opening step to providing more relief for local taxpayers, and helping to ensure the success of our new tax cap to help reduce the cost of government,’ Ritchie said.

Heather Briccetti, President and CEO, The Business Council of New York State, said, ‘The governor’s budget that closes a $2 billon spending-gap with no new taxes or fees sends a clear signal to business leaders that the state is prepared to control the cost of government and continue to rebuild our private-sector economy.’

Manufacturers Association of Central New York President Randy Wolken said, ‘Manufacturers will be especially pleased to hear that the Governor has proposed no new taxes or fees in this year’s state budget and offered to cut spending.’”

To read more click here.

According to pressconnects.com:

“Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli:

‘New York must continue its progress on that path during these volatile economic times and guard against any return to the past fiscal gimmicks that exacerbated the fiscal difficulties of recent years. It appears that the governor’s proposed budget continues to build on this progress.’

Senate Majority Leader Dean Skelos, R-Nassau County:

‘I am very encouraged that the Governor has again proposed a budget that closes the deficit by reducing spending and without increasing taxes or fees, and includes plans for job creation, property tax relief and other reforms to make sure tax dollars are spent wisely. These are long held priorities of the Senate Republican conference.’

Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver, D-Manhattan:

‘I think the governor has done a great job in putting out an outline and putting out areas where we have to focus our attention on. I think that after public hearings and after various meetings that will take place, we’ll have a pretty good of where the people in the state are.’

Sen. Thomas Libous, R-Binghamton:

‘In my district, the Southern Tier of New York, people want the things the governor is talking about. They want mandate relief, they’d like to see some sort of pension reform, they want to see the government reform and change and downsize. I can’t argue with too many of (Cuomo’s) points.’”

To read more click here.

To view a statement from The Business Council on the budget address, click here.

Joseph Spector writes on Lohud.com - “Reactions were generally positive initially today to Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s budget proposal, with lawmakers supporting the governor’s plan to limit state mandates and businesses applauding a budget plan that doesn’t increase taxes and fees.

“This budget builds on the strong foundation that was laid last year and will encourage existing businesses to grow while bringing new businesses to New York,” said Heather Briccetti, president of the state Business Council.

“I think the best thing for Rochester, for the people and the businesses, is that they will get no new burden, no new taxes, no new fees and that the government is going to live up to the pledge of living within our means, tighten our belts just like working men and women, people on a fixed income,” said Sen. Joseph Robach, R-Greece, Monroe County.”

To read more click here.

To read more from Business Council President Heather Briccetti click here.

Adam Shanks writes in the Legislative Gazette - “Gov. Andrew Cuomo has once again put pension reform at the forefront of New York state politics. In his State of the State address last Wednesday, Cuomo insisted that the current benefits system is not sustainable, and he’ll seek to establish a new tier this year.

Cuomo originally announced his vision for a new pension for state workers, a tier VI, in June of last year…

The Business Council of New York State also supports the proposed tier VI pension system. Spokesman Rob Lillpopp said reducing pension costs will benefit businesses.

“Reducing the cost of pensions will reduce the cost of government,” Lillpopp said, “which means less taxation on business.” He went on to assert that reduced costs will lead to the ability for business to hire more workers.”

To read more click here.

The following appeared in the Dunkirk Observer - “Groups representing a number of different sectors have banded together in New York state with a common agenda: making our state more competitive through fewer mandates.

Some of the organizations represented in the newly formed Let NY Work coalition include the New York State School Boards Association, the Business Council of New York State, the state Conference of Mayors and Municipal Officials, Unshackle Upstate and the Farm Bureau. “It’s a rainbow coalition that has gotten the attention of a lot of people,” said Timothy G. Kremer, New York State School Boards Association president.

Let NY Work has an agenda that includes:

Making the pension system predictable and affordable.

Redefining compulsory arbitration, which includes defining the ability to pay.

Reducing the cost of construction on public and private projects.

Freezing step increases when contracts expire, which currently does not happen courtesy of the Triborough Amendment.

Establishing minimum health insurance contribution levels for employees and retirees.

To read more click here.

Robert Harding writes on auburnpub.com - “State senators David Carlucci, Jeff Klein, Diane Savino and David Valesky were frustrated with Albany’s dysfunction.

So the four Democrats decided to break away from the Senate Democratic Conference and form their own conference, the Independent Democratic Conference.

One year after the formation of the conference, members of the IDC are sticking together and looking ahead to the 2012 legislative session.”

To read more click here.

Maggie Moree of The Business Council joined Fran k Mauro of the Fiscal Policy Institute in a special edition of WAMC’s Vox Pop to talk about Governor Andrew Cuomo’s second State of the State address.

To hear the program click here.

To read Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver and Senate Majority Leader Dean Skelos remark’s given before yesterday State of the State Address click here.