December 12, 2008
Jim Ranney

BUFFALO (2008-12-12) There is a new effort underway to make it easier for local governments to consolidate services in hopes of cutting property taxes.

State Attorney General Andrew Cuomo says New York has more than 10,000 local government entities...many with their own taxing power. He wants to make it easier for communities to dissolve what are often reduncant layers of government.

Erie County Comptroller Mark Poloncarz supports Cuomo.

"New York has almost 7,000 special taxing districts and in Erie County alone we have over 750 of them," Poloncarz told WNED.

The idea of consolidating government is nothing new. The issue has been discussed and debates for years. Poloncarz says Cuomo's plan goes further.

"New York State's laws are archaic...and it's very difficult to merge two taxing districts...under present New York State law," he said.

Poloncarz joined the Attorney General in Albany to announce the proposal, which would give communities new powers to dissolve local government entities, subject to a countywide referendum.

It would also make it easier for citizens to to petition a government entity to dissolve or consolidate operations.

Copyright 2008 - WNED