Plugged In @ Hinman Straub – November 16, 2016

PluggedInMasthead

  • Post-Election Analysis & Update
  • Governor Announces Agreement on Affordable Housing Construction Program
  • Governor Announces Program to Promote Local Government Consolidation
  • Governor Announces Funding for Unmanned Aircraft Systems Traffic Management System
  • Legislative Pay Commission Postpones Meeting
  • School Business Officials Call for School Aid Increase
  • Political Update
  • Coming Up

Post-Election Analysis & Update

While state leaders continue to wait for the dust to settle in the wake of Donald Trump’s surprise election as President, it appears that the political dynamic in Albany will be unchanged in 2017.  The Democrats maintained their control of the state Assembly, and the Republicans appear poised to remain in control of the state Senate.

Gov. Cuomo told reporters that he called President-elect Trump to congratulate him and the two discussed issues of concern to New York, including building and infrastructure.  The Governor said that Mr. Trump being from New York would be “a bonus” because he understands the needs of large urban areas.  The Governor also said that while he will work with the federal government where possible, he will vigorously oppose the new administration on immigration, gay rights and other issues on which they disagree.

With Hillary Clinton’s defeat last Tuesday, some Democrats have begun looking ahead to the 2020 presidential race, and Gov. Cuomo’s name has been raised as a potential candidate.

While the Senate Republicans appear to have maintained their control over the State Senate, two races on Long Island remain unresolved.  Paper ballots counts are expected to commence next week in both races.

In the 5th Senate District, which includes parts of Nassau and Suffolk counties, incumbent Republican Carl Marcellino leads Democrat James Gaughran by 2,425-votes with about 8,000 absentee ballots to count.  A Marcellino win looks likely in this race.

The race in Nassau County’s 8th Senate District is too close to call.  Democratic challenger John Brooks leads freshman Republican incumbent Michael Venditto by 33 votes, with as many as 6,000 absentee ballots to count.

The Senate Republican Conference met in Albany this past Monday and re-elected Senator Flanagan as its leader.  The Assembly Majority is expected to hold its reorganizational meeting in early December.

Governor Announces Agreement on Affordable Housing Construction Program

Last Thursday, Gov. Cuomo announced that the Real Estate Board of New York (REBNY) and the Building and Construction Trades Council of Greater New York have reached an agreement to revive the affordable housing construction program known as 421-a.

Under the agreement, the law would impose a wage floor for certain construction projects, grant full property tax relief for 421-a projects for 35 years, and extend income restrictions on affordable apartments built through the program to 40 years.

In order to become law, the agreement must be approved by the Legislature.  Gov. Cuomo called on the Legislature to return to Albany to act on it.

Governor Announces Program to Promote Local Government Consolidation

Last Thursday, Gov. Cuomo announced the Municipal Consolidation and Efficiency Competition for local governments to build consortiums and compete for a $20 million award. Under the program, teams of two or more local governments will submit plans demonstrating how government consolidations and innovative restructuring initiatives will yield reductions in property taxes.

Gov. Cuomo said:

“Property taxes remain the most burdensome tax in New York and with this competition, we are incentivizing local governments to band together to think outside the box, streamline their bureaucracies, cut costs and deliver real relief to their taxpayers.  As I’ve said multiple times, New York has no future as the high tax capital of the world and by encouraging innovation; we are taking one more step toward a stronger, more affordable Empire State for all.”

More information on the program can be found here.

Governor Announces Funding for Unmanned Aircraft Systems Traffic Management System

Last Thursday, Gov. Cuomo announced that the state will invest $30 million to develop a 50-mile flight traffic management system between Syracuse and Griffiss International Airport in Rome “to advance the burgeoning Unmanned Aircraft Systems industry in Central New York.”

The funds represent the second phase of Project U-SAFE, which “aims to accelerate the testing, certification and safe integration of Unmanned Aircraft Systems into the airspace.”

Gov. Cuomo said:

“This major development builds on Central New York’s strengths and will cement the region as a global hub for this rapidly growing industry.  With strategic investments in emerging high-growth sectors, we are strengthening regional economies across New York and reinvigorating this state’s spirit of innovation and enterprise.”

Legislative Pay Commission Postpones Meeting

The State Commission on Legislative Judicial and Executive Compensation, the independent body that has been tasked with examining, evaluating and making recommendations with respect to compensation for members of the state legislature and certain state officials, will not meet until Nov. 15.  The Commission was scheduled to meet Thursday of this past week.

The Commission is supposed to offer its recommendations by Nov. 15.  If the Commission recommends a pay increase for lawmakers and state officials, the Commission’s recommendations will go into effect on January 1, 2017 unless the Governor and Legislature approve a statute overriding the Commission’s recommendations.

State legislators have received a pay increase since 1999.  If the Commission does not recommend that they receive a pay raise, the earliest they can receive one would be in 2019.

School Business Officials Call for School Aid Increase

The New York State Association of School Business Officials (NYSASBO) released its 2017-18 State School Aid proposal, which calls for a $1.9 billion increase in formula and categorical aids.  The group is also seeking an additional $25 million in state support for increases for Career and Technical Education (CTE) and $25 million to support a farm-to-school initiative.  The group is also recommending implementing changes to the real property tax cap, including counting school district construction costs for BOCES instructional spaces in the capital exclusion.

NYSABO Executive Director Michael Borges said:

“By completely phasing out the Gap Elimination Adjustment (GEA) in 2016, New York State took the first step toward providing adequate school funding. This year, we are calling on the State to finish what they started last year and fully fund the Foundation Aid formula. This combined with adjusting several reimbursement rates will ensure that our students receive an adequate and equitable education at a cost taxpayers can afford.”

Political Update

Brooklyn Democrat to Join Senate’s Independent Democratic Caucus

Last week, State Senator Jesse Hamilton (D-Brooklyn) announced that he will join the Senate’s Independent Democratic Conference (IDC), the group of Senate Democrats who broke away from the regular Senate Democratic Conference in 2011.

In a statement titled “Why I’M joining the IDC,” Hamilton said:

“The Independent Democratic Conference (IDC) delivers for New Yorkers: the best paid family leave program in the nation, a $15 minimum wage, and the toughest gun laws in the country. They get results. That’s why I’ve decided to join my fellow Democrats and become the newest member of the IDC. This conference will continue to innovate, delivering to the people who matter most, my community and our fellow New Yorkers. Standing with them, I will be a prominent voice on affordable housing, quality education, safe streets and criminal justice reform. I look forward to serving with the Independent Democrats and achieving more victories for all New Yorkers.”

Senator Hamilton’s decision to join the IDC will give the IDC seven members in 2017, up from five in 2016.

Winners & Losers

Each week, City & State New York publishes a list of the week’s political “winners” and “losers.”  Read this week’s list here.

Coming Up

The Senate Republican Conference meets in Albany on November 14.

The Board of Regents holds its next meeting on November 14 and 15.

The New York State Commission on Legislative, Judicial, & Executive Compensation will hold its final meeting on November 15.

The Public Service Commission (PSC) holds its next meeting on November 17.

The state Board of Elections holds its next meeting on November 17.

The Joint Commission on Public Ethics (JCOPE) holds its next meeting on November 29.

The 2017 Legislative session will begin on January 4, 2017 with the Governor’s ‘State of the State Address.’