PA Senate approves bipartisan property tax reform plan

HARRISBURG, PA — Seeking to provide state taxpayers with property-tax relief and help seniors on fixed incomes, the Pennsylvania Senate has approved a reform measure that would enable communities to shift school funding dollar-for-dollar from property taxes to earned income taxes, according to Senate Majority Leader David J. Brightbill.

“This tax reform plan would bolster the commonwealth’s existing Property Tax and Rent Rebate Program to provide relief to an estimated additional 281,000 Pennsylvanians,” Brightbill said.

The measure, which is called the Pennsylvania Taxpayer Relief Act, would give school districts the option to increase their Earned Income Tax rate in exchange for a reduction in their property taxes. Districts that do not elect to do so would be required to place a referendum on the 2007 ballot to allow taxpayers to authorize such an increase.

Special Session House Bill 39 now goes to the House for consideration.

Dam safety bills sail through assembly and senate

ALBANY, NY—Companion bills supported by Assemblywoman Aileen Gunther’s (D-Forestburgh) and Senator John Bonacic (R/I/C-New Hope) have passed both houses of the legislature in Albany. The legislation requires that the Department of Environmental Conservation provide local officials with safety inspection reports for area dams whenever an inspection takes place.

Local concerns on dam safety have focused recently on Mongaup Valley’s Swinging Bridge Dam. Gunther said the Mirant Corporation, which owns the dam, has failed to keep up renovations, which puts area homeowners at risk and threatens property values.

The senate has also passed a bill stripping New York City of its ability to regulate reservoir levels, and another enhancing inspection and public access to records relating to dams west of the Hudson. The assembly has yet to vote on the companions to these bills.

Developer requests hearing on Swan Lake subdivisions

SWAN LAKE, NY—Lawyers for developer Anthony Murolo of AJM at Swan Lake Estates, LLC have written a letter to the DEC requesting a public hearing on the environmental impact of the company’s subdivisions at Swan Lake. The DEC, which took over as lead agency from the town planning board in December 2005, is considering whether to give a negative declaration (giving construction the go-ahead) or a positive one (requiring further investigation).

According to the letter, the lawyers have been told that the DEC may be considering a positive declaration primarily because that would ensure that there would be an opportunity for public input. The public hearing that AJM’s attorneys are proposing would, they argue, eliminate that reason for making a positive declaration and pave the way for a negative one.

AJM purchased the property in question in 2004, and construction was started in April of 2005. In June, the DEC issued a cease-and-desist order when it discovered construction had been undertaken without necessary permits. The company applied for permits in October 2005 and is still waiting for their issuance.

Legislative package would provide relief for small businesses

ALBANY, NY — A legislative package has been introduced in the New York State Senate that would eliminate the corporate income and franchise tax for manufacturers, provide direct property tax relief checks to small businesses and provide small businesses with tax credits for the costs of energy and health insurance. Specific provisions include the creation of a small business STAR program to provide direct rebate checks to small businesses that pay school taxes and employ fewer than 50 people and the creation of a $1.7 billion plan to provide an income tax credit to help small businesses afford health insurance costs for their employees.

Deadline extended to sign up for casino hearings

PHILADELPHIA, PA — The Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board has extended the deadline for the public to sign up to speak at hearings on slots licenses to be granted this year from Monday, March 6 to Friday, March 17. In addition, the gaming board will post local impact reports from the 22 applicants for Pennsylvania’s first 14 slots licenses on its web site, www.pgcb.state.pa.us on Friday, March 10.

Since those registering to speak need to specify a topic, provide a summary of their points and list supporting materials, the accelerated release of the impact reports and the extension of the deadline should substantially help members of the public who wish to be heard at the hearings.

New spill control for dams

REGION — Commissioner Emily Lloyd of the New York City Department of Environmental Protection has announced a new spill control program for the Pepacton and Neversink reservoirs based on potential runoff from rainfall. The new program is in addition to the currently existing snow-pack program.

Under the new program, voids will be maintained in both reservoirs large enough to completely capture the expected runoff from a one-inch rainstorm occurring over a six-hour period. With both the runoff and snow-pack programs in effect at the same time, the program that would create the larger void would take precedence.

Poll: New Yorkers prefer senators to governor

NEW YORK STATE — A recent poll by Strategic Vision, LLC, shows that only 44 percent of respondents approve of Gov. George Pataki’s job performance, compared to 56 percent for Senator Hillary Clinton and 59 percent for Senator Charles Schumer. New York respondents were more negative on President Bush than recent national polls showing numbers in the high 30s. Only 24 percent of New Yorkers approve of his job performance.

On current issues, only 10 percent of respondents feel that a UAE company should be able to operate U.S. shipping ports and 61 percent were opposed to seeing the Supreme Court overturn Roe vs. Wade.

The poll has a margin of error of plus or minus three percentage points.