Mayor Kevin Millar is pictured at the New York Conference of Mayors with New York State Comptroller General Thomas DiNapoli. (Provided Photo)
Village of Owego Mayor Kevin Millar attended the New York Conference of Mayors Winter Meeting held Feb. 7-9. The keynote speaker was New York State (NYS) Comptroller General Thomas DiNapoli.
DiNapoli said that statewide sales tax revenue were up 3.5 percent. He reviewed the budget presented by the Governor’s Office and said that Aid and Incentives for Municipalities (AIM) would be the same as last year. He said that the Restore NY Program would have $25 million to fund demolition, deconstruction, rehabilitation, and/or reconstruction of vacant and abandoned properties.
Senate Majority Leader John Flanagan spoke and was questioned on why Albany had a full 2 percent tax cap when the tax cap for municipalities was much lower and Albany can remove capital expenses from their tax cap calculation. Assembly Minority Leader Brian Kolb also spoke about tax caps and he favored a straight 2 percent tax cap. He also spoke about setting up a Heroin Task Force and holding forums around the state to try to come up with solutions to the spreading problem of heroin and opiate abuse.
Preet Bharara, U.S. Attorney for Southern New York, spoke on ethics in government and stressed the need for all legislators to speak up and act when they see corruption and not tolerate or elect corrupt leaders. He has successfully prosecuted several high-ranking NYS officials in recent years.
Millar attended a session on converting street lights to municipal ownership and session speakers went over a new law that allows municipalities to purchase their streetlights and convert to LED lights. LEDs are much cheaper to use and maintain. Mayor Rich David spoke about Binghamton’s project to convert to LEDs, a project that is underway.
Another session Millar attended was on distressed, vacant and abandoned properties. The use of land banks was discussed and the problem of “zombie properties”, which are in limbo awaiting a foreclosure sale was a concern of many municipalities. The cost to do minimal maintenance on these properties can add up to be more than the house is worth. Many municipalities in Upstate New York are struggling with this issue.
