Posted on Apr 24, 2013 in Governmental Efficiencies, Labor Related Issues, Legislation, Mandate Relief, Taxes | 0 comments

Everything you Ever Wanted to Know about Financial Control Boards But Were Afraid to Ask

By Mark W. Blanchard, Rachel C. Baranello and William Q. Lowe - As municipalities throughout New York continue to deal with the lingering effects of the recession, mounting sources of additional financial distress have placed the long-term fiscal viability of many local governments in jeopardy...
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Posted on Apr 5, 2013 in Governmental Efficiencies, Labor Related Issues, Mandate Relief, Taxes | 0 comments

The Private Sector Steps up in Detroit’s Hopes for a Turnaround

By Richard E. Rising - This blog is continuing to explore solutions to the challenges facing municipalities and local governments in New York state…
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Posted on Mar 15, 2013 in Governmental Efficiencies, Labor Related Issues, Mandate Relief, Taxes | 3 comments

In Search of “The Third Way”

By Patrick M. Malgieri - The headline last week was all-too-familiar. Officials of the city of Niagara Falls announced that, absent significant financial assistance from the state of New York, the city would run out of money….and soon…
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Posted on Mar 14, 2013 in Governmental Efficiencies, Legislation | 0 comments

“Piggybacking” by Local Government

By Ali Benchakroun - Subdivision 16 has been recently added to General Municipal Law (GML) Section 103 to authorize any county, municipality, school district, or other municipal authority to purchase apparatus, material, equipment and supplies, and to contract for services related to the installation, maintenance, or repair of those items, through the use of other competitively bid cooperative contracts or purchase agreements...
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Posted on Jan 30, 2013 in Governmental Efficiencies, Labor Related Issues, Mandate Relief, Taxes | 0 comments

Are Municipal Structures Sustainable in Their Current Configuration?

By Patrick M. Malgieri - As reported in the Albany Times Union, Governor Cuomo responded to the testimony on January 28 of Rochester Mayor Tom Richards before the state Legislature...
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Posted on Jan 23, 2013 in Development, Education, Governmental Efficiencies, Labor Related Issues, Mandate Relief, Taxes | 0 comments

Governor Cuomo’s Proposed 2013-2014 Executive Budget Proposes Relief and Aid to Local Governments

By Patrick M. Malgieri - Governor Andrew Cuomo unveiled his proposed 2013-2014 Executive Budget yesterday. The spending plan includes numerous proposals which are touted as offering substantial relief to municipalities and school districts facing the combined effects of the real property tax cap and rapidly climbing expenses, particularly in certain mandated areas such as pension costs…
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