What's happening
This bill raises the vote threshold for local governments to approve budgets exceeding tax levy limits, requiring a majority plus one in some cases.
Why it matters
Makes it harder for local governments to override tax levy limits by requiring a higher standard (“majority plus one” instead of a simple majority) when a 60% threshold would otherwise equal just a majority. This could limit how easily budgets with higher taxes are passed, especially in smaller governing bodies.
Could slow down or complicate the process of raising local taxes for funding services, infrastructure, or emergencies, as more consensus is now needed among elected officials. This might affect the ability of local governments to respond quickly to fiscal needs.
May empower minority opposition within local governing bodies, giving them more leverage to block budget increases that exceed tax caps,. which could lead to more negotiation or gridlock over fiscal policy at the local level.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Make Tax Hikes Harder
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Sponsors
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History
- Referred to local governments
- Referred to local governments
Full text
1 pageUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
3418
2019-2020 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY
January 29, 2019
Introduced by M. of A. ZEBROWSKI -- read once and referred to the Committee on Local Governments
AN ACT to amend the general municipal law, in relation to increasing the requisite vote required by a local government to adopt a budget that includes a tax levy
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Subdivision 5 of section 3-c of the general municipal law, as added by section 1 of part A of chapter 97 of the laws of 2011, is amended to read as follows:
5. A local government may adopt a budget that requires a tax levy that is greater than the tax levy limit for the coming fiscal year, not including any levy necessary to support the expenditures pursuant to subparagraphs (i) through (iv) of paragraph [g] (g) of subdivision two of this section, only if the governing body of such local government first enacts, by a vote of sixty percent of the total voting power of such body except when the vote of sixty percent is equal to a majority of such body in which case it shall require a vote of a majority plus one of all the voting members, a local law to override such limit for such coming fiscal year only, or in the case of a district or fire district, a resolution, approved by a vote of sixty percent of the total voting power of such body, to override such limit for such coming fiscal year only.
§ 2. This act shall take effect immediately; provided, however, that the amendments to subdivision 5 of section 3-c of the general municipal law made by section one of this act shall not affect the repeal of such section and shall be deemed repealed therewith.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD02135-01-9
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.