What's happening
This bill creates a new system for distributing enhanced aid to municipalities in New York based on population tiers.
Why it matters
Shifts significant new state funding to smaller municipalities. By allocating 80% of enhanced aid to Tier 1 (smaller towns, villages, and cities) and only 20% to Tier 2 (larger but still sub-million population), the bill prioritizes smaller communities, potentially helping them maintain services or stabilize taxes but leaving larger municipalities with a relatively smaller share.
Creates clearer, population-based equity in aid distribution. The per-capita calculation based on the most recent federal census aims for a more transparent and formula-driven approach, which could reduce political influence or historical quirks in how aid is distributed.
Explicitly supplements (not replaces) existing municipal aid. The enhanced aid comes in addition to all other local government aid, meaning towns, villages, and cities could see a real increase in state support, possibly enabling new initiatives or addressing budget gaps.
May affect local service levels and tax rates. By channeling more state dollars to smaller localities, these places might be able to improve infrastructure, public safety, or other services, or avoid raising local taxes—potentially reducing disparities between small and mid-sized municipalities.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Increase Aid for Local Towns
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
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History
- Held for consideration in ways and means
- Referred to ways and means
- Referred to ways and means
Companion bill
The same bill in the other chamber. A bill becomes law when one version passes both houses and the governor signs it, so either number can carry it.
Increase Aid to Small Towns
In Senate Committee · Finance · Sponsor Michael H. Ranzenhofer
Full text
2 pagesUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
4728
2019-2020 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY
February 5, 2019
Introduced by M. of A. HAWLEY -- read once and referred to the Committee on Ways and Means
AN ACT to amend the state finance law, in relation to enhanced aid and incentives for municipalities
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Section 54 of the state finance law is amended by adding a new subdivision 12 to read as follows:
12. a. Enhanced aid and incentives for municipalities. Notwithstanding any inconsistent provision of this section or of any other provision of law to the contrary, the payment of enhanced aid and incentives for municipalities for the support of local government for state fiscal years commencing April first, two thousand twenty and thereafter, shall be paid from an appropriation made for the enhanced aid and incentives for municipalities program pursuant to the aid to localities budget for such state fiscal years in a manner consistent with this subdivision. Enhanced aid and incentives for municipalities will be apportioned to eligible municipalities by the director of the budget on a per-capita basis, based on population. Municipalities in Tier 1 would receive eighty percent of the appropriation provided annually and municipalities in Tier 2 would receive twenty percent of the appropriation provided annually.
b. Definitions. As used in this subdivision, unless otherwise expressly stated:
(i) "Municipalities" means a city with a population less than one million, town or village.
(ii) "Enhanced aid and incentives for municipalities" means aid in addition to the total of all aid payable to municipalities pursuant to this subdivision.
(iii) "Population" means population data based upon the most recent federal decennial census.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD01792-01-9
A. 4728 2
(iv) "Per capita basis" means the amount of the appropriation provided annually divided by the population of the eligible municipality.
(v) "Tier 1" means a town with a population equal to fifteen thousand or less or a village with a population equal to ten thousand or less or a city with a population equal to twenty thousand or less.
(vi) "Tier 2" means a town with a population greater than fifteen thousand or a village with a population greater than ten thousand or a city with a population greater than twenty thousand and less than one million.
§ 2. This act shall take effect April 1, 2020, subject to appropriation for the enhanced aid and incentives for municipalities in the 2020-2021 enacted state budget; provided that the director of the budget shall notify the legislative bill drafting commission upon the occurrence of such an appropriation for the enhanced aid and incentives for municipalities in the 2020-2021 enacted state budget in order that the commission may maintain an accurate and timely effective data base of the official text of the laws of the state of New York in furtherance of effectuating the provisions of section 44 of the legislative law and section 70-b of the public officers law.
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.