Upcoming Events
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Upcoming Public Policy Forums to be Announced.
Public policy events at Rockefeller College and the University at Albany
Local Fiscal Challenges and
New York’s Tax Cap
March 1, 2012
Local governments across New York State face intense fiscal pressures brought about by weakness in the economy, rising costs for employee benefits, the state’s new property tax cap and other factors. A number of mayors and county executives are warning that control boards or other extraordinary state intervention may be needed within the next year or two. Municipalities and school districts alike face conflicting voter demands that they limit taxes while preserving or expanding services. In this forum, experts from state and local governments, think tanks and advocacy organizations explored the nature and implications of these challenges, and offered varying perspectives on potential solutions. Speakers included The Honorable Thomas S. Richards (pictured), mayor of Rochester; Steven J. Hancox, New York State Deputy Comptroller for Local Government and School Accountability; James R. Follain, senior fellow at the Rockefeller Institute; Karen Scharff, director of Citizen Action of New York; Robert Lowry, deputy director, New York State Council of School Superintendents; E.J. McMahon, senior fellow at the Empire Center for New York State Policy; and James Rowley, Onondaga County Chief Financial Officer.
