The process helped 10 regions across the state to create regional plans and identify transformative projects that will lead to private sector job growth. The plans were submitted earlier this month, and while we wait to see which plans will win funding, we’re turning our attention to make the job creation conditions even better for all business by reforming the regulatory environment.

Our suggestions fall into two major buckets: speeding up approvals for economic development projects and improving the overall regulatory environment.

In the first category, we’re seeking changes to the State Environmental Quality Review (SEQR) Act. We’d like to see definitive timelines and deadlines established for the review process so that projects can get the go-ahead sooner, allowing faster job creation. As part of this, we want to limit the ability of the state Historic Preservation Office to only request archeological surveys for projects that exceed 25 acres. And we’d like to do more to encourage use of the Design Build method of planning to expedite project timelines.

The second category is more complicated and cuts across more programs.

On the list, we must encourage the use of Public Private Partnerships (P3) to facilitate improvements in the infrastructure of New York by passing S.5445/A.8487 – an act to amend the transportation law, the executive law and the public authorities law, in relation to authorizing innovative infrastructure development.

Second, we must find ways to lower energy costs. We’re calling for the state to allow the Article 18A surcharge on energy to expire, phase out the Systems Benefit Charge and encourage improvements in the utilities’ infrastructures and grids.

Another way to lower costs in this state would be to allow SUNY and CUNY institutions systems to lease space to private companies, a move that would encourage more partnerships.

On the subject of Medicaid, we’re calling for a $250,000 cap on medical malpractice claims. As of 2006, 32 states have already passed some form of medical malpractice caps.

And we believe it is vitally important to obtain unified support from across the state for any federally funded projects that will enhance private sector job creation.

The tax cap is moving New York into a brave, new world, one that will allow our state to prosper and grow. Let’s build on this important first step by enacting the business mandate and regulation relief that will make it all work.

From the Desk of the Executive Director Brian Sampson

What’s Inside

• A Message from Brian Sampson
• 2011 Legislative Session Ends*
• Power NY Approved*
• Governor Reaches Agreement with State’s Largest Employee Union*
• High Profile and Significant Bills That Passed Both Houses This Session*
• BNP to Hold Accelerate Upstate Conference*
• Medicaid Redesign Team Update*
• Board of Regents Makes NYSED Staff Appointments
• NYS Council on Food Policy to Meet*
• Coming Up*
• Unshackle Upstate in the News*

* Content only available to Unshackle Army members.

Sign up today to get the full version of the Unshackle Upstate Update!

A Message from Brian Sampson

Late in the evening on Friday, June 24, the New York State Legislature completed the majority of its business for the year and is now in recess for the remainder of 2011.  It is expected that the Senate and Assembly will return before the end of the year to address some unfinished business regarding public employee contracts and health care.

During this year’s session, Unshackle Upstate achieved a number of major victories for the businesses and taxpayers of this state.

In April, we helped advance an on-time state budget that reduced spending and was free of any significant tax or fee increases.

Last week, the Legislature passed and Gov. Cuomo immediately signed the two-percent property tax cap bill – our #1 legislative priority for this year.

We could not have done this alone, and I want to thank everyone who joined our grassroots efforts on the property tax cap as well as our partner organizations listed below. By working together, New York’s business community helped make this law a reality.

It’s also important to thank Governor Cuomo, Senate Majority Leader Skelos, Speaker Silver and their legislative colleagues for supporting this vital measure. With the tax cap in place, we remain committed to advancing meaningful mandate relief and look forward to working with local government leaders in the effort to ease the burden of New York’s taxpayers.

Unshackle Upstate Needs Your Support

Unshackle Upstate continues to fight for Upstate’s taxpayers and job creators and for a New York State with lower taxes, lower spending, reduced mandates and reduced state debt. Our efforts to revive the Upstate economy and promote private sector job growth would be impossible without your support. Whether it’s $50 or $500, your contribution will enable us to amplify our voice in Albany and help fight back against well-funded interests that are committed to maintaining the status quo.  Only by working together, can we change New York and make it a better place to live and work.

Click here to contribute to Unshackle Upstate’s efforts.

If you know of someone who may be interested in Unshackle Upstate Update but who might not be on our distribution list – friends, family members, co-workers – please feel free to forward it to them.  If we are going to get our representatives in Albany to take the tough steps that need to be taken, we need all the help we can get.  In addition, if you would like Unshackle Upstate to speak to your group or make a presentation at an event, please do not hesitate to contact us.

If you have any suggestions about how we can improve this product, please feel free to contact me via e-mail at brian.sampson@unshackleupstate.com.

So what is in the “big ugly”?  Several key items for upstate NY:

• A 2-percent property tax cap that will stabilize our taxes and provide predictability for homeowners and businesses
• Mandate relief for local governments.  We need to find ways to change laws so that our local governments and schools can rein in costs
• New energy producing facilities.  Renewing Article X would allow for new electric producing facilities to come on line and help lower our energy rates

At the end of the day, we hope to see the bills introduced so that we can proceed with voting.  It may have taken some extra time to get here, but in the end all of these have to get done.

For too long, we have experienced unprecedented increases in spending that have led to escalating taxes and numerous fees/surcharges.  But when passed, the future of New York is brighter (no pun intended).  I look forward to watching the rest of today’s session.  While it may be “boring” to some and “nuts” to others, it is fascinating to me and my other wonky friends.

As my boss Garry likes to say, “Onward and upward!”

So why should this bother me?  When you watch the video, you will see that the overwhelming source of talking points for the ad come from the New York Times.  That paper has been a staunch opponent of the cap even editorializing it on at least three occasions.  That is their First Amendment right granted them by the US Constitution.  Yet there are many other Editorial Boards that support the cap and mandate relief.  That includes the Buffalo News (http://bit.ly/kDvqbc) and the Democrat & Chronicle (http://bit.ly/mF6uta).

There are many people in this state that don’t want change.  They want the status quo.  That includes many of the taxpayer dependent organizations that fear the cap.  With a cap in place, cost drivers like salaries, benefits and pensions will get greater scrutiny.  That scrutiny will likely lead to changes in how contracts are negotiated and the benefit levels provided by state and local governments.  When that occurs, we will find less strain on our already overburdened taxpayers and private sector businesses.

Change isn’t always bad.  In fact, change is often needed to secure a brighter future.  We can change New York’s future, for the better, by enacting a 2-percent property tax cap.  Help us achieve that goal.  Click this link, http://bit.ly/l42nqC , to send a note to your elected official telling them you support the cap.  Let’s not lose this opportunity to pass a law that benefits EVERY New York State resident.

Opposing the cap isn’t about protecting kids.  It’s about protecting union membership.  Let’s not be swayed by people that want to continue to use us as an ATM by keeping the status quo.

From the Desk of the Executive Director Brian Sampson

What’s Inside

• A Message from Brian Sampson
• Governor Cuomo Announces SAGE Commission Members*
• State Court System Lays Off Employees*
• Comptroller DiNapoli Again Proposes Budget Reforms*
• DiNapoli Hires Former State Democratic Chair*
• Attorney General’s Office Argues Before High Court for Authority to Sue Over Greenhouse Gas Emissions*
• Commission on Judicial Conduct Releases Annual Report*
• Coming Up*
• Unshackle Upstate in the News*

* Content only available to Unshackle Army members.

Sign up here to receive the full version of the Unshackle Upstate Update.

A Message from Brian Sampson

With the State Legislature in recess until Monday, May 2, we will continue to focus on our #1 priority – the enactment of Gov. Cuomo’s 2% Property Tax Cap legislation.  However, we cannot do this alone and greatly need your help in making the property tax cap a reality.

Unshackle Upstate is organizing a Property Tax Cap Lobby Day for May 17, 2011.  The intent of the day is to continue to put pressure on members of the State Assembly to pass the Governor’s Program bill as the Senate did earlier this year.  We hope that you, your friends and colleagues will consider joining us in Albany on May 17th.  Registration for the event is easy and can be done by clicking here.

Join Our Tax Cap Fight!

In addition to our event on May 17, we continue to ask that you contact your local Assemblymember to tell them that you support the Governor’s 2% Property Tax Cap bill.  We now have a tremendous opportunity to build on the positive momentum generated and it’s imperative that we continue to focus on many of the “non budget” proposals necessary to making New York State a better place for the taxpayers and businesses that reside here.  We need the Assembly to take immediate action to enact a two-percent property tax cap bill (A.3982 Silver).  We cannot afford any further delays and uncertainty on these issues, and we need you to recruit your family, friends and neighbors to join our efforts.

Click here to send your pro tax cap message directly to the Assembly.

Support Unshackle Upstate

We need your help! Unshackle Upstate continues to fight for Upstate’s taxpayers and job creators and for a New York State with lower taxes, lower spending, reduced mandates and reduced state debt. Our efforts to revive the Upstate economy and promote private sector job growth would be impossible without your support. Whether it’s $50 or $500, your contribution will enable us to amplify our voice in Albany and help fight back against well-funded interests that are committed to maintaining the status quo.  Only by working together, can we change New York and make it a better place to live and work.

Click here to contribute to Unshackle Upstate’s efforts.

If you know of someone who may be interested in Unshackle Upstate Update but who might not be on our distribution list – friends, family members, co-workers – please feel free to forward it to them.  If we are going to get our representatives in Albany to take the tough steps that need to be taken, we need all the help we can get.  In addition, if you would like Unshackle Upstate to speak to your group or make a presentation at an event, please do not hesitate to contact us.

Have any thoughts or suggestions about how we can make Unshackle Upstate Update better?  Please e-mail me at brian.sampson@unshackleupstate.com.

To read the full version of this week’s Unshackle Upstate Update, sign up here!

Senate Majority Leader Skelos began the press conference by highlighting that from 1998-2008, school property tax levies grew by 73 percent – twice the rate of inflation. He also referenced Governor Cuomo’s State of the State address during which the governor said “…help is on the way, we will pass a property tax cap…”. Senator Skelos went to point out that last year, 435 school districts increased taxes by more than the 2 percent than would be allowed under the proposed cap. Had the cap already been enacted, taxpayers would have saved $223 million.

Senator Skelos concluded his opening remarks and then introduced Assembly Minority Leader Brian Kolb. Assembly Kolb, who has been extremely vocal in his support a tax cap, promptly pointed out that the Assembly Majority has yet to take action on the 2-percent tax cap bill and insisted that the bill be brought to the floor for a vote. He noted that the Assembly Minority tried to advance the tax cap through a hostile amendment process but that attempt ultimately failed.

Following Assemblyman Kolb, Senator John Flanagan took the podium. He called attention to the fact that throughout the campaign season and still today, elected officials have heard the pleas for tax relief from people in the districts. Like his Senator Skelos and Assemblyman Kolb, he called for immediate action on the tax cap bill.

Heather Briccetti, acting-president and CEO of The Business Council of New York State, Inc., spoke next and pointed out that the business community pays 40 percent of the total real property taxes in the state. She highlighted that New York’s business tax climate – rated worst in the nation by The Tax Foundation – is a tremendous obstacle to private-sector job growth.

Senator Skelos then introduced Unshackle Upstate executive director Brian Sampson as “an individual who has been very upfront and strong on the importance of passing the property tax cap”.  Brian thanked Governor Cuomo, Senator Skelos and Assemblyman Kolb on their leadership on the tax cap issue. He focused on the recent census data which indicated that 17 Upstate counties suffered a decline in population over the last decade – and with that population loss, came significant job losses. He echoed the call of the event’s speakers and insisted that the 2-percent tax cap bill be brought to the Assembly for an immediate vote.

The 2-percent tax cap bill, which would apply to all taxing districts in the state, proposes to:

• Limit the increase in property tax levies to 2 percent or the rate of inflation (whichever is less);
• Provide some limited exemptions from the property tax cap (extraordinary one-time expenditures, including some legal settlements and building projects, and for counties, it would exempt some state-mandated social service programs);
• Allow school district voters to override the cap with a 60 percent super-majority vote; and
• Allow other taxing districts to override the cap with 2/3 vote of their governing body.

Unshackle Upstate executive director Brian Sampson joined with legislative leaders and other pro-tax cap organizations on Tuesday, April 12, 2011 in calling on the Assembly Majority to pass the 2-percent tax cap bill

The fact that Upstate and Downstate legislators from both sides of the aisle and a large collection of pro-tax cap organization gathered for this event demonstrates the importance of this issue. The simple truth is that rising property taxes impacts all New Yorkers – even residents who don’t even own property. The costs of property taxes incurred by businesses are passed on to consumers through higher prices for the products and services we purchase. Unfortunately, New York’s families and business owners have long paid some of the highest property taxes in the nation.

The facts and figures about New York’s property tax burden clearly indicate the need for immediate property tax relief:

• Property owners in New York State paid $48 billion in property taxes in 2010
• In 2009, the median property tax in New York was $3,755 – nearly double the national average.
• Of New York’s total energy taxes collected in 2009, $3.368 billion – or 59 percent – was paid in property taxes.
• In 2009, businesses across the state paid a staggering $21.9 billion in property taxes. This amount represents 39 percent of the business community’s total tax burden.
• According to a study from The Tax Foundation, New York had the second-highest combined state and local tax burden in fiscal year 2009 – New York’s overwhelming property tax burden is a significant piece of that puzzle.

By easing the burden of property taxes, we can provide homeowners with the opportunity to save a bigger share of their hard-earned paycheck and private-sector employers will be able reinvest in their businesses and create jobs.

The Senate passed Governor Cuomo’s program bill more than two months ago and now it’s essential that the Assembly follow suit and pass the 2-percent tax cap bill.

Please take a moment to send a letter to your Assembly representative and tell them that it’s time to deliver real property tax relief for New York’s taxpayers and job creators.

View more photos from today’s Pass The Tax Cap news conference here.

I was in Albany yesterday, and in several meetings we heard about issues like ethics reform, redistricting, and marriage equality.  An argument can be made that each of these is an important issue.  But the simple fact remains that resolving any or all of these issues will do nothing to lower our taxes or create jobs.  But working on these issues WILL distract our elected officials from dealing with bigger issues that still need to be tackled.

What are those big issues?  From Unshackle’s point of view:

1. The Assembly needs to pass the 2-percent property tax cap (http://bit.ly/gK8KZM).  Gov. Cuomo introduced it as a program bill and the Senate passed it – along bipartisan lines and with upstate and downstate support.  It is time for the Assembly to deliver the cap.
2. Both houses and the governor need to get serious about mandate relief for our local governments and school districts (http://bit.ly/g8ZiCO).   Laws in New York that have long outlived their usefulness – and actually hampering growth –  must go.  The playing field for collective bargaining rights needs to be leveled to allow for meaningful conversations of what is fair, appropriate and affordable.
3. The pension system in New York is broken and in desperate need of repair.  But quick and irresponsible fixes such as this (http://on.wsj.com/fXPxxo) aren’t the solution.  We need to create a Tier 6 Retirement System for future workers and find rational ways to ease the impending disaster that the current system will have on our taxes.

It is time for our elected officials to deliver on their campaign promises, to keep their eye on the real issues. Our state is broke, our laws are broken, and our taxpayers are no longer willing to wait for relief.  To our elected officials we say, “Don’t get distracted by the soft issues or by the emotional pleas.  If you truly want us to be singing “Don’t Worry…Be Happy,” then give us a reason. It’s Time to Deliver on tax relief.”

Please take a moment to read EJ’s opinion on the property tax cap as well as state spending.  He is, as is often the case, right on the mark.  http://www.timesunion.com/opinion/article/Limits-on-spending-and-property-taxes-are-critical-933717.php

The time for talking is over.  It is time to take action.  It is time to lower our tax burden and return New York to the Empire State we know and love.  Take a moment and send a note to your elected official and tell them you want a CAP and you want it now (http://bit.ly/fzO9LA).

Well, I believe there is hope.  Gov.-elect Cuomo’s plans align with our core principles.  For the past few years, Unshackle has clearly stated what needs to take place if our economy is to recover.  There are four keys actions government must take:

• Reduce state and local spending
• Reduce mandates on our taxpayers, local governments and school districts
• Reduce taxes, fees and assessment
• Reduce and lower state debt

What ails New York is as clear as the nose on your face -spending is growing faster than revenue.  It’s illogical to require taxpayers and businesses to adjust their spending based on revenue while the state simply creates more revenue through new taxes and fees, rather than cutting spending.  If this vicious cycle continues, it will surely lead to an even slower recovery and the loss of more jobs to other states and other countries.

At the center of New York’s spending problem are three cost drivers: education, Medicaid and labor.  Collectively, they account for more than 66 percent of state-controlled spending.  And after years of collective growth in these areas, 17 cents out of every dollar collected goes to pay down the state’s debt. Our state’s income taxes are now 22 percent higher than the national average, our local property taxes are 79 percent higher.

That’s simply unacceptable.  So as step one, we’re asking you to send a message to your  state legislators demanding support for a property tax cap with accompanying mandate relief for local governments.  All this talk of a circuit breaker instead of a property tax cap completely misses the point.  Without capping or reducing spending, a circuit breaker merely moves money around, reducing certain people’s tax bills while raising taxes for others. It does nothing to solve the root cause of the state’s skyrocketing property taxes. And the root cause is out-of-control spending.

The way to improve our economy is by lowering taxes and encouraging private sector job growth.  The simple fact is when people have more money, they will spend it in their communities. And that creates economic recovery.  Sure, we’re all frustrated, even discouraged. But now is not the time to give up.  You are the voice that Albany needs to hear. And we need everyone on board to make that voice louder.

Take the first step by sending your legislator a letter about the importance of a 2-percent tax cap.  Our work is just beginning.  Don’t be shy, join the fight!

212 seats are on the line and it is up to you to see which legislators are for you, for keeping and expanding businesses and for making our economy better. Check Unshackle’s list of endorsements and use your ONE vote to help get a pro taxpayer legislator in office who will embrace our agenda of reducing taxes, fees and assessments; cutting state and local spending; reducing state borrowing and curtailing mandates.

$171 a day our Albany lawmakers received to return back to Albany to vote on a budget that took 16 weeks to pass. Your ONE vote can help to get a legislator in office whose voting record demonstrates they have acted in the best interest of the NYS taxpayers.

$136 billion budget, passed predominantly along party lines, that raised state spending by 7.6%. There was obviously no balancing this budget! Your ONE vote could help get a legislator in there who will not vote to increase spending while NYS remains in a deficit.

125 days past the deadline, the New York State budget that we all waited for finally passed. What did we get out of it? Higher spending and more taxes with almost no presence of creating new jobs or improving the broken economy. Your ONE vote can elect an official who will not vote for numerous budget extenders just to give us a late and anti taxpayer budget.

62-member Senate that passed a 4% property tax cap. However higher than the 2.5% Unshackle proposed, your ONE vote could keep those in office that listened to the taxpayers need for a cap. Where was the Assembly with their votes?

8% of additional taxes and fees NYS taxpayers were hit with last year, and we are still getting buried. Your ONE vote will help to make sure that the average family of 4 no longer gets hit with $1300 of new taxes and fees.

Elected officials and Albany hopefuls have produced commercials, mailers and robo calls telling you what they plan to do, but ask them what they have done – get educated and informed. Share with your family and friends how important their ONE vote is…if we don’t get it right now, when will we?

The FACT of the matter is: Our Frustration should lead to Action that can bring about Change for our NYS Taxpayers. Vote based on facts, not opinion.

Your Voice. Your Decision. ONE Chance. ONE Vote.

11.2.10 – YOU be the judge!