A new database will give taxpayers a frame of reference and a new way to compare their numbers with other towns when tax bills come this year. The Empire Center for Public Policy announced this month a new database on its SeeThroughNY Web site, na Read More
It has been reported that Government Action Professionals, one of three lobbying firms in the running to become Niagara County’s main advocate for state and federal funds, counts as part of its staff former Erie County Deputy Executive Carl Calabrese and former City of Buffalo Mayor Anthony Masiello. Read More
Five years ago, the Utica City School District was so underfunded that it was suing the state for more aid. Fast forward to 2009, and the district has undergone the most dramatic jump in spending and state funding in the Mohawk Valley. The budg Read More
As the economy continues to show little sign of recovery, school districts across the Mohawk Valley are looking for ways to tighten their budgets. Staff cuts. Retirement incentives. Shared BOCES services. Still, some taxpayers and experts say t Read More
In these challenging economic times, many area school districts continue to offer lavish retirement incentives ranging from thousands of dollars to half of a teacher’s annual salary. Take the Clinton Central School District, where, since 1997, e Read More
WITH Democrats controlling the Senate in Albany for the first time since 1965, Sen. Malcolm Smith and his conference last month approved a 9 percent spending hike and $8 billion in new taxes and fees, including a $4 billion income-tax hike. In add Read More
It’s that time of year again: The day that determines the destiny of a large chunk of your family’s finances next year. The day that culminates months of planning, conferring and strategizing among parents, teachers, students and school officials Read More
Nowhere has this been done before," said Empire Center for Public Policy Senior Policy Analyst Lisa Bang-Jensen. Like it or not, almost 256,000 New York teachers' salaries are now just a click away. "Under state law, their salaries are public," Read More