AN ADVOCATE FOR LOCAL GOVERNMENT

Fighting to Preserve Local Government

Michelle understands how local governments work and the significant impact they have on shaping our community's quality of life. This is why she has led the opposition at the state level against the push for the consolidation/dissolution of local governments. Despite her efforts, the State Legislature passed the New York Government Reorganization and Citizens Empowerment Act (Empowerment Act), which is now law. The Empowerment Act expedites the process by which local governments can consolidate or dissolve. Although the goal of the legislation is laudable, there were significant technical problems with the new consolidation/dissolution process it created. Realizing that these technical issues needed to be addressed in order to prevent costly legal challenges to the local governments attempting to consolidate or dissolve, Michelle introduced amendments to the law to fix these problems. Michelle will continue to fight to preserve the local autonomy of New York's towns, villages, special districts and fire departments.

Increasing Government Transparency

Michelle co-sponsored legislation (A.11156), now law, which increases governmental transparency of special improvement districts by requiring all public notices, including notices of public meetings, hearings and elections, annual financial reports and audits, to be posted on the website of the district and the town in which the district is located. Most recently, Michelle co-sponsored legislation to reform the state's public authorities. For years the Metropolitan Transit Authority, Thruway Authority and more than 700 other public authorities have largely operated without oversight and limited public scrutiny. This legislation (Ch. 506 of 2009) streamlines the operations of public authorities and increases government oversight and accountability over them.

Saving Taxpayers Money

Michelle has introduced legislation that will help save taxpayers money through the practice of shared municipal services. She recently introduced a bill (A.10768) that will allow BOCES to contract with third party vendors to provide technology and telecommunication services to school districts and municipalities. Last year, Michelle helped secure a $1 million state grant for Nassau BOCES to streamline administrative functions, which will save taxpayers an estimated $41 million dollars over the next 10 years.