By Francine DelMonte
Niagara Gazette
July 03, 2007 04:27 pm
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There were many positive results that came out of this year’s legislative session. We passed legislation to lower the cost of doing business in New York, provide property tax relief for middle-class homeowners, enact the largest education aid increase in state history and keep the most dangerous sexual predators behind bars. Specifically for Niagara County, we successfully passed legislation to protect the Great Lakes and expand the Niagara Wine Trail.
Workers’ compensation reform was one of the major accomplishments of the year (Ch. 6 of 2007). It’s no secret that we need to reduce the high cost of doing business in New York. The workers’ compensation reform law accomplished two goals: It reduced employer costs by 10 to 15 percent an d increased benefits for workers (which were among the lowest in the nation) for the first time in more than a decade. This will make our economy stronger and more competitive.
Civil confinement was another major accomplishment from this legislative session (Ch. 7 of 2007). The tough new law will prevent the most dangerous sexual predators from being released back into the community after they finish their prison terms. It will also increase penalties for people convicted of sex crimes. The law will keep our families safe from the worst sexual offenders by confining individuals who are likely to repeat their crimes until it's determined that they are no longer dangerous.
The state budget provided middle class homeowners with hundreds of dollars in property tax relief through rebate checks, In Niagara County, homeowners with household incomes up to $250,000 who qualify for Basic STAR will receive a rebate check ranging from $200 to $500, depending on income. Senior homeowners currently receiving tax breaks through Enhanced STAR, will receive a rebate check ranging from $200 to $350. Please note that Basic STAR recipients must apply for their rebate checks an application will come in the mail later this year. Seniors do not have to apply. They will receive the checks automatically.
The state budget also provided Niagara County school districts with record education funding for 2007 to 2008 thanks to a new state education formula based on need. Under the formula, Niagara County schools received a total of $16.9 million more than last year, The Niagara Falls school district also received an extra $1.79 million to help offset a loss of revenue due to the Niagara Charter School something I fought hard for in the Assembly.
A bill that was important to the Niagara County environmental community successfully passed the Legislature this year (A.248-B), This bill will protect the health and safety of Niagara County residents by preventing the siting of a new hazardous waste facility with the potential to discharge into the Great Lakes. The bill is headed to the governor.
We also passed legislation to expand and reconfigure the Niagara Wine Trail (A.7753). The Niagara Wine Trail has been extremely successful in helping Niagara County wineries attract customers from around the world. This bill will create the Niagara Escarpment Wine Trial and make both trails easier for visitors to navigate, In addition, we passed legislation to provide personal franchise tax breaks to fruit farmers under age 35 in order to help them purchase farms and keep agricultural lands in operation (A.2074). Both bills are headed to the governor.
Unfortunately, these accomplishments were overshadowed by the breakdown in negotiations between Governor Spitzer and Senator Bruno at the end of session. The Assembly passed legislation to reform the Wicks Law and expand the DNA database, but a stalemate with the Senate over campaign finance reform derailed negotiations and prevented these bills from becoming law. I hope that when the Legislature reconvenes this summer negotiations will resume and there will be a positive end to an already productive session.
Assembywoman Francine DelMonte is of the 138th District.
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