While the end-of-session attention focused on renewing expiring laws important to the families of New York City (i.e. Rent Regulations and School Governance), I fought for the families of Rochester so they may benefit from this legislative package as well. The end-of-session omnibus legislation has two major components to help our families in Rochester, Chili and Henrietta.

EDUCATION CHANGES TO HELP OUR STUDENTS

Because I listened to parents and students, I am happy to report that included in the end-of-session legislation are changes related to public education that will:

• Require an approach to have tests be a learning instructional tool for parents, students, teachers and not merely used for performance evaluation;
• Create a content review committee to review all standardized tests in grades 3 through 8 in English language arts and math to ensure these tests are fair, accurate and appropriate for each grade level; and
• Take into account factors such as poverty, English Language Learner (ELL) status, students with disabilities and prior academic history when measuring student growth under the new teacher evaluation system.

These changes address concerns raised by parents, students and educators. It is my hope that parents, students, educators and boards of education will find these changes create additional flexibility needed to offer the best educational opportunities for our children.

PROTECTING MIDDLECLASS FAMILIES AND TAXPAYERS

Additionally, this end-of-session legislation contains provisions that will provide relief to families and from the burden of property taxes. The current agreement includes a high-bred version of the Assembly circuit breaker tax relief program. Under the new proposal families will receive a rebate check based on their income and current property tax obligation. Meaning that the lower your income and the higher your tax the more relief you will receive in the form of a rebate check, providing real tax relief to those who need it most. The provisions in this bill include:

• a new four-year, $3.1 billion property tax rebate program that will give homeowners much-needed property tax relief;
• addition to homeowners’ School Tax Relief (STAR) benefits and are contingent upon schools and municipalities staying within the 2 percent property tax cap;
• after the first year the amount of the rebates will be based on a household’s annual income for families earning up to $275,000; and
• senior citizens in the Enhanced STAR program will receive the property tax rebates, which will increase to 34 percent of their current savings over the next four years.

Additionally, a program created last year will send a second rebate check in 2016 to residents whose school district and municipality take steps to reduce costs and adhere to the tax cap.

Reforms to the tax cap will allow exemptions for BOCES programs’ capital expenses as well as payments in lieu of taxes (PILOTs) agreements. By taking BOCES payments and PILOTs into account, it will help school districts and local governments make necessary investments for the future while keeping their commitment to lowering the property tax burden.

These tax relief measures will make a real difference in the lives of so many of our middleclass families struggling to make ends meet. I am proud to have fought for these changes and I know we are on the right track to providing real benefit for our future.

Finally, as a member of the Rochester/Monroe County Anti-Poverty Initiative, I am pleased to join my Rochester colleagues to announce the end-of-session legislation appropriated an additional $6 million to empower the families to reach their goals and break the cycle of poverty.

While many thought this session was going to end with a whimper and others thought it would end with a bang, I believe that it ended with relief. Much needed relief for our children and their education and to our overburdened taxpayers. I will continue to listen to your needs and fill you in on our progress.