SUBJECT:

PURPOSE:

In 2004 the Assembly Cities Committee held &ldquot;City Summit&rdquot; hearings in an effort to discuss the challenges facing New York State's cities. The Committee received testimony on issues such as affordable housing programs, economic development and transportation. A main topic of concern to Cities was the unrestricted aid to localities and the need to strengthen the revenue sharing program.

In 2005 the enacted budget included a new Aid and Incentives to Municipalities program (AIM), which combines existing local revenue sharing with other State unrestricted aid programs while also providing $59.8 million in additional funding for cities, towns and villages. AIM provides 12.75% unrestricted aid increases for cities (other than New York City) in 2005-06. As a condition of receiving these aid increases, cities must use the new funding to minimize property tax growth and adopt fiscal accountability measures, including submitting multi-year financial plans.

This hearing will review the use of state aid by cities, in particular the 12.75% increase provided in the 2005-06 enacted budget, and will give municipalities an opportunity to discuss implementation of the conditions of the AIM program. Furthermore, the hearing will provide an opportunity for cities to revisit issues considered at the City Summit hearings and to discuss the progress made on such issues.

Please see below for a list of subjects to which witnesses may direct their testimony.

Persons wishing to present pertinent testimony to the Committee at the above hearing should complete and return the reply form as soon as possible. It is important that the reply form be fully completed and returned so that persons may be notified in the event of emergency postponement or cancellation.

Oral testimony will be limited to 10 minutes' duration. In preparing the order of witnesses, the Committee will attempt to accommodate individual requests to speak at particular times in view of special circumstances. These requests should be made on the attached reply form or communicated to Committee staff as early as possible. In the absence of a request, witnesses will be scheduled in the order in which reply forms are postmarked.

Ten copies of any prepared testimony should be submitted at the hearing registration desk. The Committee would appreciate advance receipt of prepared statements.

In order to further publicize these hearings, please inform interested parties and organizations of the Committee's interest in hearing testimony from all sources.

In order to meet the needs of those who may have a disability, the Assembly, in accordance with its policy of non-discrimination on the basis of disability, as well as the 1990 Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), has made its facilities and services available to all individuals with disabilities. For individuals with disabilities, accommodations will be provided, upon reasonable request, to afford such individuals access and admission to Assembly facilities and activities.

SELECTED ISSUES TO WHICH WITNESSES MAY DIRECT THEIR TESTIMONY:

1. What new initiatives has the city begun as a result of funding in the 2005-06 budget?

2. Has progress been made on any issues highlighted at the City Summit hearings?

3. What efforts has the city made to comply with the oversight requirements included in the AIM program?

4. What challenges, if any, has the city faced in complying with these oversight measures?

PUBLIC HEARING REPLY FORM

Persons wishing to present testimony at the public hearing on state funding for cities are requested to complete this reply form as soon as possible and mail it to:

Deborah Stevens
Legislative Associate
Assembly Committee on Cities
Room 520 - Capitol
Albany, New York 12248
Email: stevend@assembly.state.ny.us
Phone: (518) 455-4363
Fax: (518) 455-5182

I will address my remarks to the following subjects:

I will require assistance and/or handicapped accessibility information. Please specify the type of assistance required: