News
Counties in the News, May 8, 2017
- By: NYSAC
- On: 05/08/2017 11:23:15
- In: Counties in the News
Monday's news for counties across the state.
NYSACMayday for Mandate Relief
The enacted 2017-18 NYS Budget expands indigent legal defense services, one of the nine state mandates that equate to 99 percent of the property taxes levied by counties across the state (outside of New York City).
The budget requires counties to provide an attorney at first arraignment, which is “the first appearance by a person charged with a crime before a judge or magistrate.” It also places caseload caps for public defenders to ensure that those eligible for a publicly funded attorney get fair and adequate counsel.
While the state has pledged to cover the county costs of these expanded services, counties still fund the existing costs of the indigent legal defense program. In 2015, the latest full year data available, local taxpayers from the 57 counties and City of New York spent nearly $389 million on indigent legal services. The 57 counties outside of NYC spent $164 million annually on public defense. The state's share of the program was $39 million, which was about 25% of the costs of the program.
NATION
Survey says just 5 percent of economists believe Trump's big tax promise
States face big changes under GOP plan
STATEWIDE
N.Y. Health Department releases medical marijuana provider list
LONG ISLAND
County Executive Bellone Announces Suffolk Landbank To Revitalize Additional Brownfield Sites In Babylon, Brookhaven And Islip
Former NYPD narcotics detective among 14 people indicted in LI-NYC heroin ring
HUDSON VALLEY
Orange County Government Center to reopen this fall
Local officials optimistic about new European service from Stewart
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Westchester County and Standard Amusements roll out Playland work plan (Video)
CAPITAL
Rensselaer County planning major roadwork
Governor Cuomo Announces $13 Million Bridge Replacement Project in Greene County is Underway
5K event raises awareness for literacy in Rensselaer County
NORTH COUNTRY
St. Lawrence County legislators call on state officials to renew county's 4 percent sales tax
Franklin County courtroom space inadequate, judge tells county Legislature
County officials stand by support of Collins-Faso AHCA amendment
Strength and character
MOHAWK VALLEY
Tax cap for counties just got stronger
Oneida County STOP DWI Program recognizes law enforcement officers
SOUTHERN TIER
Local Counties to Begin Shared Services Process (Video)
Broome Developmental Center could become drug treatment facility
CENTRAL NEW YORK
Why Mahoney says Auburn should care about potential Onondaga County-Syracuse merger
Legislature to decide on numerous grants
FINGER LAKES
County's 'Paths to Empowerment' to assist residents with getting jobs (Video)
WESTERN NEW YORK
Poloncarz says White House cuts to opioid programs would be "unfathomable double-cross"
County to collect household hazardous waste
County seeks funding for Chautauqua Lake projects
Push to enact new protections in nursing homes embraced by county lawmakers