Bill Text: NY A11057 | 2019-2020 | General Assembly | Introduced

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Bill Title: Makes an appropriation of $200,000 to the East End Supervisors and Mayors Association for a feasibility study update relating to the creation of Peconic county.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2020-10-07 - referred to local governments [A11057 Detail]

Download: New_York-2019-A11057-Introduced.html

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                STATE OF NEW YORK
        ________________________________________________________________________

                                          11057

                   IN ASSEMBLY

                                     October 7, 2020
                                       ___________

        Introduced  by  COMMITTEE ON RULES -- (at request of M. of A. Thiele) --
          read once and referred to the Committee on Local Governments

        AN ACT making an appropriation to the East End  Supervisors  and  Mayors
          Association for a feasibility study update relating to the creation of
          Peconic county

          The  People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assem-
        bly, do enact as follows:

     1    Section 1. The Legislature hereby finds that the creation  of  Peconic
     2  county from the towns of East Hampton, Riverhead, Shelter Island, South-
     3  ampton,  and Southold, from the existing county of Suffolk, would estab-
     4  lish New York state's 63rd county.
     5    The territory proposed to become Peconic county has  a  population  of
     6  136,793  or  9.2%  of  Suffolk  county's population. The territory which
     7  would become Peconic county makes up 45.7% of the real property tax base
     8  of Suffolk county. It is estimated the territory pays about 15%  of  the
     9  sales  tax.  If  Peconic county were created, it would have a population
    10  larger than 40 of New York State's 57 counties, outside of the  city  of
    11  New York.
    12    The territory proposed to be Peconic county is largely rural and exur-
    13  ban. The economic base of this region remains largely agriculture, fish-
    14  ing, second homes, and tourism. In contrast, western Suffolk is suburban
    15  with a much more commercial and industrial based economy. The population
    16  density  of the west is more than six times that of the proposed Peconic
    17  county. As a result of the long narrow  geography  of  Suffolk  and  the
    18  different  demographics  of  east and west, Suffolk county current main-
    19  tains three separate county centers in Hauppauge,  Yaphank,  and  River-
    20  head.
    21    In  1994, this legislature appropriated fifty thousand dollars towards
    22  the preparation of a Peconic county feasibility study. In 1995, "Peconic
    23  County Financial Feasibility Study" was issued. The study concluded that
    24  Peconic  county  was  financially  feasible.  Specifically,  the   study
    25  concluded  that  real  property taxes could be reduced by 50% in the new
    26  county with the same level or better services. Any financial  impact  to
    27  remaining Suffolk county would be minimal.

         EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                              [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                                   LBD17293-01-0
        A. 11057                            2

     1    In 1996, a referendum was held in the territory proposed to be Peconic
     2  county which requested that the legislature provide for a binding refer-
     3  endum on the question of the creation of Peconic county. That referendum
     4  passed  by  a  margin  of 71% to 29%. However, no binding referendum was
     5  ever held.
     6    The  legislature  wishes  to  pursue  measures which could improve the
     7  delivery of governmental services at a reduced cost. The Peconic  County
     8  Financial Feasibility Study must be updated in order to make an informed
     9  assessment of the financial impact of a new county.
    10    It  is  the  purpose of this act to update the feasibility of creating
    11  Peconic county. The study would be undertaken by the East  End  Supervi-
    12  sors and Mayors Association.
    13    §  2.  The  sum of two hundred thousand dollars ($200,000), or so much
    14  thereof as may be necessary, is hereby appropriated in the  fiscal  year
    15  2020-2021 to the East End Supervisors and Mayors Association, out of the
    16  moneys  in  the  state treasury in the general fund to the credit of the
    17  local assistance account, not otherwise  appropriated,  and  made  imme-
    18  diately available for the update of a financial feasibility study of the
    19  creation  of  Peconic  county. Such moneys shall be payable on the audit
    20  and warrant of the comptroller on vouchers certified or approved by  the
    21  department of state in the manner prescribed by law.
    22    § 3. This act shall take effect immediately.