By Joyce Kryszak
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Buffalo, NY – New York State Attorney General Andrew Cuomo was in Buffalo Thursday urging Western New Yorkers to take advantage of the new law that makes it easier to consolidate governments.
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A video on the AGs web site, Reform New York Government, guides people through what he said is a more streamlined process. Cuomo said the law gives citizens, or elected officials, a tool to do away with some of the state's wasteful duplication of government.
There are more than 10,000 separate governmental entities in the state and over 1,000 in Erie County alone. Cuomo said people don't have to wait for politicians to start the process.
The law replaces one on the books that Cuomo said was complicated and confusing. But the new law does have some limitations. It does not allow for a process to eliminate, cities, counties - or school districts. Some towns, such as Cheektowaga and Williamsville, have multiple districts. Assemblyman Sam Hoyt said he hopes to introduce legislation in January that would help consolidate school districts.
School district taxes are the largest portion of property tax bills, often cited as one of the biggest problems in attracting and retaining residents.