(Long Island, NY) Senate Finance Committee Chair John A. DeFrancisco and Assembly Ways and Means Committee Chair Herman D. Farrell, Jr. today announced the first Joint Legislative Hearing, in a series of 13 hearings will be held on Monday, January 27.
During the Local Government /General Government hearing, which marks the beginning of the legislative review process for the 2014-2015 Executive Budget, government officials and representatives of local government groups will have an opportunity to address the Senate and Assembly fiscal committees.
These joint legislative hearings will continue through Tuesday, February 11 and are available for live viewing on the Senate and Assembly websites and the Legislative Channel (available on cable systems throughout the state), but will be preempted when the houses are in session. At the conclusion of the legislative deliberations, live televised coverage of the hearings will resume.
Among the city mayors scheduled to testify are Bill de Blasio, New York City; Byron Brown, Buffalo; Stephanie Miner, Syracuse; Mike Spano, Yonkers;Kathy M. Sheehan, Albany; and Lovely Warren, Rochester.
Other municipal officials and local government advocates are also expected to testify, including New York City Comptroller Scott Stringer; New York City Council Speaker Melissa Mark-Viverito; Steven J. Acquario, executive director, New York State Association of Counties; Dutchess County Executive Marcus Molinaro; Peter Baynes, executive director, New York State Conference of Mayors; and Barbara Bartoletti, legislative director, League of Women Voters of New York State.
In addition, testimony also will be provided by Oneida County Executive Anthony Picente, president, NYS County Executive Association; Gerry Geist, executive director, Association of Towns of the State of New York; and John Whitley, legislative affairs officer, NYS Property Tax Reform Coalition.
