They are already struggling to pave roads, plow snow and keep their parks maintained.
But at a time when municipalities are watching every dollar so they can continue to provide basic services, the state is poised to take away a major revenue stream. This year's state budget will take fees collected by municipalities from traffic violations and give them to the state.
The plan, passed by the state Legislature in August, has local officials infuriated.
"If we tried doing something like this to the state, they'd scream and holler," said Brutus Town Supervisor Jon Ozolins. "It's a fair chunk of change and a big portion of costs in the town."
This item in the state budget would take fees from speeding tickets written on all state roads, local roads where the state sets the speed limit, and tickets written by troopers based on state ordinances - an estimated total of between $14 to $22 million.
In Cayuga County, it's a large portion of their court revenue.
"Twenty million dollars is less than a rounding error when estimating state revenue from income taxes," said Edward Farrell, executive director of the New York State Conference of Mayors and Municipal Officials. "There are many other ways to take revenue than take it from local governments. They're constantly looking for new revenues."
The amount a town or village could lose from these court fees depends on how many of these tickets are written. Part of the state's rationale behind transferring the surcharge money was that revenue generated by state troopers should go to the state, Farrell said.
"The whole premise behind it was silly. It's the state trooper's job to write tickets. It's what they're supposed to do," he said. "It seemed like a very weak judgment."
The new law took effect Aug. 20. With the state's budget still in flux, so is the fate of this transfer of revenue.
But when the state Assembly was in session last week, it voted to rescind this item in the budget. For the measure to be stricken from the budget, it would be up to the Senate, which is not expected to reconvene until November.
"We're optimistic the law is going to be repealed," Farrell said.
"To the Legislature's credit, they took a look and saw it was not good public policy. Whether the governor signs the bill remains to be seen."
The budget legislation did give towns and villages a way to make up the lost revenue. Municipalities could impose an optional surcharge of up to $10 per ticket, which could generate $9 million statewide if all towns and villages participated, according to the Office of the New York State Comptroller.
Enacting the surcharge could be a lengthy process, requiring a local law to be passed. And with the provision allowing the surcharge expiring Sept. 1, 2005, towns and villages could lose the opportunity.
Jim Young, supervisor for the town of Fleming, is reluctant to impose a surcharge when court fees are such a small portion of the town's total budget.
The Office of the New York State Comptroller estimated that Fleming could lose $2,580, or 28 percent of court fees, based on money collected in 2003. That estimate will vary depending on how many tickets are issued.
"It's not a moneymaker," Young said. "We don't look to get money from court fees."
Young sees the potential for greater losses in locations around the Thruway.
"I understand the rationale behind it. State troopers write most of the tickets some places, but it's not the case here," he said. "It will impact other towns way more than us."
Ozolins said municipalities closer to the Thruway - like Brutus - shouldn't be punished when it often takes some of their resources to keep the Thruway operating.
"They need to realize because the Thruway is here, there are costs associated with that," he said.
The state comptroller's office estimates that Brutus could lose a significant amount of money - $27,375 - based on court fees collected in 2003.
"Where does the money (to make up loss) come from? Do you cut services, not provide services, or lessen services?" he said.
Court fees go into a general operating fund for most municipalities, so it's hard to tell exactly what services would suffer because of the revenue loss.
"It's a source of revenue that helps pay court costs," Ozolins said.
"We're still in the process of next year's budget. I'm not sure how it's going to play out."
Many towns and villages see the legislation as a way to shift blame away from the state and make municipalities have to answer for the state's actions.
"If the state wants costs for that, then so be it. Then take over that responsibility," he said.
Aurelius Supervisor Edward Ide agrees.
"All that accomplishes is it transfers the blame for additional costs on someone else," he said.
There are other options the state could have taken to raise revenue, Ide said.
"My thought is why not just leave it alone and increase the surcharge," he said.
Ide said the state comptroller office's estimated loss of $5,830 for Aurelius would not be as bad as it could be, in comparison to the town's total budget.
"$5,000 in the budget isn't going to make too much impact on taxpayers," Ide said.
"Realistically, courts are a losing proposition anyway. We lose more than we ever take in. All this does is aggravate that loss."
Staff writer Liz Hacken can be reached at 253-5311 ext. 267 or elizabeth.hacken@lee.net
The plan, passed by the state Legislature in August, has local officials infuriated.
"If we tried doing something like this to the state, they'd scream and holler," said Brutus Town Supervisor Jon Ozolins. "It's a fair chunk of change and a big portion of costs in the town."
This item in the state budget would take fees from speeding tickets written on all state roads, local roads where the state sets the speed limit, and tickets written by troopers based on state ordinances - an estimated total of between $14 to $22 million.
In Cayuga County, it's a large portion of their court revenue.
"Twenty million dollars is less than a rounding error when estimating state revenue from income taxes," said Edward Farrell, executive director of the New York State Conference of Mayors and Municipal Officials. "There are many other ways to take revenue than take it from local governments. They're constantly looking for new revenues."
The amount a town or village could lose from these court fees depends on how many of these tickets are written. Part of the state's rationale behind transferring the surcharge money was that revenue generated by state troopers should go to the state, Farrell said.
"The whole premise behind it was silly. It's the state trooper's job to write tickets. It's what they're supposed to do," he said. "It seemed like a very weak judgment."
The new law took effect Aug. 20. With the state's budget still in flux, so is the fate of this transfer of revenue.
But when the state Assembly was in session last week, it voted to rescind this item in the budget. For the measure to be stricken from the budget, it would be up to the Senate, which is not expected to reconvene until November.
"We're optimistic the law is going to be repealed," Farrell said.
"To the Legislature's credit, they took a look and saw it was not good public policy. Whether the governor signs the bill remains to be seen."
The budget legislation did give towns and villages a way to make up the lost revenue. Municipalities could impose an optional surcharge of up to $10 per ticket, which could generate $9 million statewide if all towns and villages participated, according to the Office of the New York State Comptroller.
Enacting the surcharge could be a lengthy process, requiring a local law to be passed. And with the provision allowing the surcharge expiring Sept. 1, 2005, towns and villages could lose the opportunity.
Jim Young, supervisor for the town of Fleming, is reluctant to impose a surcharge when court fees are such a small portion of the town's total budget.
The Office of the New York State Comptroller estimated that Fleming could lose $2,580, or 28 percent of court fees, based on money collected in 2003. That estimate will vary depending on how many tickets are issued.
"It's not a moneymaker," Young said. "We don't look to get money from court fees."
Young sees the potential for greater losses in locations around the Thruway.
"I understand the rationale behind it. State troopers write most of the tickets some places, but it's not the case here," he said. "It will impact other towns way more than us."
Ozolins said municipalities closer to the Thruway - like Brutus - shouldn't be punished when it often takes some of their resources to keep the Thruway operating.
"They need to realize because the Thruway is here, there are costs associated with that," he said.
The state comptroller's office estimates that Brutus could lose a significant amount of money - $27,375 - based on court fees collected in 2003.
"Where does the money (to make up loss) come from? Do you cut services, not provide services, or lessen services?" he said.
Court fees go into a general operating fund for most municipalities, so it's hard to tell exactly what services would suffer because of the revenue loss.
"It's a source of revenue that helps pay court costs," Ozolins said.
"We're still in the process of next year's budget. I'm not sure how it's going to play out."
Many towns and villages see the legislation as a way to shift blame away from the state and make municipalities have to answer for the state's actions.
"If the state wants costs for that, then so be it. Then take over that responsibility," he said.
Aurelius Supervisor Edward Ide agrees.
"All that accomplishes is it transfers the blame for additional costs on someone else," he said.
There are other options the state could have taken to raise revenue, Ide said.
"My thought is why not just leave it alone and increase the surcharge," he said.
Ide said the state comptroller office's estimated loss of $5,830 for Aurelius would not be as bad as it could be, in comparison to the town's total budget.
"$5,000 in the budget isn't going to make too much impact on taxpayers," Ide said.
"Realistically, courts are a losing proposition anyway. We lose more than we ever take in. All this does is aggravate that loss."
Staff writer Liz Hacken can be reached at 253-5311 ext. 267 or elizabeth.hacken@lee.net
