Governor Andrew M. Cuomo recently announced that $9.7 million through the Citizen Empowerment Tax Credit has been delivered to 19 local governments across New York where voters approved a village dissolution within their boundaries. An additional three municipalities that completed a village dissolution at the end of 2017 will also begin to receive this annual tax credit benefit.

"I commend these local governments for working together with their communities to increase efficiency and decrease layers of bureaucracy in order to lower costs and tackle property taxes, which are still the most onerous tax in New York," Governor Cuomo said. "We will continue to work with any locality that seeks to explore ways to modernize and streamline their operations in order to deliver tax relief for their residents."

In 2011, Governor Cuomo created the Citizen Empowerment Tax Credit to provide annual aid to local governments moving forward with consolidations or dissolutions. The annual aid is equal to 15 percent of the combined amount of real property taxes levied by all the municipalities involved in the consolidation or dissolution, not exceeding $1 million. At least 70 percent of the aid must be returned to the residents of the local government in the form of direct property tax relief.

New York Secretary of State Rossana Rosado said, "The Department of State continues to assist municipalities across New York with reducing duplicative local government services. These credits empower communities to work smarter and more efficiently for their residents."

Municipalities currently benefiting from the annual CETC, totaling $9,718,411, include:

Capital Region:

• $133,047 to the Town of Salem for the dissolution of the Village of Salem (total $266,094 since 2016).

Mohawk Valley:

• $78,960 to the Town of Bridgewater for the dissolution of the Village of Bridgewater (total $236,880 since 2015).
• $47,749 to the Town of Trenton for the dissolution of the Village of Prospect (total $95,498 since 2016).

North Country:

• $124,762 to the Town of Au Sable for the dissolution of the Village of Keeseville (total $374,287 since 2015).
• $104,897 to the Town of Chesterfield for the dissolution of the Village of Keeseville (total $314,690 since 2015).
• $90,199 to the Town of Edwards for the dissolution of the Village of Edwards (total $450,995 since 2013).
• $85,223 to the Town of Hermon for the dissolution of the Village of Hermon (since 2017).
• $350,609 to the Town of Moriah for the dissolution of the Village of Port Henry (since 2017).
• $139,703 to the Town of Wilna for the dissolution of the Village of Herrings (since 2017).

Finger Lakes:

• $428,160 to the Town of Lyons for the dissolution of the Village of Lyons (total $856,320 since 2016).
• $364,925 to the Town of Macedon for the dissolution of the Village of Macedon (since 2017).
• $57,133 to the Town of Pike for the dissolution of the Village of Pike (total $457,064 since 2010).
• $538,557 to the Town of Seneca Falls for the dissolution of the Village of Seneca Falls (total $3,231,340 since 2012).

Central New York

• $58,698 to the Town of Albion for the dissolution of the Village of Altmar (total $234,792 since 2014).

Western New York:

• $40,652 to the Town of Carrollton for the dissolution of the Village of Limestone (total $284,566 since 2011).
• $27,974 to the Town of Conewango for the dissolution of the Village of East Randolph (total $167,845 since 2012).
• $185,643 to the Town of Hanover for the dissolution of the Village of Forestville (since 2017).
• $75,477 to the Town of Perrysburg for the dissolution of the Village of Perrysburg (total $452,864 since 2012).
• $53,453 to the Town of Randolph for the dissolution of the Village of East Randolph (total $320,718 since 2012).
• $141,393 to the Town of Randolph for the dissolution of the Village of Randolph (total $848,356 since 2012).

As of the end of 2017, an additional three municipalities will benefit from the CETC starting this year (annual amounts to be determined):

Long Island:

• The Town of Brookhaven will receive benefit from the CETC for the dissolution of Mastic Beach.

Western New York:

• The Town of Cherry Creek will receive the benefit for the dissolution of the Village of Cherry Creek.

Mohawk Valley:

• The Town of Trenton will receive another benefit for the dissolution of the Village of Barneveld.

In addition to the CETC, the Department of State offers planning and implementation incentives for municipalities considering either consolidation or dissolution, and for the establishment of new partnerships between all levels of local governments, including school districts. New York residents and community leaders seeking to learn more about community consolidation or dissolution should visit the New York Department of State's Division of Local Government Services.