Just before the end of 2023, my bill to overhaul the antiquated village incorporation laws was signed into law by Governor Hochul. This defeated the proposed Hasidic Village of Seven Springs and protected local and county taxpayers from reckless development.
When an annexation of land from the Town of Monroe to the Village of Kiryas Joel took place in 2017, a handful of disgruntled property owners—left out of the newly annexed territory—attempted to form a separate village on largely undeveloped land. The proposed village comprised approximately 600 residents, and though it received almost no public support, little could be done to oppose the petition under the existing state law that governed the establishment of villages.
What might have been appropriate when village incorporation law was formed over 100 years ago no longer works today. New villages require key services such as sanitation, highway maintenance, and public safety. The suggestion that as few as 70 homes could realistically sustain a robust municipal infrastructure is not only impossible, it could do real and lasting damage to area taxpayers.
Inaction was not an option, so I worked tirelessly to ensure the stakes of this bill were understood by my colleagues, and the legislation passed in both the Senate and the Assembly. Key provisions of the law include increasing the number of residents required for a new village from 500 to 1500. There is also a requirement for a study to be conducted of fiscal, service, and taxation impacts on residents of the proposed village and residents of the surrounding towns for a village incorporation to move forward.
January 3rd marked the first day of a new legislative session, and I am looking forward to continuing to represent our district to the best of my ability—and delivering for Orange County at every opportunity. Here’s to a successful 2024!
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