FOR RELEASE: IMMEDIATELY
CONTACT (585) 334-5210
January
27, 2010
REMINDER: STAR EXEMPTIONS MUST BE FILED BY MARCH 1
Residents who have not yet applied for their Basic STAR
Exemption on their primary residence must do so by
March 1, 2010.
The Basic STAR Program allows residents to exempt the first
$30,000 from the full value of their home for school property taxes.
Additionally, New Yorkers who turn 65 years of age anytime in
2010 can now file for the Enhanced STAR Exemption on the
first $60,100 of the full value of their home from school taxes.
For those owning land used for agriculture, the Agricultural
Land Exemption must also be filed by March 1.
This exemption provides “use value” assessment for eligible
farmland. This allows farmland to be taxed for its agricultural
value, rather than its market (i.e., non-farm-development) value.
For more information on qualifying or applying for these exemptions,
please contact your local assessor’s office.
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January 26,
2010
FARM BUREAU NAMES ERRIGO TO “CIRCLE OF FRIENDS”
Voting
record shows support for critical agricultural industry
It
is with great honor that I was accepted into the New York Farm
Bureau’s “Circle of Friends” last week.
It is a title that I have held uninterrupted throughout
my tenure in the Assembly and one which I hold dear to my heart.
The family farms and the agriculture industry in the 130th
Assembly District and throughout
New York
continue to be the economic cornerstone of this state and I am
proud to support their efforts.
This year, I will continue to
voice my support for family farmers hurt by artificially low
milk prices while the
cost of producing milk increases on a daily basis.
I also will work to fix the business environment in New York, which not only bankrupts farms and
cripples families but drives businesses of all types out of New York.
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December 4, 2009
ERRIGO VOTES AGAINST SHORT SIGHTED DRP
Statement by Assemblyman Joe Errigo
Earlier this week, the Assembly majority
passed a deficit reduction plan (DRP). I voted against this DRP
because next year’s budget problems will only be exacerbated with
the plan passed by the Assembly majority.
The Assembly Republican Conference laid out more solvent and forward
thinking proposals; unfortunately they were not incorporated into
the final deficit reduction plan and this ultimately made the
legislation weaker and less effective.
I look forward to working with my colleagues as we will once
again be forced to address
New York’s worsening fiscal crisis in 2010.
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November 17, 2009
ERRIGO CALLS FOR
IMPLEMENTATION OF ASSEMBLY REPUBLICAN DEFICIT REDUCTION PLAN
Governor has yet to comment
on proposed plan

Assemblyman Joe Errigo today called for a response from
Governor Paterson as to why he called the legislature back into
session prior to an agreement for a Deficit Reduction Plan and why
he has yet to comment on proposed cuts suggested by the Assembly
Republican Conference.
In an effort to reverse the governor’s $480 million and $287 million
cuts to education and Medicaid respectively, the Assembly Republican
Conference outlined a plan which would accept almost $2.09 billion
of the governor’s proposed cuts, as well as substituting $1.66
billion in itemized cuts to wasteful spending.
Proposed alternative cuts include the elimination of member
items, cuts to state land acquisition, agency consolidations and a
reduction in the cost of contracts the state enters into.
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November 10, 2009
SPECIAL
SESSION PRODUCES NO RESULTS TO LOOMING PROBLEMS
A column
from Assemblyman Joe Errigo
Today’s special session should be the last straw for taxpayers who
were hopeful that the governor and his allies would stop playing
political games and get to work on fixing New York’s economy and
Albany’s spending problem.
There is not a strong
enough word to express how my fellow Republicans and I feel after
being called back to Albany only to have our time and taxpayer money
wasted in order for the governor to deliver a speech that was big on
rhetoric but zero on follow through.
The time has come for a change in leadership that will
produce the vision and force necessary to put New York
back on the path to prosperity and results.
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November 9, 2009
REMEMBER TO GIVE THANKS TO A VETERAN THIS WEEK
A column from
Assemblyman Joe Errigo
Veterans Day is a time to remember those who have protected our
freedoms both abroad and at home.
Not every veteran has seen the front lines or been involved
in the heat of a battle; yet every single individual who has put on
the uniform of the United States Armed Forces holds a deep respect
for our rights and an undying passion for this country which cannot
be put into words.
I had the honor of
serving this country to ensure that our freedoms, which our
forefathers fought for were not diminished or eroded.
Countless men and women have given their lives throughout the
years to guarantee that our nation will continue to be a beacon of
light to oppressed people around the world.
Those who served demonstrate by their example that democracy
and freedom are not just words but inalienable rights given to us by
our creator and worth fighting to protect.
We must remember to
continue to provide love and support to those currently serving
around the world. Veterans Day reminds us that there are hundreds of
thousands more who are living in our neighborhoods, towns and cities
who deserve our respect and admiration.
These often unsung heroes must be recognized for their
sacrifice to our country.
To all veterans, I
salute and thank you for your service and encourage all to thank the
veterans in your life and remember that without their service, the
world would be a vastly different place today.
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October 29, 2009
TEXTING WHILE DRIVING BAN TO BECOME LAW SUNDAY
A statement from
Assemblyman Joe Errigo
The recently passed
legislation, which bans texting while driving, is set to go into
effect this Sunday, November 1.
I supported this law because of the tragic consequences
texting while driving can have particularly for those young drivers
without the experience to have established quality driving habits.
This law originated after the tragic June 2007 deaths of five teenagers
who lost their lives when their vehicle hit a tractor trailer. In
addition, a study by the Virginia Tech Transportation
Institute found that a crash is 23 times more likely to occur if a
driver is texting while operating a moving vehicle.
The law calls for a fine of up to $150 for
drivers found to have violated this law.
The law prohibits
drivers from using handheld devices or laptops to send text
messages or read, view or transmit images or data, while a vehicle
is moving. This ban is
in addition to the current state ban on the use of a cell phone
while driving without the use of a hands-free device.
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