submitted by Chris Meyer
Rensselaer County Executive Kathleen M. Jimino (at podium) is pictured during a recent press conference where she joined State and other County officials, along with representatives of the New York State Bar Association at a press conference in support of legislation that would require the State to assume the cost of indigent legal representation.
[private]
Jimino said, “New York State currently mandates that counties pay for the costs of legal defense for those the courts decide cannot afford an attorney. This is just one of the many State-imposed unfunded mandates that consume 90 cents of every tax dollar the County raises. If the State was to pay for this program in its entirety, the County and our taxpayers would see approximately $2.5 million in savings, allowing for a 5% reduction in the County property tax bill of every homeowner and business.”
The bill (S.6341/A.6202B) is being sponsored by Senator DeFrancisco and Assemblywoman Patricia Fahey in their respective houses of the New York State Legislature.[/private]