Economic Development

Until New York fixes its business tax climate, it must do what it can to retain current businesses while enticing others to move to New York. That includes using the Excelsior Jobs program to offer tax credits that encourage growth and promoting issues such as Tax Increment Financing and New Market Tax Credits to help bolster state and local funds.

  • Amend Civil Service Law in Relation to Binding Arbitration | 2012

    This bill would require a public arbitration panel to consider above all other factors the financial ability of the public employer to pay during contract disputes. 

     

  • Citizen Suits | 2012

    This billwould to allow private "citizen suits" to be brought in response to alleged violations of the Environmental Conservation Law

  • Consumer Protect | 2012

    Consumer Protect

  • New Defined Contribution Plan | 2012

    This bill would freeze the current retirement tier of all elected officials and non-civil service appointed employees in New York State, and creates a new defined contribution plan for those employees. 

  • Removing the Triborough Amendment | 2012

    This bill would remove the requirement that a public employer continue terms of an expired agreement until a new agreement is negotiated

  • Solar Energy Subsidy Program | 2012

    These bills propose the creation of a solar energy development subsidy program paid for by energy ratepayers through a solar renewable energy credit (SREC) system.  While Unshackle Upstate supports job growth arising from a transition to a “green economy,” our organization is strongly opposed to these proposals, which would impose a hidden “solar tax” on energy ratepayers 

  • TIF Bonding | 2011

  • Agriculture Worker Mandate | 2010

    Agriculture Worker Mandate

  • TIF Bonding | 2010

    TIF Bonding

  • Non Profit Financing IDAs | 2009

     

    June 16, 2009
     
    RE:   AN ACT to amend the general municipal 
             law, in relation to a civic facility
     
    A. 5700 (Morelle)
    S. 2898 (Stachowski)
           
    MEMORANDUM IN SUPPORT
     
    Unshackle Upstate, a bi-partisan coalition of over 70+ business and trade organizations representing a 
    growing group of 45,000 companies and employing more than 1 million people support the enactment of 
    the aforementioned bill.  This legislation would permanently authorize Industrial Development Agencies 
    (IDAs) to finance non profit projects in the state of New York.  Currently, New York State has no 
    mechanism for such IDA action since this provision sunset in January of last year, causing a severe void 
    for many economic development projects.  What is equally troublesome is the fact that New York is the 
    only state in the nation that has voluntarily forfeited this federal tax-exempt bonding program.  
     
    This law had been in effect since 1986, and has been extended numerous times by the Governor and 
    Legislature.  According to the New York State Economic Development Council, this state has walked 
    away from over $2.5 billion dollars worth of non profit construction and expansion projects since the 
    program lapsed.  
     
    Due to this stall, many nonprofit projects have been forced to refinance at much higher rates.  
    Furthermore, New York State is losing $15 million in Bond Issuance Charges that would have otherwise 
    been paid to the state and another $60 million in personal income taxes from workers and employees had 
    these projects been authorized.
     
    At this time, especially with New York State’s finances engulfed in a serious fiscal crisis, IDAs become 
    even more valuable for economic development projects across the state.  We need to be focused on 
    restoring the program to incentivize civic facilities projects as opposed to adding additional requirements 
    and mandates to a program that has been very effective in the past.   Further delays of this kind severely 
    hamper much needed development projects in the areas of this state that need it most – Upstate.  
     
    For these reasons, Unshackle Upstate supports the enactment of this legislation.