Town of North Hempstead Supervisor Jon Kaiman recently joined a number of local officials in a round table discussion on keeping taxes affordable.
The discussion at the Village of Hempstead Public Library focused on the PAYGo NY program, an initiative aimed at protecting taxpayers and the essential services they rely on by utilizing innovative, local strategies to address unfunded mandates and the rising cost of public services.
“My administration, which formed the Office of Inter-municipal Coordination in 2006 specifically to help governments and municipal corporations work together to provide taxpayers with the highest level of services at reduced costs, understands the idea of effectively delivering public services,” Kaiman said at the June 27 meeting. “PAYGo is a substantial program that will benefit the overall economy as well as ultimately improve the quality of government.”
PAYGo NY was created by Mike Hein, Ulster County’s first county executive. He said on his web site (www.paygony.com) that the program means constantly evaluating government’s actions, assets and financial position in order to develop new and innovative ways to ensure that essential services are protected.
Other elected officials who participated in the discussion included Nassau County Legislator Delia Deriggi-Whitton, Nassau County District Attorney Kathleen Rice, Southampton Town Supervisor Anna Throne-Holst, and Village of Hempstead Mayor Wayne Hall, among others.
Hein has taken his program on the road throughout the state to help garner support for and spread the word about PAYGo NY and the fact that it can work for every government.
