Governor Cuomo and Governor Chris Christie of New Jersey announced that they have directed their state’s respective Homeland Security Advisors and State Police Superintendents to immediately lead a bi-state review of current safety and security procedures.

(CUOMO 9-16-15)

The governors will convene a meeting to review initial recommendations in 10 days. In 30 days, the group will again report directly back to both governors with any and all further findings and recommendations.
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Former Greene Police Chief Steven Dutcher pleaded guilty to 2 counts of official misconduct and 1 count of criminal contempt in Broome County Court. Dutcher purchased items with village funds for personal use, if Dutcher pays $3,038 in restitution to the village of Greene, he will be placed on probation and fined $1,000.
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Broome County Executive Debbie Preston presented a $365 million budget to the County Board Monday. Preston said the budget contains a 2.5% tax levy increase, due to unfunded state mandates & the rising costs of doing business. Taxpayers would see an annual tax increase of $5 per $80,000 in home value if the budget is passed by county lawmakers.
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The DEC reminded hunters to apply for deer management permits this week, ahead of the October 1 deadline. Hunters can apply for up to 2 deer management permits once they have secured a hunting license. Sporting licenses and permits can be purchased at one of DEC’s 1,100 license sales outlets, or ordered at 866-933-2257, or online at dec.ny.gov/permits.
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The Unadilla rotary club is hold an Autumn Fest in Unadilla this Saturday. Rotarian Zoë Vandermeulen explains:

(Zoë Vandermeulen 9-16-14)

The event runs form 10:00 AM to 3:00 PM at the Unadilla Community field Saturday.
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New York tax collections have continued to rise despite a growing income gap between its richest residents and everyone else, even as a national study shows overall growth in state tax receipts slowing as the income gap widens across the U.S. State officials say New York’s progressive income tax rate, which rises from 4 percent to nearly 9 percent for earnings above one milliond dollars, buoys its largest revenue stream for public services and helps insulate it from the problem faced by states dependent on more regressive taxes like sales taxes. New York’s annual average tax revenue growth is 3.28 percent so far in this decade.
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State Labor Commissioner Peter Rivera has convened a Wage Board as directed by Governor Cuomo. The Board will investigate what, if any, modifications should be made to the required cash wage rates, and the allowable credits for tips, meals and lodging for food service workers and service employees in the hospitality industry. The Wage Board, made up of members representing labor, businesses and the public, will make a recommendation to the Commissioner by February 2015
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New York ranks near the bottom for nursing home quality in an annual report that analyzes nursing home care in each state. The report by Families for Better Care, a Florida-based nursing home advocacy group, gives New York an overall grade of F and a rank of 45. New York received the same score and ranking in last year’s report. The report evaluates states on eight quality measures ranging from the average amount of nursing home staffing to the percentage of facilities with deficiencies. New York got failing or below average grades in five of eight categories. Read more at nursinghomereportcards.com
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