Local Government Assistance

Mission

Local Government Assistance programs provide a range of State aid and assistance for all classes of local governments. Key General Fund-supported programs include the Aid and Incentives for Municipalities (AIM) program, which allocates unrestricted State aid to cities, towns, and villages. Additionally, the Citizen Empowerment Tax Credits, Citizens Re-Organization Empowerment Grant program, and the Local Government Efficiency Grant program provide grants to local governments to encourage increased efficiency, municipal shared services, and/or governmental consolidation.

Budget Highlights

The Executive Budget recommends $816 million in All Funds appropriations to fund miscellaneous State aid and assistance programs, including $784 million in General Fund support to local governments under several aid programs. Included with the All Funds appropriations, the Budget recommends $2.5 million in General Fund state operating support for the Financial Restructuring Board for Local Governments and $30 million in Fiduciary Funds to cover contingency appropriation requirements. Overall, this represents a decrease of $58 million from FY 2016 All Funds appropriation levels, primarily due to reductions in the Local Government Performance and Efficiency Program (which will be maintained at current levels through reappropriations), Miscellaneous Financial Assistance, and Village per Capita Aid.

AIM funding to cities, towns, and villages is recommended to be maintained at $715 million. In addition, $39 million in appropriations for Citizen Empowerment Tax Credits, Citizens Re-Organization Empowerment Grants, and the Local Government Efficiency Grant program are recommended to be maintained.

Note: Most recent estimates as of 01/13/2016

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