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VETO MESSAGE - No. 166

TO THE SENATE:

I am returning herewith, without my approval, the following bill:

Senate Bill Number 5522-A, entitled:

    "AN ACT to direct the department of education to study the frequency
      of  residents  who  are being assessed library taxes for more than
      one library district and to make recommendations  to  prevent  the
      double taxation of residents; and providing for the repeal of such
      provisions upon expiration thereof"

    NOT APPROVED

  This bill would direct the Commissioner of the State Education Depart-
ment,  in  consultation with the Commissioner of the Department of Taxa-
tion and Finance, along with other  interested  parties,  to  study  the
frequency  of  New  York  State residents who are being assessed library
taxes for more than one library district.

  While the purpose of the study required by  the  bill  is  a  laudable
pursuit,  the state agencies required to undertake such study are unable
to effectively undertake this mandate without  additional  funding.  The
State  Education  Department does not have access to the data that would
be required to complete this study, and any action to obtain  that  data
from  local  governments would be a costly endeavor. The bill would also
be unduly burdensome on the Department of Taxation and Finance,  as  the
data  required  to complete this study is similarly not readily accessi-
ble.  Furthermore, this bill would result in significant costs that  are
not accounted for within the state financial plan.

  This bill is statewide legislation designed to solve a local community
problem,   as  opposed  to  simply  addressing  the  specific  community
concerns, such as the solution put forth in Chapter 401 of the  Laws  of
1997. I am therefore constrained to veto this bill.

  The bill is disapproved.                    (signed) ANDREW M. CUOMO

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