The back of the November 5th ballot with Proposal Number Three dealing with Sewage treatment being added to the debt limit for municipalities. (Photo/ Josh Williams)
PERRY — The Village Board is concerned over a proposed law on the November 5th ballot that could affect debt limitations for smaller municipalities.
On the back of the this year’s ballot, there are a variety of statewide propositions, one of which would extend for an additional ten years the current provision in the State Constitution that allows local governments to exclude from their constitutional debt limit and indebtedness contracted for the construction or reconstruction of facilities for the conveyance, treatment and disposal of sewage.
According to the New York Conference of Mayors, without approval of this constitutional amendment, municipalities would lose the ability to exclude sewer debt from their debt limits, effective January 1, 2014. This would affect their ability to finance municipal operations.
“This is very important to small municipalities and we need to get the word out.” said Rick Hauser, Village of Perry Mayor.
Voters must turn the ballot over to the back side of the ballot to vote, and officials are concerned that many are unaware of what would happen if Proposition #3 is not passed.
The Village Board, along with the New York Conference of Mayors, is asking voters to vote Yes to extend the Provision Sewer Debt Exclusion on the November ballot.