TIME IS RUNNING OUT! CONTACT YOUR LEGISLATORS ABOUT INCREASED FUNDING FOR YOUR COMMUNITIES

VIEW UPDATE (added 3-27-25) 

RESOURCES ASSOCIATED WITH ARPA REPORTING REQUIREMENTS

• Act Now If You’re Behind on ARPA SLFRF: Non-Compliance Explained
• How to Report Obligations: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PaCpCt8K-1w&t=692s
• How to Prepare for the Reporting Deadline: https://www.nlc.org/article/2025/01/24/how-to-prepare-for-your-next-arpa-reporting-deadline/

RESOURCES ASSOCIATED WITH OBLIGATING ARPA FUNDS

Consistant with the final rule issued by the US Treasury, all ARPA funds must have been obligated by December 31, 2024. The information below will clarify the amended definition of "obligation" and several related issues.

• Obligating revenue replacement: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z9AlPZBVP34&t=559s
• Webinar and Slide Deck: Countdown to the ARPA SLFRF Obligation Deadline: What Local Governments Need to Know Before December 31, 2024 
• Obligate it or Lose it! Preparing for the Upcoming ARPA SLFRF Obligation Deadline
• Webinar: U.S. Department of the Treasury: State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds: New Obligation FAQs

WEBINAR QUESTIONS AND SLFRF FAQ REFERENCES
The updated obligation-related FAQs are found in the new Section 17: https://home.treasury.gov/system/files/136/SLFRF-Final-Rule-FAQ.pdf

• What is an obligation? Please refer to Section 17 of the SLFRF FAQs for the latest information on the obligation requirement and how to meet the obligation deadline of December 31, 2024.
• Do subrecipients have an obligation deadline? No. Refer to FAQ 17.18.
• Are revenue loss funds automatically obligated? No. Refer to FAQ 17.15.
• Questions about personnel costs in 2025 and 2026: Refer to FAQs 17.6, 17.7, and 17.9.
• Questions about flexibilities for contracts after the obligation deadline: Refer to FAQs 17.16, 17.17, and FAQ 17.19.
• What if I have questions about legal and administrative costs after the obligation deadline? For more information on these expenses, refer to FAQs 17.10, 17.11, 17.12, and 17.13.
• What if my community has already obligated all of our SLFRF funds?  Please see FAQ 17.3 and 17.14.  Remember that all SLFRF recipients are required to continue to submit reports to Treasury as outlined in the SLFRF Compliance and Reporting Guidance.

FREEPORT
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 23
(9:30 a.m.-2:15 p.m.)

While there is no charge for this in-person workshop, we ask that you please use the link to register so that we have an accurate headcount. This workshop is eligible for 3.0 elective credits for those enrolled in NYCOM's Elected Officials Academy.

Address: Freeport Recreation Center, Room 101, 130 East Merrick Road, Freeport, NY

This workshop will provide village and city officials with the knowledge and tools you need during your transition to public service and will enable you to hit the ground running. Seasoned officials in need of a refresher are also invited to attend. Registration includes all workshop materials and lunch.

AGENDA

9:30 a.m. - Welcoming Remarks: Mayor Robert Kennedy, Village of Freeport and Barbara Van Epps, NYCOM Executive Director

9:45 a.m. - 11:00 a.m. - The Essentials of Village/City Government

• Roles and Responsibilities of Elected and Appointed Officials
• Open Meetings Law
• Running Effective Meetings
• Handling Municipal Records

Speakers: Wade Beltramo, NYCOM General Counsel and Rebecca Ruscito, NYCOM Counsel

11:00 a.m. - 12:15 p.m. - Local Government Finance

• Property Taxes
• The Tax Cap
• Other Revenue Options
• State Aid
• The Budget Process
• Expenditure of Funds

Speakers: Brian Coffin, NYCOM Legislative Director and Barbara Van Epps, NYCOM Executive Director

12:15 p.m. - Networking Lunch

1:00 p.m. - 2:15 p.m. - Public Integrity and Workforce Management

• Municipal Ethics
• Employee Relations

Speaker: John Mancini, NYCOM Counsel

2:15 p.m. - Workshop Concludes

SUMMARY OF ONE-HOUSE BUDGET BILLS

VIEW UPDATE (added 3-13-25) 

SUNY Potsdam recently announced that it is offering microcredential programs to address targeted market needs. These programs will allow local government employees and candidates for employment to earn microcredentials in the areas of public sector grant writing and spatial data analysis with GIS. A microcredential is a short course of study that focuses on a particular skill. All microcredentials will launch this summer and will be offered online for maximum compatibility with work schedules. Course durations will vary from six weeks to two semesters.

Many smaller municipalities lack the resources to effectively research, apply for, and secure grants. Training in grant writing can help local governments access much-needed funding, while education in spatial data analysis with GIS enhances municipal planning and decision-making capabilities.
Additionally, these programs support the development of a workforce pipeline by preparing students for careers in local government. Enrolled college students, as well as individuals transitioning from the private to the public sector, will benefit from these opportunities to gain relevant, applicable skills that align with the needs of municipal employers.

More information on these programs can be found HERE.

CLEAN ENERGY PLANNING AND IMPLEMENTATION ENERGY EFFICIENCY, ELECTRIFICATION, SOLAR, AND MORE!
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 2
(12:00 - 1:00 P.M.)

REGISTER NOW

The New York Power Authority (NYPA) is a leader in transmission, power supply, and decarbonization, serving as a trusted advisor to some of the largest energy customers in New York State. In this webinar, NYPA experts will guide cities and villages through the process of developing a Clean Energy Master Plan -- helping local leaders integrate cost-effective solutions to achieve their community's sustainability goals.

Learn how to combine energy efficiency, electrification, power supply strategies, and renewable energy to maximize impact. Topics will include:

• Energy efficiency measures such as LED lighting and wastewater facility upgrades;
• Electrification solutions, including ground- and air-source heat pumps;
• Power supply strategies to support reliability and affordability; and
• Leveraging renewable energy sources, like solar.

Join us to explore how a strategic approach to clean energy planning can help your local government save energy, reduce emissions, and advance sustainability.

Presenter - Eric Jeremias, Senior Key Account Executive, Customer Solutions, NYPA (After the presentation, Eric will be joined by a panel of experts from NYPA to help answer questions from webinar participants).

This webinar is FREE to NYCOM members, but registration is required. A recording will be provided to registrants following completion of the webinar.

NYCOM "DID YOU KNOW?" LUNCH AND LEARN SERIES: MUNICIPAL HOME RULE REQUESTS IN NEW YORK
THURSDAY, APRIL 3
(12-12:45 p.m.)

REGISTER NOW

Can your city or village enact its own traffic regulations? What about easing employee residency requirements? How do you establish a hotel/motel occupancy tax? The answer isn't always straightforward! Join us for an exclusive NYCOM webinar where we'll break down the complexities of Municipal Home Rule Legislation in New York State.
What You'll Learn:

• The power of Municipal Home Rule Law § 10 & other key statutes
• Areas where state preemption limits local authority
• The four-step process for securing a Special Act from the State Legislature
• How to successfully navigate the home rule request process
• Don't miss this chance to get expert insights and ask your pressing questions! Whether you're looking to establish a residential parking permit system, a speed camera program, or a new hotel/motel occupancy tax, this webinar will help you understand the steps to make it happen.

Presenter: Brian Coffin, NYCOM Legislative Director

This webinar is FREE to NYCOM members, but registration is required. A recording will be provided to registrants following completion of the webinar.

397 Mayors Sign NYCOM Letter to State Leaders Calling for Increase in AIM Funding

VIEW LETTER (updated 3-24-25)

NYCOM wants to ensure that our members are aware of last month’s Court of Appeals decision in the case Calabrese v. City of Albany. In short, the Court ruled that reports submitted via the City of Albany’s citizen request management system (SeeClickFix, a web-based 311 system) satisfied the requirements of Albany’s prior written notice of defect local law. A copy of the decision is HERE for your reference.

In upholding the decisions of the trial court and the Appellate Division, the Court of Appeals found that the City of Albany’s prior written notice of defect local law could be satisfied by submitting reports via SeeClickFix (SCF). The key issue in the Court’s decision is the language that the City used in its prior written notice local law, which requires that the notice be “written” and “actually given to the Commissioner of Public Works.” The court noted that the reports users submit themselves via SCF satisfy the “written notice” component of the City’s law. The Court also noted, however, that local governments may provide a different, more specific definition of “written notice.” In addition, the Court concluded the reports submitted through SCF were “actually given” to the Commissioner.

The key to using a platform such as SCF without it constituting prior written notice of defect is to clearly articulate in the local law establishing the prior written notice of defect requirement that SCF (or a similar platform) is not an acceptable method of filing such notices. Furthermore, local laws should also be clear as to how such written notices of defect must be filed with the local government (e.g., by hand, first class or certified mail).

City and village officials should review the Court’s decision as well as their own prior written notice of defect local laws to determine if they need to amend their prior written notice of defect procedures to address the Court’s holding and limit their local government's exposure from electronically submitted written reports of defects.

NYCOM is working with attorneys who specialize in municipal tort defense to develop a sample local law to address the issues raised in the decision.

Questions about this decision can be directed to NYCOM General Counsel Wade Beltramo at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or NYCOM Legislative Director Brian Coffin at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

APPLICATION DEADLINE: TUESDAY, APRIL 15, 2025

GET RECOGNIZED!
Apply Now for NYCOM's Local Government Achievement Award
The New York State Conference of Mayors and Municipal Officials (NYCOM) is committed to highlighting municipal successes and sharing innovative projects and programs you have undertaken in your communities.

NYCOM’s Local Government Achievement Awards showcase innovative projects and programs undertaken by NYCOM member cities and villages that have improved quality-of-life,​ resulted in cost savings,​ established cooperative partnerships, created new or unique approaches to issues, and/or streamlined the delivery of services. Winning submissions will be recognized at NYCOM’s 116^th Annual Meeting at the Sagamore Hotel (May 28-30, 2025) and highlighted in an upcoming issue of NYCOM’s Municipal Matters magazine.

Questions regarding the program and/or transmitting the application should be directed to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or by phone at (518) 463-1185.

View Application

BUDGET SUMMARY

(updated 2-11-25)

BUDGET TESTIMONY

(added 2-11-25)

MUNICIPAL PARKS AND RECREATION GRANT PROGRAM
DEADLINE: MAY 2

View Grant Program Details

APRIL 7-9, 2025 | ALBANY CAPITAL CENTER, ALBANY, NY

REGISTER NOW (discount code:250417) | VIEW AGENDA 
Join State Authorities, Regulators & Key Stakeholders for a Comprehensive Look at the Critical Issues Impacting the Empire State’s Clean Energy Landscape

Infocast's New York Energy Summit returns to Albany in April 2025 with a remarkable roster of energy sector leaders to discuss the policy landscape and explore emerging opportunities on the path to achieving the state’s ambitious CES targets.

New York has become one of the most dynamic energy markets in the United States, with tremendous opportunities in the planning, developing, financing, and construction of utility-scale onshore and offshore generation, energy storage projects, community and C&I distributed energy resources, new transmission assets, clean energy manufacturing, and decarbonization projects across multiple sectors. However, only those keeping up with the latest developments in this rapidly evolving environment will be properly positioned to seize the very best opportunities on offer in the Empire State.

This meeting, like its well-regarded and well-attended predecessors in 2024 and 2023, is designed to let you hear the latest from a definitive group of New York policymakers, regulators, utility executives, developers, independent power producers and financiers. They will provide the best available discussion of the policies, plans, initiatives, opportunities and obstacles that will shape the Empire State’s energy landscape in 2025 and beyond.

Get the latest on issues such as resource valuation changes, domestic manufacturing and labor requirements, new momentum around the role of natural gas and nuclear power, and the impacts of a coming wave of power-intensive facilities—new manufacturing, data and AI centers, bit-coin miners—on grid planning. Hear how the growing tax equity and transferability markets are shaping project finance and investment, and how the risk appetites of capital providers and developers are shaping deals in the New York market.

The New York Energy Summit is your premier opportunity to network with over 400 regulators, market operators, utilities, renewable developers, and innovators from across the Empire State’s energy industry.

VIEW LEGISLATIVE PROGRAM (added 12-27-24)

2025

View the publication HERE.

APPLICATION FOR THE DRINKING WATER SOURCE PROTECTION PROGRAM (DWSP2) | DEADLINE: APRIL 4

Interested in protecting your source water at no out-of-pocket cost to your municipality? The DWSP2 application period has been extended to Friday, April 4 at 4 p.m. Apply using your NY.gov credentials. If you do not have a NY.gov account, please utilize the directions below to create one:

Go to https://my.ny.gov
Click “Create an Account”
Then, click “Personal” and sign up using a work email address. It is best to use a shared email for this.
Follow the steps to complete account creation.
Apply Now!

DEC also hosted a virtual information session on Tuesday, February 4, 2025. You can access the recording of this informational session to learn more details about DWSP2 and specific instructions on how to apply.

As a reminder, DEC and Department of Health (DOH) announced the availability of free technical assistance for municipalities to protect their public drinking water sources through DWSP2. DWSP2 is a multi-agency initiative led by DEC and DOH in collaboration with the Departments of Agriculture and Markets and State. Up to 30 volunteer communities will work with technical assistance providers to develop and implement programs that proactively protect public drinking water sources.

For more information on the application period, please read the press release. Community public water suppliers are encouraged to apply for free technical assistance to develop and implement a Drinking Water Source Protection Program. Visit the DWSP2 webpage to access the online application or click the link above. For any additional questions related to the application, contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

EFC IS ACCEPTING LISTINGS FOR THE CLEAN WATER STATE REVOLVING FUND | DUE: MAY 30

The New York State Environmental Facilities Corporation is preparing its Intended Use Plan for Federal Fiscal Year (FFY) 2026, which begins October 1, 2025. Municipalities are invited to list new projects through May 30, 2025. The project listing and an approvable engineering report consistent with the Engineering Report Outline (effective 10/1/2024) must be submitted no later than May 30, 2025 in order to be included on the 2026 Annual List and eligible for financing in FFY 2026. Listing forms received after this date will be processed for inclusion on the 2027 Intended Use Plan.

Any projects included in the 2025 Intended Use Plan that do not have a recent financing application or a closed financing will receive a request from EFC to provide updated project information. Completing the provided update form is required, a new listing form is not needed for these projects.

EFC is proud to provide low-cost financial assistance for water quality projects in New York State and we look forward to working with you on your projects. If you have questions, please email us at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or call Alex Brunelle, Program Coordinator, at (518) 402-6924.

ARPA RESOURCES

CYBERSECURITY RESOURCES FOR LOCAL GOVERNMENTS

MARIJUANA LEGALIZATION RESOURCES

APPLICATIONS OPEN APRIL 7, 2025

Public sector organizations work tirelessly to create innovative, engaged, and supportive workplaces that attract and retain top talent. The Top Public Sector Employer (TPSE) Awards celebrate these efforts, recognizing organizations that go above and beyond to create exceptional environments for their employees and communities.The TPSE Award Program is an annual program honoring innovative public organizations excelling in employee engagement, leadership, and workplace excellence. Evaluated across seven categories, winners gain national recognition, grant eligibility, and enhanced recruitment credibility.

Click HERE for application information.

8:00 a.m. | Double Tree by Hilton, 6301 Route 298, East Syracuse, NY 
Join us as our experts guide you through topics tailored to meet and address the challenges of today’s law enforcement landscape.

Topics: Balancing Innovation and Ethics: The Role of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in Contemporary Law Enforcement Mike Renalli, Marketing Development Manager, Lexipol; Reducing Liability and Injury During Use of Force Encounters Patrick Phelan, Executive Director, New York State Association of Chief’s of Police (NYSACOP)
Additional Speaker(s) To Be Determined – Stay Tuned!

This event is free to NYMIR members. A light breakfast and full lunch will be provided. Sessions will conclude mid-afternoon.

Contact David Bloodgood at 845-551-9618 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. for information or to reserve your spot.

ONE-ON-ONE CONSULTATIONS (ONGOING)

We are excited to kickstart our exclusive One-on-One Consultation service. Elisabeth Dubois, NYMIR’s Cybersecurity Risk Specialist will reach out to you in advance of your renewal, typically 2-3 months prior, to schedule a personalized meeting. During this consultation, you'll have the opportunity to:

• Navigate Cyber Applications: We will guide you through the cyber application process, ensuring all necessary information is accurately completed for a smooth renewal.
• Address Recommendations: If you have received cybersecurity recommendations, we will be on hand to clarify any questions and assist in implementing these essential enhancements.

Click HERE for a description of Cyber Security Service FREE to our NYMIR Cyber Members