Thursday May 2, 2024 
Rensselaer County Legisalture Majority June Report
The Rensselaer County Legislature held their monthly meeting on June 13th and adopted a resolution urging those cities that have designated themselves as Sanctuary Cities, to accept and care for the migrants that are being shipped upstate from New York City. The resolution supported the County Executive’s Emergency Order regarding the migrant crisis impacting our area. The resolution passed by a vote of 13-6, with the members of the minority that represent Troy, opposing the measure.
The Legislature also voted to approve funding to continue improvements to County Office Building in Troy, and approved contracts for school resource officers in the Averill Park and Wynantskill Union Free School Districts.
The Legislature also approved a resolution urging Aldi Inc. to keep the Rensselaer supermarket open. There have been rumors that the Rensselaer store may close when the new Aldi in North Greenbush opens. Legislator wrote to the Aldi District Manager and sent him a copy of the resolution that passed unanimously.
Speaking of facilities closing, after learning about the planned closure of the Burdett Birth Center at Samaritan Hospital, Chair of the Legislature’s Health Committee Brian Stall, and Majority member Wayne Gendron wrote to New York State Department of Health Commissioner James McDonald. The New York State Health Department Commissioner has to approve the closure, and Legislators Stall and Gendron urged Commissioner McDonald to take into consideration the thousands of people who have signed petitions opposing the closure because of the negative impacts it would have on Rensselaer County and beyond.
Finally, Chairwoman Kelly Hoffman announced the winners of the Earth Day Poster Contest:
K-2 Category: Hasara Chandrasekera, Red Mill Elementary School.
Grade 3-6 Category: 1st Place: Max Kilgallon, Gardner Dickenson.
2nd place: Alexis Boles- Castleton Elementary.
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Schodack Town Hall Closes for 4th of July
Debra Curtis, Schodack Town Clerk, wishes to remind residents that the Schodack Town Hall Offices will be closed on Tuesday, July 4th, 2023, for the Independence Day Holiday. The Town Hall Offices and The Schodack Transfer Station will resume regularly scheduled business hours on Wednesday July 5th 2023.
If you have any questions, please contact the office of the Town Clerk 518.477.7590, Monday through Friday, between the hours of 8:30am to 4:30pm.
There’s Help If You Can’t Afford to Pay Income Tax Debt
Federal and New York State (NYS) 2022 income tax payments were due on April 18 this year. An extension of time to file does not extend the deadline to pay tax you owe. Penalties and interest can be added if you do not pay on time. Collection alternatives may help taxpayers who can’t afford to pay their income tax by the deadline.
If you would be unable to meet your basic living expenses if you paid the tax due, you can ask the IRS to mark the amount due as “currently not collectible” (CNC). If it agrees, it will stop collection activity. It will take future refunds and pay them toward the amount you owe. Generally, the IRS has 10 years to collect the tax debt from the date of assessment, while New York State has 20 years. CNC status will end if the IRS sees that your finances have changed. NYS law does not provide for a CNC status.
Another option is to ask the IRS or NYS for a monthly payment plan.
If you pursue these options, there will still be a penalty for not paying tax owed on time and interest will continue to accumulate.
A tax debt settlement “offer in compromise” (OIC) may also be a possibility. You can offer to pay an affordable amount to the IRS or NYS to fully eliminate the outstanding tax debt. The IRS and NYS will consider your finances when they decide if your offer can be accepted.
If you have questions about these options or other income tax issues, the Legal Aid Society of Northeastern New York’s Low Income Taxpayer Clinic (LITC) may be able to help. The Clinic’s services are free of charge. You can call our LASNNY Legal Line at (833) 628-0087 and ask for our LITC.
LASNNY’s LITC services are available in Albany, Clinton, Columbia, Essex, Franklin, Fulton, Greene, Hamilton, Montgomery, Rensselaer, Saratoga, Schenectady, Schoharie, St. Lawrence, Warren, and Washington Counties, and the St. Regis Mohawk Indian Reservation/Akwesasne. The Clinic does not generally provide tax preparation services.