he will be switching since it is clear that the repubs caused the mess we are in and now he doesnt want to be associated with these here troublemakers like Farley. I can tell you my sources are very good over here and wait for a big land - slide in Rotterdam from the demos after Mertz and Surhada raise the taxes this year
Frankly Sal,,,,,it is a mute point and it really doesn't matter and folks are beginning to have a very very very very bad taste in their mouths for both main parties....and those who think the 'hand outs' are sweet will be eating bitter grapes in the end......
Then someone will come by and say----I TOLD YOU SO......
...you are a product of your environment, your environment is a product of your priorities, your priorities are a product of you......
The replacement of morality and conscience with law produces a deadly paradox.
STOP BEING GOOD DEMOCRATS---STOP BEING GOOD REPUBLICANS--START BEING GOOD AMERICANS
well no you are wrong since it is really just the repubs that people are really mad at for the screwups over here and everywhere so you are not informed and obviousley not talking to so many people if you did you would hear the hate of the repubs and the love for the new coming demos. Dont you see it yet?
well no you are wrong since it is really just the repubs that people are really mad at for the screwups over here and everywhere so you are not informed and obviousley not talking to so many people if you did you would hear the hate of the repubs and the love for the new coming demos. Dont you see it yet?
aaahhhhh----NO......snow white thought the apple was 'good' too and look what happened to her......It was Clinton who opened the floodgates of the 'free credit' and it was Bush who never shut the gate......dont think the lever pullers dont share a Christmas goose or a little dreidel game.........
...you are a product of your environment, your environment is a product of your priorities, your priorities are a product of you......
The replacement of morality and conscience with law produces a deadly paradox.
STOP BEING GOOD DEMOCRATS---STOP BEING GOOD REPUBLICANS--START BEING GOOD AMERICANS
SCHENECTADY COUNTY County to spend less of its surplus Tax levy to go up as economy calls for conservative budget BY MICHAEL LAMENDOLA Gazette Reporter
Schenectady County managers say they are preparing for coming hard times by dramatically slashing the amount of surplus used in the tentative $279.9 million budget for 2009. The proposed budget calls for using $279,962 from the surplus, toward the tax levy in 2009. The amount is far lower than normal practice. This year the allocation was $6.6 million. The county used $7.4 million in surplus in 2007. The allocated amount is not always totally spent, however, officials said. The fund balance is one way to control the amount of tax levy passed to residents, as every $600,000 equals a 1 percent change to the tax levy. The proposed tax levy for 2009 is $68.4 million, an increase of 12.9 percent. The average homeowner would pay an extra $125 in county taxes under the tentative budget. The tax figure is based on a home valued at $150,000 and uses an average of all tax rates in the county . “We want to be conservative because of the economy and the uncertainties of the state budget,” said Finance Commissioner George Davidson. Davidson said the state’s problems trickle down to the local level. “Will they reduce reimbursements and increase county costs? It could impact our cash flow,” he said. The state shifted some costs to counties in 2007 and this year and may do so in coming years as its fiscal problems worsen, according to the state Association of Counties. Gov. David Paterson has called the state Legislature back Nov. 18 to make $2 billion in new spending cuts to close a rapidly growing budget gap. Davidson said the county needs the surplus to pay bills, make payroll and cover up-front costs of state and federal programs. The county receives more than $70 million in reimbursement through state and federal sources, Davidson said. Sometimes the county has to wait six months to a year to get repaid, meaning the county bears the costs during until then. The county also is trying to fi x an imbalance in the budget created by relying on the surplus for years to balance the budget, Davidson said. With county sales and mortgage tax projections basically flat for 2009 and interest revenue expected to decline, the county could rapidly tap out its fund balance in coming years. The county ended 2007 with $29 million in surplus, Davidson said. County Attorney Chris Gardner estimates the county will end 2008 with a surplus of approximately $25 million. County Legislator Vincent DiCerbo, D-Schenectady, said he agrees with the strategy of weaning away from the surplus. “I have always argued that overuse of the fund balance represents a structural deficit that has to be eliminated,” he said. Davidson said the county’s fi scal condition remains good; Its bond rating stands at AA2. And the county this year also got a $10.2 million shot in the arm from the federal government, a one-time payment for the Glendale Home. The county will spread this money over several years to reduce its annual subsidy to the nursing home. In 2009, the federal money will reduce the county’s Glendale subsidy by nearly $2 million, to $4.8 million. In 2007, the county subsidy was $7.4 million. Davidson said because of the federal money, the county Legislature has some leeway with surplus funds. County legislators will meet in their respective caucuses to discuss their options to reduce the proposed 13 percent increase in the property tax levy. Legislators plan to vote on a final budget Oct. 30. Republicans suspect majority Democrats are saving the surplus to help them in next year’s county Legislature races. Six seats on the 15-seat Legislature will be in play. Five are held by Democrats, including Chairwoman Susan Savage, and one is held by a Republican, Joe Suhrada of Rotterdam. Democrats control the Legislature 11-4. Suhrada said majority Democrats will likely use the surplus to produce an election-year budget that offers little or no tax increase. “We will see how conservative they are next year in their budget,” he said. Minority Leader Robert Farley, RGlenville, also suspects Democrats have something up their sleeve regarding use of the surplus. “They want to artificially inflate the tax increase this year so they can give a better budget next year when they are running for reelection. What they are not counting on is the way the economy is going. It will hurt them,” he said. Gardner said Democrats stand for responsible government and have used the fund balance to control taxes in election and non-election years. “Last year, we had a 4.8 percent tax increase. In the prior two years we had tax cuts in each of those years.” The proposed budget cuts 50 positions from the work force of approximately 1,200, reduces programs and services and consolidates county departments. The 2009 budget is less than the 2008 budget of $283.4 million because the county does not have to log $4.5 million in Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program grant money on its books. The state is paying that amount directly.
Public Hearing on the Proposed 2009 County Budget that carries a 12.98% tax increase is tonight (Monday, Oct 27th) at 7 PM at the Schenectady County Office Building, 620 State Street, 6th floor.
This your chance to address the County Legislators to express your opinions re: the budget and impending tax increase.
Right usual tin ear but maybe listening to Sal's insane ramblings?
Another outrage. Our County tax rate is 3X both Saratoga and Albany Counties. Montgomery County announced no new taxes and a record budget surplus.
What have these do nothing County Democrats been "working on" for weeks? More raises for overpaid hacks? Instead of pink slips the County Democrats hand out raises. No sale of the County Home! No layoffs. No closure of underused City library branches. Cuts what cuts that's for the private sector only! Unbelievable and now they refuse to spend enough of the surplus. Let the County sheeple pay more nobody will complain too much.
I am sure they will raid that surplus fund like pirates next year to give a tax break for SS's big re-election campaign!
Don't forget to get to the meeting TONIGHT at 7pm at the county building to give them a piece of your mind!!!
"While Foreign Terrorists were plotting to murder and maim using homemade bombs in Boston, Democrap officials in Washington DC, Albany and here were busy watching ME and other law abiding American Citizens who are gun owners and taxpayers, in an effort to blame the nation's lack of security on US so that they could have a political scapegoat."
Quoted from GrahamBonnet: ... Don't forget to get to the meeting TONIGHT at 7pm at the county building to give them a piece of your mind!!!
Last year, there were only 4 or 5 county residents, who were not recipients of county revenues, who appeared at the public hearing and spoke against the budget and resulting tax increase. There were several dozen individuals who were affiliated with county government agencies (DSS, SCCC), not-for-profits (Parson's Child & Family, Proctors Theater and others), etc. who spoke about the need for more revenues to support their organizations.
Those who are concerned about high property taxes need to attend this meeting and voice your opposition to the budget.
I am sure they will raid that surplus fund like pirates next year to give a tax break for SS's big re-election campaign!
Don't forget to get to the meeting TONIGHT at 7pm at the county building to give them a piece of your mind!!!
Don't worry about SS. She has a big $100,000+ job in Albany and will not run again. She will leave a big fiscal mess for the County Taxpayers aka{sheeple} to pay for.
You people need to be protesting Farley and Burhmanster and Surhada if you want the change since they are the ones making it hard on the taxpayers and causing all the troubles. I predict the sweeping out of these repubs who the voters are very sick of like they are sick of that Bush
well you think it is a joke but what these 3 have done to the taxpayers I have had my sources tell me is just like a rape and the taxes are the fault of them. They vote against the state aid, they disrupt the meetings, waste the time, and then they want to slash out the police and let the criminals go free all over here. You need to see these 3 in action over there. I am writing letters to send to the editor and ask people to sign them against this group. No good no good. Now I am not going because there are things but there will be some people there watching for me and I will let you know what the story is over there but for now we only have the 3 to worry about and the rest we dont so go and protest them.
Logged
Right usual tin ear but maybe listening to Sal's insane ramblings?
