I also stated that the reported property tax increase of 4.5% in 2008 (reduced from 9.7% in the proposed budget) resulted in increases in the tax rates (year over year) of between 6+% (Town of Niskayuna) to nearly 20% (Town of Princetown). Though there was a property reval in the Town of Rotterdam, the assessments in most of the municipalities remained unchanged from 2007 to 2008. The equalization rates were also unchanged. This increase is the impact felt by the county property owners. I stated that on my 2008 tax bill, the county property tax was labeled as Federal and State Mandates and that I believed that it was a misrepresentation as not all of the spending by the county government is mandated.
From October 7, 2007 Daily Gazette article:
Quoted Text
Ways to cut tax hike eyed Budget tied to $3.4M decline in revenues BY MICHAEL LAMENDOLA Gazette Reporter ...
State- and federal-mandated program costs represent 77 percent of the total $283.4 million budget, and account for 100 percent of county property taxes, Rooney said. Medicaid alone represents 48 percent, or $30.6 million, of the county’s $63.6 million tax levy, she said. The county’s share of costs to provide Medicaid, public assistance, corrections, indigent defense and services to children with special needs, all mandated services and beyond county control, climbed by $1.7 million. Employee heath care costs increased by $610,000. The county is mandated to provide prosecution, indigent defense, services for children with special needs, election services, social services, the county jail, county clerk services, probation services and several other programs. It is not required to provide services to senior citizens and veterans. Nor does it have to fund the county library and the countywide hazardous materials response program. It also does not need to operate the Albany Street business center, a full-scale health department, the Glendale Home and comprehensive services for children. Even Rooney’s position is optional. ...
By the way, I was disappointed to find that none of my friends on this forum was able to attend the meeting. I was hoping to enjoy a cup of coffee together afterward.
Wish I could have gone. Brad you seem well informed. Was there any sign that any of this was coming over the years? Did any of the legislators ever sound an alarm or stand up against this reckless spending and wasting of taxpayer money before? Why is it that here at election time they seem to have plans?
"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."
Thank you Brad for speaking for thousands of County residents. The inability for these County Democrats to cut nor manage anything should come as no surprise. Most are there simply for the double dip-that Legislature "work" increases their bloated State pensions. Then they hide. Many have little or no private business experience and the ones that do the less said the better.
The same tired quotes, the same stupid excuses, the same non-performance. The complete dismal failure of Metrograft Ray and the County Manager. Both should have been canned last night. In 4 years the County Democrats have destroyed this County. Replaced manufacturing with social welfare. Replaced working class with welfare class. Anyone who votes for a 9% COUNTY tax increase in a recession is finished in politics. Including dog catcher.
The 2007 articles published by the Daily Gazette and Times Union contain quotes from several Legislators who forewarned of fiscal difficulties if spending reductions were not identified and implemented. One, Joe Suhrada, also provided recommended areas for targeted cuts.
If you view the sticky thread re: the 2008 budget in the Outside Rotterdam forum topic, you will find these statements.
I don't know that anyone predicted the collapse of the financial markets and the real estate markets that have resulted in decreased revenue receipts. However, the impact of federal and state mandated programs on county expenditures and property taxes has been discussed for several years. Despite this awareness and suggestions from Legislators of both parties (Farley, Surhada, DiCerbo) that a DSS audit be conducted, it appears that nothing has been done at the county level to identify fraud and waste in the public assistance programs.
Regarding statements made by Legislators Fields and Hughes that the subsequent years budget work be started as soon as the county budget for the coming years budget is approved, I have found little reported by the media that has occurred between January and August.
One additional point that requires discussion is that of the 15 county positions (some staffed and some unfilled) that were eliminated by amendment to the 2008 county budget was that filled by Shane Bargy, the former Youth Bureau Director at a salary of $55,941/yr. His job and that of his $51,600-salaried assistant, Jennifer Goldie, were eliminated by the Democratic majority in an amendment to the 2008 County budget to remove the protection it offered through Civil Service. Removal of the protection allows County Manager Kathleen Rooney to appoint anyone to the position, based on merit. After Bargy was reassigned to a newly created county government position with an increase in salary of $6,000, the majority party created a new position, the county’s firstever Assistant to the Commissioner of Social Services for Youth Development at a salary of $80,000 and awarded it to Ed Kosiur.
The point regarding county employment is that the reductions in the size of the county workforce are also misrepresented as many are unfilled and have been reportedly vacant for a considerable time . Additionally, after eliminating positions that have been held by individuals who have been doing the job satisfactorily, the majority party creates new (patronage) positions that don't require the candidate to apply through the civil service system and that pay significantly more than those positions that were eliminated. It's a government "shell game"
Democrats, GOP offer plans to cut Schenectady County tax hike Wednesday, October 29, 2008 By Michael Lamendola (Contact) Gazette Reporter
SCHENECTADY — Majority Democrats in the Schenectady County Legislature will use $1.4 million of the county's fund balance, eliminate a grant to the local Chamber of Commerce and budget for savings in medical benefits to reduce a proposed increase in the property tax levy from 12.9 percent to 8.82 percent, according to amendments they will propose at Thursday night’s meeting.
Republican amendments, meanwhile, offer a 2 percent tax cut and reduce the tentative $279.9 million budget by $3 million, to $276.6 million.
Thursday’s meeting - at which legislators are expected to vote on the spending plan - begins at 7 p.m. in the sixth floor Legislative Chambers.
Democrats, in their amendments, are proposing to include $25,000 to expand the veterans monument in Veteran Park and to add $95,365 to the assigned counsel plan and $32,246 to jail services.
They plan to eliminate an $85,050 grant awarded annually to the Chamber of Schenectady County. The chamber uses the grant to pay partly for the salary of an employee to promote tourism.
Raises for top management would go forth under Democrats but would be eliminated under Republicans.
Your County Democrats at work-NOT! Meanwhile, every neighboring County has announced major cuts and no new County taxes! Only in Schenectady County is a huge increase in County taxes OK. Joe Suhrada should be the new majority leader then maybe we'd see some real cuts and fiscal sanity. It will take years to undo the fiscal damage these horrible Democrats have created in only 4 years. Make some major cuts-NOW!
what kind of jokes do you make over here? Surhad? Cmooonnnnnnn! You gotta be kidding over there this guy is a fat bald streuns no good no good no good. everyone I know makes fun of him and his fat face and stupid ideas and he is the biggest troublemaker of the bunch. I used to like the guy but he got to big for the pants. He got too big of the ego and he has very wrong plans like the gambling idea and letting the sex molesteors go free. then he went against all the good things plus he is against the nursing home plus he is against the police. give me a break huh?
Suhrada is the best of them all. Even better than ANG. Sure, Ang seems like a real nice guy, and probably has some great ideas, but he seems to still be learning this process. Suhrada is a county legislature to get the work of the people done. He clearly has not entered a popularity contest. He's obviously not in it for that reason.
It is shameful that the majority does not even include Suhrada in their behind door meetings. And not just Suhrada, but the rest of the minority. And why? Because anyone who disagrees with the democratic dictatorship is considered a troublemaker and hence left out of the loop. Now that is what I call working together for the people.
I have talked to dems...some in a political position, some retired from a political position and some like the average Joe. They are appalled and question some of the expenditures this present government system of ours is placing on the taxpayers. Some of the dems that are no longer in public service, have said that they are glad they are out. Some have been asked to return to public office, but politely opt out. Some staunch dems have said that Susan Savage has crossed the line and no longer governs by the democratic ideology. That Susan Savage is driven by power and control only. Some have even said 'jokingly' that perhaps this is not a position for a woman.
And that is why people....WE NEED TO BREAK FREE OF THIS TYPE OF GOVERNMENT REPRESENTATION!! WE NEED A BOARD OF SUPERVISORS!!!!
When the INSANE are running the ASYLUM In individuals, insanity is rare; but in groups, parties, nations and epochs, it is the rule. -- Friedrich Nietzsche
“How fortunate for those in power that people never think.” Adolph Hitler
They cant stop the $$ programs...the plebs will need a bigger cage and more police officers......let's see...the contract is coming up when.....when the $$ from the storehouses gets squeezed the plebs get mad......who is in charge of keeping them 'in line'??????
...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
County Democrats need to get real, cut proposed tax hike
Re the Oct. 13 article, “Schenectady County budget proposal cuts jobs, services. Average homeowner would pay $125 more,” and the Oct. 14 story reporting on legislation by county Legislator Gary Hughes: At the October legislative meeting, Mr. Hughes proposed resolutions that urge the governor and state Legislature to assume the full cost for the non-federal share of the Medicaid program and to increase income taxes on those earning over $1 million rather than pass the cost of state programs to “seniors and working families” through property taxes. At a time when the New York state government is faced with a budget deficit of $6.4 billion and with Gov. Paterson calling for $500 million in Medicaid cuts and decreases in local aid, Mr. Hughes and his fellow legislators should be focused on identifying tangible and achievable cost savings at the county level that will close the 2009 budget deficit of $10 million, not engaged in political grandstanding by proposing legislation that has no likelihood of being considered. Hughes’ proposal espouses the redistribution of wealth and plays on the class envy that some have for those who have achieved goals in life and accumulated more wealth than they. The proposal is consistent with the philosophy of communist Karl Marx, who promulgated the slogan, “From each according to his ability, to each according to his need.” While it may elicit support from those who blame our nation’s woes on the rich, rather than on the corruption and ineptitude of government, it does nothing to address the fiscal challenges faced by county residents. Schenectady County has the 12thhighest county taxes in the nation. Responsible elected officials must enact an austerity budget that reduces the size, cost and power of county government. Our representatives must consider the elimination or consolidation of nonessential county services (e.g. Camp Kosiur), forging collaborative procurement agreements between the county and surrounding municipalities and their vendors to purchase goods and services at lower cost; privatization of county facilities and services; and suspending capital improvement projects. At a time when county residents are struggling to keep their homes, pay for energy and buy food for themselves and their families, the adoption of a county budget that results in a tax increase is irresponsible and exhibits callous disregard for the constituents who our “leaders” were elected to serve.
SCHENECTADY COUNTY Parties ready budget plans for adoption Action today on $279.9M proposal BY MICHAEL LAMENDOLA Gazette Reporter
Majority Democrats will use a combination of reserves, spending cuts and savings to reduce a projected 12.9 percent increase in the property tax levy to 8.82 percent during tonight’s meeting to vote on the budget. Republican amendments proposed a 2 percent tax cut and would reduce the tentative $279.9 million budget by $3 million, to $276.6 million. Democrats plan to grant top managers raises for 2009 while Republicans would eliminate the raises under their amendments. The meeting is scheduled to begin at 7 p.m. in the sixth floor Legislature Chambers. Democrats plan to eliminate an $85,050 grant to the Chamber of Commerce of Schenectady County. The chamber uses the grant to pay part of the salary of an employee to promote tourism. Chamber President Charles Steiner was not available for comment. Democrats expect to save $835,000 in employee medical benefits and $32,246 in jail services. They propose to lower thermostats and hot water settings in county buildings and will seek to reduce fraud, waste and abuse in the Medicaid program. Social Services account for more than half the county’s spending. Both parties include $25,000 to expand the Veterans Monument in Veterans Park and both propose a hiring freeze for 2009. They differ in the use of the fund balance or surplus. Democrats plan to use $1.4 million of the fund balance toward property tax support. Their proposal breaks with a recommendation by County Manager Kathleen Rooney to use only $300,000 to offset the property tax levy increase. Republicans do not use any fund balance to achieve their proposed savings. County managers are trying to get away from using large amounts of the fund balance each year, hoping to retain enough to deal with the unstable fiscal environment. The county appropriated $6.6 million of the fund balance for the current budget and $7.4 million in 2007. It does not always use what it appropriates, however. Under the Democrats’ proposal, the total amount of the fund balance appropriated for 2009 is approximately $1.7 million. County officials said the fund balance at the end of this year is projected to be approximately $25 million, less than 10 percent of the total budget. The county ended 2007 with $27 million in the fund balance. County Legislator Vincent DiCerbo, D-Schenectady, said he is comfortable with using $1.7 million of the fund balance. “I am pleased we got it down to that level from $6.6 million. That is eminently doable. I was concerned about how much we were using and that problem has been rectified.” Republicans offered 39 amendments. Minority Leader Robert Farley, R-Glenville, said the measures, proposed by the four-member Republican caucus, make structural and fiscal changes to county government and the budget. “We cut the cost of government across the board. These are needed measures,” he said. The amendments call for privatizing the offices of the county attorney, of the public defender and of youth services. Further, Republicans seek to eliminate positions in the clerk of the County Legislature’s office, namely those of director of operations, counsel to the Legislature and legislative aide. Farley created the counsel and the director’s positions when he led the Legislature years ago, and Republicans held them until Democrats took control in 2004. Democrats hold them now. Republicans also are seeking to eliminate Ed Kosiur’s $80,000 position as special assistant to the commissioner and Joe McQueen’s $60,000 position as director of communications. Both positions are controversial. Kosiur’s is because Democrats rewrote the job specifications of youth bureau director and removed its Civil Service protection to put Kosiur, a former Democratic county legislator, in the job. He got the job last year after he lost a bitter race to succeed Paul Tonko as assemblyman for the 105th District. McQueen’s position is controversial because majority Democrats hired him with a hiring freeze in place and to the anger of union officials, who said other positions should have been filled first. He also is chairman of the Glenville Democratic Committee. Farley said the privatization proposals would professionalize county services. He denied they are politically motived. “These are fiscally motived. Instead of patronage hacks, we need to have these done more effectively by people who care about providing these services,” he said. Farley said Republicans are going after waste in government and the areas targeted happen to be “patronage slots” where Democrats placed their people. “We are going after areas containing non-contract employees,” Farley said. “We eliminate Ed Kosiur and his boondoggle and his patronage slot and we save money.” Other Republican proposals call for creating a sports facility at the county airport, developing an energy technology park on county land, capping senior citizen taxes, and creating a panel to study transferring the county-owned Glendale Home to a nonprofit corporation. Farley estimates the largest savings, some $5.5 million, would come from an audit of the county’s social services program. Majority Leader Gary Hughes, D-Schenectady, dismissed the Republican amendments. “Minority Leader Farley’s 39 budget amendments are 39 steps to fiscal oblivion,” he said. To enact the Republican amendments would result in a property tax hike of at least 13.7 percent “due to a fiscally combustible mixture of miscalculation, speculation and fabrication,” Hughes said. He said Farley’s announced savings from an audit of social services are speculative. In return, Farley called the Democrats’ amendments irresponsible. “They are offering no substantial cuts and are raising taxes three times the rate of inflation. We need substantial cuts in this budget. Everyone in America is cutting their budgets,” he said. “Our goal is not to do things that the Democratic majority agrees with. Our responsibility is to do the things that our county taxpayers want to have done,” Farley said.
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Thank you Brad for speaking for thousands of County residents. The inability for these County Democrats to cut nor manage anything should come as no surprise. Most are there simply for the double dip-that Legislature "work" increases their bloated State pensions. Then they hide. Many have little or no private business experience and the ones that do the less said the better. 
