Residents over 65 get a 100% waiver on the local fee currently. .. I would think it would be fair to charge $12 for a dog license with a 50% waiver for residents over 65.
Paying $0 (local fee) to paying anything more than $0 is 100% - no matter how you look at it. Even if it was raised to $1, it's still 100% more than they WERE paying.
Regardless of how you look at it, it's still an increase of fees to seniors - that can least afford it.
Seniors already pay a license fee to the state -- it is only the $6 LOCAL fee that is waived for seniors. The state has collected its portion of the fee to cover their costs of running the dog licensing program ... since the town will now be responsible for that program and its costs --- it is only fair that all dog owners help cover the cost of the dog licensing program. Also -- part of the $6 that the seniors would pay -- is mandated by the state to go to the spay/neuter program --- and the seniors are responsible for that now .. and would still be responsible for that part in the future. Technically -- it is NOT raising the fee -- do owners pay a local fee, state fee, and the neuter fee when they renew --- seniors only get the local fee waived.
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Technically -- it is NOT raising the fee -- do owners pay a local fee, state fee, and the neuter fee when they renew --- seniors only get the local fee waived.
So, they go from paying NO fee, to now the town creating a new fee (that they previously didn't have to pay for) for them to have to pay. Gotcha.
Please, tell me there's exceptions in your diabolical mind, for those seniors that have companion dogs due to disabilities, etc - under your new "fee plan".
No, he's condoning a raise to 50%, which if the current rate is doubled as expected, would just be 100% of the current rate, but it would still be 50% of the "current" rate, in case the town decides they haven't dug far enough into people's pockets.
It is not a raise -- it is basically maintaining the current total fee --- each dog owner pays a local fee (ours is $6) and a state fee (fee varies by certain categories) and a spay/neuter fee. The state still mandates that a spay/neuter fee be collected by each town/city and passed on to the local shelter. The local fee of $6 has not been changed in 7 years ... and is AT LEAST 40% less than neighoboring municipalities charge. (my sister pays $120 a year in Colorado for a dog license and there they mandate a 3 year license) Anyway --- the TOTAL cost of running the dog licensing program to the town (adding on preparing renewal notices and mailing them out --- and the cost of the dog tag) and the cost of the Dog Enforcement Officer ($5,000 stipend per year) and the fee that goes to the sapy/neuter program ........ could ALL be covered by charging a $12 LOCAL FEE (no more state fee after Jan1) .. that would actually be about what dog owners pay now. Seniors should get IMHO ... a 50% waiver ... basically the $6 fee that was waived in the past .... those seniors still had to pay the state fee and the spay/neuter fee before anyway.
George Amedore & Christian Klueg for NYS Senate 2016 Pete Vroman for State Assembly 2016[/size][/color]
"For this is what America is all about. It is the uncrossed desert and the unclimbed ridge. It is the star that is not reached and the harvest that is sleeping in the unplowed ground." Lyndon Baines Johnson
So, they go from paying NO fee, to now the town creating a new fee (that they previously didn't have to pay for) for them to have to pay. Gotcha.
Please, tell me there's exceptions in your diabolical mind, for those seniors that have companion dogs due to disabilities, etc - under your new "fee plan".
This could just lead to the same thing as the issues that have been about with the handicap stickers / plaques.
So, they go from paying NO fee, to now the town creating a new fee (that they previously didn't have to pay for) for them to have to pay. Gotcha.
Please, tell me there's exceptions in your diabolical mind, for those seniors that have companion dogs due to disabilities, etc - under your new "fee plan".
READ SLOWLY ---- right now ... seniors pay the state fee (fee varies by dog-but average is $4) and the spay/neuter fee ($2-$3)--- they do NOT pay the local fee ($6).
The town is NOT creating a new fee --- it would be using the part that the state currently gets to maintain the program to cover the town's cost to maintain the program. The state is STILL mandating that the town collect the spay/neuter fee. And the seniors would still have $6 waived from the total possible fee.
George Amedore & Christian Klueg for NYS Senate 2016 Pete Vroman for State Assembly 2016[/size][/color]
"For this is what America is all about. It is the uncrossed desert and the unclimbed ridge. It is the star that is not reached and the harvest that is sleeping in the unplowed ground." Lyndon Baines Johnson
Currently -- the town gets $6 -- the state about gets $3-4 depending on some variables .. and an additional fee is collected and passed on to the spay/neuter program at the local animal shelter.
My estimate - based on research that I did during part of my 3 1/2 days working in the Town Clerk's office (volunteer work) this past August --- was that the cost of maintaining the licensing program (that is the cost of maintaining the records, paying for the mailing of renewal notices, the cost of the actual dog tag, and the cost of maintaining the Town Dog Control Officer -- could all be covered by a $12 fee per each dog currently scheduled for renewal in 2011. The local Dog licensing fee of $6 has been the same since at least 2003. Residents over 65 get a 100% waiver on the local fee currently.
Given the actual real cost of the licensing program to the town (what it will cost the town in 2011) and the cost to the town of the Dog Control Officer (which is a stipend of $5,000) ... I would think it would be fair to charge $12 for a dog license with a 50% waiver for residents over 65. That would cover the new costs to the town and still give the senior residents a break.
As I am not a member of the Town Board or Administration --- I don't know what course of action that they will take on the matter .. but that is my recommendation.
I think this is a very conservative approach --- the user fee paid by the actual beneficiaries of the service bearing the cost of the town providing the service.
why do seniors get a 'break' from licensing their dog?.....dont they still have to pay car insurance?.....honestly it's not a necessity for them.....how about chomping down on the REAL MEAT of our taxes....
...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
READ SLOWLY ---- right now ... seniors pay the state fee (fee varies by dog-but average is $4) and the spay/neuter fee ($2-$3)--- they do NOT pay the local fee ($6).
The town is NOT creating a new fee --- it would be using the part that the state currently gets to maintain the program to cover the town's cost to maintain the program. The state is STILL mandating that the town collect the spay/neuter fee. And the seniors would still have $6 waived from the total possible fee.
so the state wont chip in? OK....so what kind of service is this? explain the VALUE for the fee please.....I am ignorant of this and wish to be educated....thank you.....
...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
we are not creating a new fee just taking the money the state doesn't want - watch my slight of hand
The state is passing the expense of maintaining the license data base, preparing and mailing the renewal notices, and the cost of procuring the actual dog tags on to the town ---- on top of that the previously incurred town expenses stay in place -- the town must send a portion of the license fees to the local shelter for the spay/neuter program and must maintain a Dog Control Officer.
Therefore - keeping the state portion of the fee would just cover the NEW expenses that the town will be incurring due to the unfunded state mandate.
George Amedore & Christian Klueg for NYS Senate 2016 Pete Vroman for State Assembly 2016[/size][/color]
"For this is what America is all about. It is the uncrossed desert and the unclimbed ridge. It is the star that is not reached and the harvest that is sleeping in the unplowed ground." Lyndon Baines Johnson
As for seeing eye dogs and guide dogs - under the current fee structure they are exempt from the fees.
It should be noted that Rotterdam's $6 local fee is the lowest in the vicinity and has NOT been raised in at least 7 years ..possibly longer -- most municipalities charge a local fee of $10 or more NOW ... and do NOT exempt seniors ---- I don't know what they will be charging AFTER January 1, 2011.
If you go outside New York State --- I mentioned that my sister pays $120 a year and must purchase a 3 year license. The community that she lives in in Colorado also requires that a wide variety of pets including cats, ferrets, and snakes be registered/licensed.
You must also realize that the $12 fee that I am suggesting is only my recommendation -- I have no idea what the Town Board plans to do on the matter. My main objective in making that recommendation is to ensure that the town is covered for ALL the expenses it incurs due to this unfunded state mandate AND at the same time continue to offer the senior residents over 65 a slight break on the fee.
The of course --- there is the issue of cat licensing and the feral cat problem --- anyone care to tackle that issue ?????
George Amedore & Christian Klueg for NYS Senate 2016 Pete Vroman for State Assembly 2016[/size][/color]
"For this is what America is all about. It is the uncrossed desert and the unclimbed ridge. It is the star that is not reached and the harvest that is sleeping in the unplowed ground." Lyndon Baines Johnson
That is an interesting idea. I will bring it up at the next meeting.
George Amedore & Christian Klueg for NYS Senate 2016 Pete Vroman for State Assembly 2016[/size][/color]
"For this is what America is all about. It is the uncrossed desert and the unclimbed ridge. It is the star that is not reached and the harvest that is sleeping in the unplowed ground." Lyndon Baines Johnson
We can put a likeness of KR in the dog park and let them relieve themselves on her.
George Amedore & Christian Klueg for NYS Senate 2016 Pete Vroman for State Assembly 2016[/size][/color]
"For this is what America is all about. It is the uncrossed desert and the unclimbed ridge. It is the star that is not reached and the harvest that is sleeping in the unplowed ground." Lyndon Baines Johnson
I suppose it would be too traumatic for the dogs to see a likeness of her.
Would probably cause their bladders to seize up.
George Amedore & Christian Klueg for NYS Senate 2016 Pete Vroman for State Assembly 2016[/size][/color]
"For this is what America is all about. It is the uncrossed desert and the unclimbed ridge. It is the star that is not reached and the harvest that is sleeping in the unplowed ground." Lyndon Baines Johnson
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