Quoted from DemocraticVoiceOfReason

the tax district can not be in the budget .. since it has not been approved

I didn't have  a chance to see if the $120,000 paid to REMS   (not a gift)  was included as a line item in the
2011 budget.

Well, if it is, then we could afford (monetarily, maybe not psychologically) to have this vote pushed back again until a time where we know the weather is a bit more able to be trusted, so there are not issues with people getting to the polls.  This has to end one way or another, and hopefully, sooner than later.

Quoted Text

ROTTERDAM
Budget holds jump in taxes
BY JUSTIN MASON Gazette Reporter

    Rotterdam residents could see their taxes spike by as much as 11.36 percent as a result of dramatic increases in state retirement rates and a slight decrease in revenue streams, according to the town’s tentative 2011 budget.
    Supervisor Frank Del Gallo said the $21.2 million spending plan will maintain the present level of services and reduce reliance on the town’s fund balance by about $375,000. But a 35 percent increase in retirement rates coupled with a 15 percent jump in health insurance premiums and a 23.7 percent boost to workers compensation insurance means the town will need to shed at least three jobs to stave off an even greater tax increase.
    “While other methods were proposed, they were not successful in getting the desired results,” he said after presenting the budget to the Town Board Tuesday. “I regret having to take this step, but I have no other choices to consider.”
    Del Gallo had originally proposed offering retirement incentives to four eligible workers in an effort he said was aimed at staving off job cuts. Board members ultimately rejected the target list he submitted last month.
    The tentative budget increases residential taxes 37 cents per $1,000 of assessed property value. The owner of a $175,000 home would pay about $64.75 more in taxes for a total of $650, not including special districts.
    Non-residential property owners could see an increase of 82 cents per $1,000 under the town’s dual tax rate. This reflects a 14.7 percent increase over last year’s fi gures, according to the spending plan.
    Savings included the removal of Del Gallo’s $13,000 annual salary and a $35,490 typist position from his office. In addition, a $3,178 part-time clerical position was eliminated. Funding for a $50,060 appraisal technician was cut from the assessor’s office, as well as $10,000 for a typist position that went unfilled this year. In the police budget, a $65,995 youth services counselor position was cut.
    The budget restores much of the funding to the town attorney’s office that was cut by the administration of Steve Tommasone last year. Last year, the Republicans reduced the office’s $249,000 budget to $135,000.
    This year’s spending plan includes a new town attorney line item for $22,000 and increases town attorney fees to $75,000. The 2011 budget also boosts allocations for litigation fees, tax case attorney fees and labor attorney fees.
    Del Gallo said he’s in the process of finding a new assistant attorney to replace Michael Godlewski, who left the town this week to take a job with the county. He said Town Attorney Joseph Liccardi will handle the office himself until someone is hired.
    “We’re shopping around for one,” he said.
    The town clerk’s office will also see an increase in funding. The tentative budget allocates $50,350 for the town clerk, includes $10,500 for a part-time clerk and increases the salary for the deputy clerk to $32,500.
    Police spending — the largest portion of the general fund — is reduced by about $31,000 to $5.03 million. However, the police chief, deputy chief and three lieutenants will all receive modest raises in the budget; police overtime was also increased by about $50,000.
    F u n d i n g f o r R o t t e r d a m Emergency Medical Services was eliminated. Last year, the nonprofit ambulance company secured $120,000 in funding from the Tommasone administration...................>>>>.......................>>>>.........................http://www.dailygazette.net/De.....r00903&AppName=1

It sure seems funny to me that other towns/villages are dropping their ambulance services because they can't afford them yet Rotterdam is doing just the opposite.

Anyone know when the town budget will be posted online  (and the 2010 removed?)

Probably never.

they had 120,000 extra to play with from rems funding - and they still increased the budget?????????

unbelievable  

Quoted from Shadow

It sure seems funny to me that other towns/villages are dropping their ambulance services because they can't afford them yet Rotterdam is doing just the opposite.

It will be up to the property owners to decide on December 14 -- that is called a democracy.

While the proposed tax increase is significant,  it was rumored as late as a couple of weeks ago that
the increase would be much higher and/or the lay offs greater,

Quoted from DemocraticVoiceOfReason

It will be up to the property owners to decide on December 14 -- that is called a democracy.

Five board members, proposing a taxing district that a VERY SMALL minority of residents wants.

Then putting it up for a vote where ONLY property owners are eligible

Having only one polling location,

First scheduled the week of 4th of July now 2 weeks before Christmas.  

I call that banana republic democracy.

Quoted from CICERO

Five board members, proposing a taxing district that a VERY SMALL minority of residents wants.

Then putting it up for a vote where ONLY property owners are eligible

Having only one polling location,

First scheduled the week of 4th of July now 2 weeks before Christmas.  

I call that banana republic democracy.

Wait till you see how they help the handicapped access the poll

Since the Town Board alone can vote a resolution to set a referendum --- who else do you think could have
or should have voted on the resolution ?????    Youdesperately need to taka class in civics and learn how
town government works.

The referendum is being conducted according to New York State Law ... if you don't like the law ... do
something to change the law.

When the vote is counted, we will find out what the will of the town is on the matter of an ambulance tax
district.    

Quoted from DemocraticVoiceOfReason

Since the Town Board alone can vote a resolution to set a referendum --- who else do you think could have
or should have voted on the resolution ?????    Youdesperately need to taka class in civics and learn how
town government works.

The referendum is being conducted according to New York State Law ... if you don't like the law ... do
something to change the law.

When the vote is counted, we will find out what the will of the town is on the matter of an ambulance tax
district.    

The way THIS town board, and the PREVIOUS one, operated - isn't taught in any civics class. It's taught in back rooms, dimly lit with bouncers and bodyguards at the doors.

Quoted from 147

The way THIS town board, and the PREVIOUS one, operated - isn't taught in any civics class. It's taught in back rooms, dimly lit with bouncers and bodyguards at the doors.

The previous Town Board proposed the district and then dropped the issue .... like it did so many issues.

This Town Board -- all 5 members -- at least has the balls to put the matter up for a public referendum
and, hopefully, settle the issue once and for all.    

While this is a huge issue ... there are many other huge issues to address -- many of which have been
avoided for years.    Lets decided the issue of how we fund our ambulance service .. once and for all ---
then move on to the other issues that need to be tackled.

Quoted from 147

The way THIS town board, and the PREVIOUS one, operated - isn't taught in any civics class. It's taught in back rooms, dimly lit with bouncers and bodyguards at the doors.

Rotterdam's town board is a 'great big joke' at best!! They have screwed up just about everything!! It appears to be 'on the job training' for all of them!!

The town board may have the balls but they could find their collective butts out on the street at the voters earliest convenience.