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Study: City tops the list for taxes
Ranking gives incomplete picture, officials say
BY MICHAEL LAMENDOLA Gazette Reporter

    Property owners in the city of Schenectady paid the highest total tax rate in the Capital Region last year with Albany, Scotia and Rotterdam among the top 10, according to a study released by an Albany think tank.
    But some local city and school district leaders said the study by the Empire Center for New York State Policy shows just one side of the story, and that residents are getting equal or better value through their tax dollars for services and goods, compared to similar-sized municipalities.
    Schenectady’s 2010 total tax rate was $39.57 per $1,000 of property value, compared to a Capital Region median of $21.97 and a statewide median of $27.43, according to the Empire Center.
    Albany’s total tax rate was $34.30 per $1,000 assessed value, giving it a rank of third in the Capital Region. Scotia’s total tax rate was $32.55 per $1,000 and Rotterdam’s was $32.15, giving them ranks of sixth and seventh, respectively, according to the study.
    Empire Center Director Tim Hoefer said the “rate is indicative of what your government costs you.” The study is the center’s fi rst and is tied to the release of an open government tool: “Benchmarking New York.”
    “With this tool, we are trying to give taxpayers a sense of where their money is going,” Hoefer said.
    The Empire Center’s study found that cities and rural areas with low property values bear the highest tax burden, while resort communities and wealthy areas with very high property values have the lowest tax burden.
    Hoefer said the total tax rate is an aggregate of school district, county and municipal property tax rates. It does not include fees, such as the trash collection fee in place in Schenectady, and water and sewer fees that municipalities may charge.
    In Schenectady’s case, the $39.57 total tax rate breaks down as follows: $6.54 per $1,000 for the county property tax rate; $12.57 for the city property tax rate; and $20.46 for the Schenectady City School District property tax rate. Albany’s total rate: $2.94 per $1,000 for the county; $10.37 per $1,000 for city; $20.99 per $1,000 for school district. By comparison, the average upstate city rates for each of these categories is: $6.81 for county, $11.72 for city and $17.85 for school district.
    Rotterdam’s total tax rate: $1.74 for a town special district tax; $6.16 for the county tax; $3.79 for the town tax; and between $14.18 to $18.21 for school district taxes. The average upstate town rates are: $1.57 for special district; $6.68 for county; $3.85 for town; and $16.25 for school district.
    Scotia’s total tax rate consists of: $6.03 for county; $0.82 for town; $8.84 for village; and $16.88 for school district. Upstate comparisons are: $7.01 for county; $2.49 for town; $6.90 for village; and $16,54 for school district. ..................................>>>>.....................>>>>.....................http://www.dailygazette.com/news/2011/may/14/0514_taxes/

Great. Now the City DEM leaders can replace the "Working Together Works" slogan with "We're Number One!"

One side of the story?-lol Like we've been getting from the Gazetto for decades. Schenectady property owners are paying $12 OVER the State median per thousand! Impassable streets, double garbage taxes, graffiti and the worst City Council in the region. Keep voting DEM for every elected office.

and that residents are getting equal or better value through their tax dollars for services and goods, compared to similar-sized municipalities.

Yeah local mechanics are getting great business from the repairs that need to be made just from driving through our city roads. My truck sounds like it is going to fall apart driving through this city, a 1 foot deep pothole people complained about is now a 1 foot high speed bump after the city repaired it >

We're Number One! We're Number One! We're Number One! We're Number One! We're Number One! We're Number One! We're Number One! We're Number One!

Whenever you are presented with the cold unvarnished facts of the total failure of these DEM lifers somehow it is an "incomplete story". The Gazetto cannot tell it like it is. Tell us the other side of the story. We need a good laugh.

     The County taxpayers are getting totally screwed by these DEM morons. Tax giveaways to millionaires to improve the lunch traffic Downtown. A library addition, not in Duanesburg that needs it, but Downtown. The DEMS haven't even built their SS Savage County Home. You ain't seen nothing yet. Taxes will be off the chart Countywide if her idiotic plans for the new County Home are actually built.

One needs to admit they have a problem before they take to solving the problem. No alcoholic goes to AA without realizing he needs to first. Looks like the problem will only get worse until there's a fatal crash for the taxpayers. Sadly the democraps will keep winning since the majority of the voters in the city are on welfare, subsidized housing and government teet. Those who own the houses, pay the load and tolerate the abuse are in the minority. The most crapped upon minority in the state. It seems as if Rdam is headed that same way too, sadly enough.

Things are so out of control and mismanaged by the City DEMS that they can't afford a proper park clean up. Too busy paying for lunch programs and summer camps? It looks like a garbage bomb went off. After paying your record DEM tax bill come down and clean up the mess that the City employees can't cope with. They even refuse to let criminals clean up park graffiti. The inmates are running the asylum.

The mess that the city wants cleaned up is from all the snow that was dumped into that area during the winter and that snow was full of garbage. The city made the mess now they want the taxpayers that they abuse daily to clean it up. Only in Schenectady.

This is the result of the actions of Stratton, Gillen, and Saveage.  This is Savage's "miracle."     DV claims this is the city's renaissance.

Since when is becomging the highest tax city loally, a city located in the 24th highest taxes country in the whole United Stats, how is that mean there is a renaissance.  People FLEE high taxes.

And given that almost 25% of young people are PLANNING to leave the state, and given the fact that the city already has a 25% rate of houses vacant, well, that is proof positive that DV is must be in a dream world.

So, DV, what have you got to say about the news.  Is it a good thing that the city is knowns as the highest taxed city, and located in the one of the highest taxed counties?   In one of the highest crime areas?

lalalalalalaaaaa   lalalalalalaaaaa IS ALL HE SAYS. Everything is coming up roses for these people. The special coke bottles they wear must make it look that way.

Quoted from GrahamBonnet

lalalalalalaaaaa   lalalalalalaaaaa IS ALL HE SAYS. Everything is coming up roses for these people. The special coke bottles they wear must make it look that way.

Working together works! Working together works!