City council members and acting mayor, I am here tonight to speak about the Schenectady County sales tax and the fact that the city does not benefit by the current sales tax agreement.
The sales tax agreement between the city and county for a number of years has extended eleven million dollars in sales tax to be paid to the city of Schenectady each year. Beginning in 2009 this agreement has increased that amount by twenty five thousand dollars each year so in 2011 we can expect to receive Eleven Million and Seventy Five Thousand dollars in sales tax revenues from the county.
However, the sales tax collected in Schenectady county, data for which I have between 2004 and 2009 shows that the sales tax collected has increased from Forty Six Million to over Eighty Million dollars.
This reflects a nearly 75 percent increase in sales taxes received yet the sales tax revenue received by the city has increased by about one half of one percent. Seventy five percent versus zero point six eight percent.
To describe it a little more clearly, for every dollar taken in during the year 2004, the city received twenty three cents. In 2005 the city received twenty six cents. In 2006 the city received twenty one cents. In 2007 the city received thirteen cents. In 2008, twelve and a half cents and in 2009 the city of Schenectady received thirteen and a half cents for every dollar the county took in for sales tax.
The city’s sales tax revenue has dropped from 23 percent in 2004 to 13 percent in 2009, and our property taxes have increased dramatically during that same period from a direct manipulation of assessment value, increases in permit fees, the water fee, the sewer fee and the garbage fee which is placed only on residential property owners.
The city and county has touted Metroplex and Proctor’s Theatre as the driving forces behind the increases of sales tax revenue to the county, yet city taxpayers have been denied the benefits of these increases. Our costs have only risen while many downtown businesses such as Proctor’s Theatre and MVP have enjoyed benefits that city taxpayers foot the bill for.
We must look into these arrangements as being a clear form of taxpayer abuse, and we must formulate a plan to elimninate any that is deemed to be non-beneficial to the taxpayers. Currently Proctor’s Theatre, Metroplex and MVP are of no benefit to we who pay taxes in the City of Schenectady. We certainly must work to change that.
As usual, Pat knows her stuff, SHE know the FACTS, SHE know the TRUTH, SHE speaks the TRUTH
While I think the city residents need her in city government, since she is running at the county level, at least if she wins, we know she will represent the TAXPAYERS, the RESIDENTS, and NOT the millioniares and the political cronies
And it's so true what she said at the end "Currently Proctors, Metroplex and MVP are of no benefit."
What benefit are these three to the city?
Let's hear from people on this board? What benefit are these three? HOW are they a benefit to the homeonwers, the taxpayers? HOW have the been a benefit to the proproperty values in the city? HOW have they been a benefit too the tax base? HOW have they been a benefit to the tax bills of the people in the city? HOW have they been a benefit in terms of vital necessary services to the residents of the city? Are people flocking to the citiy to buy homes to live in? HOW have they produced a benefit to make the streets WHERE THE TAXPAYERS LIVE safe and almost crime free?
Well? Answers? Answers showing a benefit?
Of course, SB will start saying that no one is listening to me Uh, SB,. the fact that NO ONE answres will be because there are no answers that show HOW these entities have benefitted the city residents. So SB, I guess you can provide a list of benefits? Well, what are they? Are you still struggling in desparation, trying to pour through websites in an attempt to disprove what I write. Have fun, don't break your computer when you get mad at the end of today when you can't find any proof. And maybe you better to do a doctor's office and get an Rx for blood pressure meds so your blood pressure doesn't go up when you're getting frustrated at the end of the day, when, after 6 months of looking for proof you get madder beccause you can't find any. Be careful because after a year, you might wind up with a heart attack after all that time looking, but getting even more frustrated because you just will not be able to find anything to disprove the facts, the TRUTHS I have stated
Optimists close their eyes and pretend problems are non existent. Better to have open eyes, see the truths, acknowledge the negatives, and speak up for the people rather than the politicos and their rich cronies.
This is another example of working together works. The City cut of sales tax revenue is low and can't ever rise. Make it up with the exploding property taxes-no one will complain too much. Then all 6 of the City DEM legislators on the County Board go along for a ride. Finally City residents have some opponents to these taxing together DEMS. In District 1-Peter G. In District 2-Pat Zollinger.
Proctor's is a taxpayer black hole. First they refuse to pay any of Stratton's Fair Share Pilot or repay County taxpayers one red cent. Then they created 3,000 jobs-lol. Where? Who? Don't forget that they took the coffeehouse and Key Bank permanently off the City tax rolls. They pay nothing so you can pay more. What a deal! But they are a training ground for future DEM "leaders". KJ and now Leeza! Just what we need on the all DEM City Council another Proctor's stooge?
This looks really factual to me. Let's see some politician refute this, in plain english. That won't happen, because they can't. It would be nice if someone purportedly in the field of journalism would get on this story and stay on it until they get answers that make sense. Maybe someone should call this lady names now. That seems to be the usual tactic to deny hard evidence and logic.
The proof that Metroplex, and Proctors have done little to aid the plight of the Taxpayer. Since both were formed the taxes, fees, population, and condition of the city has not improved but it sure has declined. Metroplex was formed to bring businesses into the county so that the tax base would grow and lower taxes for the residents, has this happened? Proctors has supposedly made millions by bringing top shelf shows into the city. Every year proctors receives money from the taxpayer, pays no taxes and yet still will not contribute one dime to help the taxpayer with their crushing tax burden. Who has Proctors helped except to line the pockets of Phillip Morris and a connected few IMHO.
As usual, Pat knows her stuff, SHE know the FACTS, SHE know the TRUTH, SHE speaks the TRUTH
While I think the city residents need her in city government, since she is running at the county level, at least if she wins, we know she will represent the TAXPAYERS, the RESIDENTS, and NOT the millioniares and the political cronies
And it's so true what she said at the end "Currently Proctors, Metroplex and MVP are of no benefit."
What benefit are these three to the city?
Let's hear from people on this board? What benefit are these three? HOW are they a benefit to the homeonwers, the taxpayers? HOW have the been a benefit to the proproperty values in the city? HOW have they been a benefit too the tax base? HOW have they been a benefit to the tax bills of the people in the city? HOW have they been a benefit in terms of vital necessary services to the residents of the city? Are people flocking to the citiy to buy homes to live in? HOW have they produced a benefit to make the streets WHERE THE TAXPAYERS LIVE safe and almost crime free?
Well? Answers? Answers showing a benefit?
Of course, SB will start saying that no one is listening to me Uh, SB,. the fact that NO ONE answres will be because there are no answers that show HOW these entities have benefitted the city residents. So SB, I guess you can provide a list of benefits? Well, what are they? Are you still struggling in desparation, trying to pour through websites in an attempt to disprove what I write. Have fun, don't break your computer when you get mad at the end of today when you can't find any proof. And maybe you better to do a doctor's office and get an Rx for blood pressure meds so your blood pressure doesn't go up when you're getting frustrated at the end of the day, when, after 6 months of looking for proof you get madder beccause you can't find any. Be careful because after a year, you might wind up with a heart attack after all that time looking, but getting even more frustrated because you just will not be able to find anything to disprove the facts, the TRUTHS I have stated
Wow, still no answer. Hmm, obviously means they can't find any bemefits. Keep making statments but no proof. That means lies, nothing but lies
Optimists close their eyes and pretend problems are non existent. Better to have open eyes, see the truths, acknowledge the negatives, and speak up for the people rather than the politicos and their rich cronies.
Logged
This is another example of working together works. The City cut of sales tax revenue is low and can't ever rise. Make it up with the exploding property taxes-no one will complain too much. Then all 6 of the City DEM legislators on the County Board go along for a ride. Finally City residents have some opponents to these taxing together DEMS. In District 1-Peter G. In District 2-Pat Zollinger.
