The latest update from the Comptroller's Office warns that Schenectady County is "susceptible to fiscal stress." This distinction is less severe than municipalities labeled as either facing significant or moderate fiscal stress.
As the tax base continues to fall - and that IS the truth, it has bee proven with EVIDENCE to support that statement, as the home sales are faling - and that IS the truth, it has been proven with EVIDENCE to support that statement, as the home sale prices are falling - and that IS the truth, it has been proven with EVIDENCE to support that statement, as the lavishing of tax exemptions upon the rich continue to increase, thus causing the financially struggling homeowners to bear the increasing tax burdens - and that IS the truth, it has been proven with EVIDENCE to support that statement, as the tax BILLS continue to rise - and that IS the truth, it has been proven with EVIDENCE to support that statement, all of the above which collectively cause the tax base to fall more, home sales to fall more, home sale prices to fall more, and tax bills to increase more, combined with the leaders unwilling to control spending, YES THE COUNTY IS IN TROUBLE.
Any evidence to the contrary?
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.
Wait a minute - Ghost brought in all that money with the on-site "tech work" just brought in a gazillion dollars. How can this be?
Yeah, Ghost, and all the other shows, didn't someone post several times writing that Proctors is so wonderful, it's improving Schenectady so much?
Exactly the question everyone should be asking this election season.
But have we all noticed how posts from the cheerleaders for downtown and dems have largely dried up. (Obviously an admission of defeat)
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.
The thing about downtown is, I live here, my family has been here for generations, if these things were "good for Schenectady", what would I have to gain by opposing them? If Schenectady were "in the black", houses were "selling well", Proctor's really was an "economic engine" bringing in millions, why wouldn't I be happy about it? Seeing is believing, isn't it? I'm not talking about the village idiot's opinion, solely. What he says about people like me is neither here nor there. I see statements on other websites, disparaging the 'opposition' in Schenectady, as if we are somehow dense and misinformed, but these people never, ever get down to brass tacks. I would love to have someone who supports all this downtown stuff, come on here and try to refute our assertions with real data. Not vague pipe dreams like "will", show me instead of desired future fantasy, show me someplace where this kind of stuff IS helping something, or HAS helped. First, you have to define what it is that needs to be "helped". Like when I hear, "Schenectady needs" it is usually something that will only benefit people who don't live here, or something that somebody fantasizes will appeal to fictitious future Schenectadians. Then there are the lies disseminated mostly through the Gazette, such as how many good paying jobs were created. I seem to recall some bragging about good paying jobs created in Rotterdam, not too long ago, yet now we see the REMS issue. With all these good paying jobs, Rotterdam and its residents ought to be flush with cash. Now we are hearing about some kind of studio thing, going in where there was housing "planned", at the old ALCO site. That just goes to show, there was no "plan", because townhouses don't morph into studios. First, we see articles where Governor 1% wants to give tax credits to some of his rich buddies, then we hear how this tech work is bringing in huge amounts of money, then we hear that there is some wonderful company going in at the old ALCO site. We will never ever see any specifics in the paper or anywhere, of who is getting financial windfalls from this, and what it will cost Schenectady taxpayers, and New Yorkers in general, or who, exactly gets hired for these "created jobs", which is generally nobody. They bring the people in with the jobs, and the people aren't looking for new high-rise apartments. I really wish somebody would show me where I'm mistaken. That ugly hunk of plastic downtown, that "high-end" building that I thought no one would want, down on Barrett Street, I think there is one unit occupied. That's how smart these "planners" are. You know what should go in at the ALCO site? That asphalt plant nobody wants in Ballston Spa.
"It’s difficult not to feel some stress when 84% of our budget pays for state mandated expenses," McQueen said. "[Half] of our property tax alone pays for our share of Medicaid, something that no other State in the Country passes on to their local municipalities in the way New York State does."
"Additionally our retirement costs have increased from $4.8 million in 2009 to $13.6 million in 2013," he added.
In the assessment by the Comptroller's Office, Schenectady County was faulted for recent deficits, a low rainy day fund and a small amount of cash on hand to cover its liabilities."
Wow, like we didn't see any of THAT coming!!
Hey, let's put some money and conduct an audit at the Department of Social Services. Let's simply start out by investigating every check going to a PO Box. It's just that simple.
And the retirement system ...well there is another hairy mess no one wants to touch. might lose potential Union/Voter support.
The latest update from the Comptroller's Office warns that Schenectady County is "susceptible to fiscal stress." This distinction is less severe than municipalities labeled as either facing significant or moderate fiscal stress.
The entire County is being ruined by the fiscal incompetent machine. The Karen Johnson Home is losing $500,000 a month and all skilled nurses have fled. But no one cares- until COUNTY taxes go up 22% next year to paper the massive losses and over indebtedness. Keep re-electing the same idiots.
"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."
Logged
The entire County is being ruined by the fiscal incompetent machine. The Karen Johnson Home is losing $500,000 a month and all skilled nurses have fled. But no one cares-
