By Kathleen Moore Proposed Schenectady budget contains 2.9 percent tax hike
SCHENECTADY — The years of tax cuts are over. Proposed 2009 Schenectady budget Total spending: $76.5 million (up from $72.7 million in 200 Tax rate: $21.45 per $1,000 of assessed property value (up 2.9 percent) Water fee: 4.7 percent increase Sewer fee: 5.4 percent increase Garbage fee: $144/$288/$432 (10 percent increase)
Mayor Brian U. Stratton's proposed 2009 budget reverses his two-year effort to cut property taxes in the city, giving residents a 2.9 percent tax hike as well as fee increases for garbage, sewer and water. The City Council got its first look at the $76.5 million proposal Monday afternoon. It has the final say on the budget, but in recent years has largely approved the mayor’s proposal. Stratton told the council he could not find a responsible way to cut taxes or hold the line on city fees. The proposed budget already uses two-thirds of the city’s rainy-day fund, leaving Schenectady with just a $2 million cushion. Using the rest to avoid the increase in taxes and fees would be a recipe for disaster, Stratton said. “I’m afraid that otherwise we’ll wind up right back where we were in 2004,” Stratton said, referring to the deficit the city faced when he first took office. At that time, the city had so little cash that it ran out of money between tax collection periods. For years, the city ended up borrowing money at exorbitant rates to get through those lean months. Stratton is determined to keep that from happening again. “We have worked so hard,” he said. “Had everything stayed the same, we could realistically have come in with a very minimal and even no tax hike.” But the city saw its budget increase by more than $1 million for fuel-related costs while losing about $850,000 in county and state grants. Fuel prices have gone up 68 percent — from $670,000 to $1.1 million. Electricity and gas have gone up too, jumping 23 percent to a total of $2.3 million. Even salt is more expensive. The cost of all road materials has gone up 34 percent, primarily due to the increased cost of fuel to ship salt to the city. Only one program has been cut in the mayor’s proposal. He eliminated the 50 First program, which he had announced earlier in the year. He had planned to use $500,000 in surplus to demolish 50 eyesores in the city. “It’s sad. It’s going to have to be put on the shelf for the time being,” Stratton said. “We can still get there. We have to take a couple steps backward during this troubled time.” The fund was used this year for two emergency demolitions — a house on Summit Avenue and the Brandywine School — but the $280,000 balance was returned to the 2009 general fund. He said the money was needed to keep other services available, including free swimming at the Hillhurst and Quackenbush pools. The state Department of Health warned the city that it would not allow either pool to open next summer without major repairs. The mayor added $65,000 to the budget for that work.
Everyone’s costs are up, so don’t even think of raising Sch’dy taxes
Re Oct. 2 article, “[Schenectady] Budget proposal cuts jobs, services”: Mayor [Brian Stratton] cited the following to give his budget, with a tax increase, credibility: a fuel increase of 68 percent; an increase of 23 percent for electricity and gas; a doubling of the cost of chemicals for water treatment; and the list goes on. The homeowner (taxpayer) is undergoing most of these same increases, but is also experiencing large jumps in the prices of food, medicines, clothing and other necessary daily items. Does the mayor not have to adjust his household budget to cover his rising costs or not? I do, and I don’t have any place to get more funds, so I have to cut back on what I spend on necessities. I think the city budget should be cut back to zero growth. People on fixed incomes cannot continue to absorb more increases. Is this city government looking to govern an empty city? Because continued increases in taxes and fees are driving people away. THOMAS KENNEDY Schenectady
SCHENECTADY Don’t look for extra aid, city warned State legislators offer other help BY KATHLEEN MOORE Gazette Reporter
Ask for anything, anything at all — just not cash, state Sen. Hugh T. Farley told the Schenectady City Council on Monday. All three of Schenectady’s state legislators came to Monday’s committees meeting to spread the grim news that the state is in dismal shape. But since they might not be able to shower their district with money this year, Farley asked the council to come up with creative cost-saving measures that just need state approval. Farley, R-Niskayuna, stressed that while he’ll also fight for the city’s state aid, he can’t make any promises to bring home the bacon this year. Instead, he said, he might be able to cut the city’s expenses. “If you have mandates you think aren’t good, aren’t necessary, please tell us. We’ll get rid of them,” he said. Councilman Gary McCarthy didn’t need to be asked twice. The looming cost of a new courthouse, to provide more courtrooms for the increased number of criminal defendants, was his first thought. “Why can’t we run a night court, a second shift, so we can use our existing building?” he asked. “The [Office of Court Administration] says we can only work one shift. But at GE and corporations, they don’t build a second building — they add a second shift.” Farley and Assembly Minority Leader James Tedisco, both Republicans, agreed with the City Council Democrat. “We’ll look at it immediately,” Tedisco said. Assemblyman George Amedore Jr., R-Rotterdam, was also present but did not offer an opinion. For nearly a decade, the city and county have tried to find ways to reduce the cost of a new courthouse, but state officials insisted on a new, larger structure. County Attorney Chris Gardner said the idea of a second shift had not been considered before. Now, it could reach the floor of the Senate and the Assembly. “It’s certainly worth exploring,” Gardner said. “It’s a new idea. Certainly there’s some things to it — for one, you can get prisoners released in a sooner fashion rather than booking them for the night and bringing them to court in the morning.” McCarthy is focusing on the cost, not the efficiency, of the operation. The county is preparing to bond $4.4 million this fall to renovate the former TrustCo building on Erie Boulevard as a new county offi ce building. Then, possibly in 2010, the county plans to turn the current office building into a new court. The total cost is unclear, but will be millions, county officials have said. The city is planning to pay for a portion of the project to expand its court space, but the county will be on the hook for most of the expense. Still, McCarthy said, removing the project from the county’s budget would save money for city taxpayers. “That would have a signifi - cant impact on our city and county capital budgets,” he said. Tedisco said he was impressed by the idea, and Farley said the state climate is right for such inventive legislation. “If you need legislation to allow you to do things you can’t do now, it’s very possible. But money is very difficult,” Farley said. “This is a two-way street. I need your ideas. I want to hear more, because we need your help.” Both Farley and Tedisco stressed that asking for more money will be fruitless. Tedisco predicted that the state will receive no revenue from Wall Street for the next five to 10 years, a staggering loss since Wall Street makes up 20 percent of the state’s annual revenue. Farley also signaled that the years of state aid increases for Schenectady may be over. “You’re above the average,” he said, dismissing Mayor Brian U. Stratton’s argument that many similar size cities get more aid. “I had to open a vein to get you where you are. Everybody is jealous of Schenectady, that’s what I’m hearing.” He complimented Stratton on the “tough decision” of proposing a 2009 tax increase and fee increases in water, sewer and garbage. And he promised to fight for the city’s aid payment — due in December and at risk of being drastically cut.
For nearly a decade, the city and county have tried to find ways to reduce the cost of a new courthouse, but state officials insisted on a new, larger structure. County Attorney Chris Gardner said the idea of a second shift had not been considered before. Now, it could reach the floor of the Senate and the Assembly.
anyone remember the show Nite Court??? It was funny......My question is.......why do we need such a big court house....more criminals?...more ignorant? What's up leaders????
So the county's biggest cost is court????????????????????????????????????? I'm not yet feelin' it......there must be more to this story...
...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
SCHENECTADY — The City Council will hold budget review session meetings at three different times this year, a change from the policy of discussing every portion of the budget at 7:30 a.m. Instead, the council will go through the public safety budget at 7 p.m. today . On Monday, the council will review the Office of General Services budget at 4:30 p.m. The final review session will return to the 7:30 a.m. time slot: on Tuesday, the council will consider spending plans for the law, finance and code departments. All three meetings are scheduled for Room 110 at City Hall. Unlike previous years, there will be no session on revenues, undistributed expenses, or the capital budget. Finance Committee Chairman Mark Blanchfield said he decided to send in written questions on revenues and undistributed expenses rather than hold a meeting. After the final review session is held next week, Blanchfield believes the council will be able to change the $76.5 million budget to eliminate the proposed 2.9 percent tax hike. If the tax hike goes through as proposed by the mayor, the average homeowner in a house assessed at $80,000 would see a $67 increase in next year’s tax bill, most of it in fees. The tax increase itself would add $28, but the homeowner would also pay $13 more for trash pickup, $11 more for water and $15 more for sewer service. The total bill would come to $2,393 before school and county taxes.
The City tax increase is DOA. Mayor Stratton's circle to Nowhere on Erie is DOA. The last thing Assembly candidate Mark Blanchfield wants to do is raise taxes again. Not after raising taxes 75% since he was elected City Councilman. Even Joe Allen is saying the massive City budget must be cut. Dump the Stratton Circle to nowhere and save $1 million. By the way Stratton has increased spending 30% since taking office. There is a common myth that Stratton; "rolled up his sleeves and cut spending".
As far as the Courthouse, right Senders. There is nothing wrong with the current historic Courthouse. We have become both a criminal and welfare sponge magnet. Now the County must take also cut spending in a drastic fashion.
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