Nice letter Brad. I was pleased to see that your's was printed. Not everyone's is!

Hughes said that the republicans offered "39" steps to fiscal oblivion? you mean like cutting the PR man (who happens to be the former Planned Parenthood PR man and Glenville democrat chairman) and kosiur's big job? THAT will bring fiscal oblivion? What the pygmy legislator doesn't get is that we are just 11 short steps from fiscal salvation. Just vote out the 11 democrats who have turned the county finances into a train wreck and VIOLA! You will attain fiscal salvation!

Great letter Brad. Gary Hughes {D-MVP} is a complete disgrace. Refuses to cut anything, supports more BIDs to squeeze small businesses and refuses to consolidate anything. They always trot him out to defend the indefensible. The County Democrats think they can run jive by the taxpayers year after year and get re-elected. Make some serious taxes to LOWER this bloated, hack filled County Budget or your all finished next year. Slash the funding for Metrograft and close all City library branches,

     You got it right GB-start dumping every horrible County Krat starting with Judy D next year. Joey G will take that seat in a landslide.

It is 11:30 and I just got home from the county budget meeting. It was still going on when I left. So I don't know who voted for or against the budget. The meeting was entertaining at best. I guess we will have to wait until we read the Gazette in the morning. Although Mr. Lamendola(gazette), left about 9:30 or 10. Channel 10's reporter left early also.

I'll have more details tomorrow. I need to go to sleep now!

Don't need Lamendola ... he's only gonna print what's fed to him by the "machine" anyway

Quoted from 147

Don't need Lamendola ... he's only gonna print what's fed to him by the "machine" anyway

That was obvious!

http://www.dailygazette.com

Quoted Text

SCHENECTADY COUNTY
Budget plan to include $86 tax increase
Levy for 2009 has 8.9 percent increase
BY MICHAEL LAMENDOLA Gazette Reporter

    County residents will pay an average of $86 more in property taxes next year under a $279 million budget the Schenectady County Legislature was ready to adopt Thursday night.
    The vote was anticipated late Thursday to fall mostly along party lines, 10-5. Party leaders said the Republicans would vote against it and all but Democrat Martin Finn would vote in favor. Finn, D-Niskayuna, is running for the seat in District 3, representing Niskayuna and Glenville.
    He said more needs to be done to reduce property taxes. His Republican opponent is Tim Macfarlane.
    The tax increase is based on the average of rates for all municipalities in the county. Residents will see their actual tax bills after rates are set by individual towns, villages and the city in January.
    The 2009 budget carries a tax levy increase of 8.9 percent. It had been 12.9 percent, but majority Democrats reduced it by using the fund balance, making cuts and budgeting savings in employee health care costs.
    Democrats are applying $1.7 million of the fund balance, or surplus, for property tax reduction, $1.4 million more than recommended by County Manager Kathleen Rooney in her tentative $279.9 million budget.
    Democrats also eliminated an $85,000 grant to the Chamber of Schenectady County and expect to pay $835,000 less in medical costs for employees. This is in addition to the $2.6 million in health care savings already achieved in the 2009 budget.
    The 2009 budget cuts $2.12 million in contract services with outside vendors.
    In addition, Democrats eliminated one position from the budget, bringing to 51 the total positions eliminated in 2009 for a savings of $2.7 million. Since 2004, the county has cut a total of 250 positions from its work force, or 11 percent of the total, for a savings of $10 million.
    The 2009 budget decreased 0.34 percent from the 2008 budget with the final changes. Since 2000, county budgets have increased on average 2.94 percent annually, or less than the cost of living, according to information provided by county officials. Their figures also show that the county budget grew from $201 million in appropriations in 2000 to $250 million in appropriations in 2009. The totals do not include sales tax revenues distributed to municipalities, which will total around $29 million in 2009.
    Three of four Republicans — with Joseph Suhrada of Rotterdam the exception — supported the Democratic majority’s amendments, which reduced the projected tax levy 4 percent.
    Democrats were expected to reject the Republican package of 39 amendments, confirming Minority Leader Robert Farley’s prediction. Farley later expected to offer other amendments to eliminate positions in the clerk of the legislature offi ce and the positions of special assistant to the commissioner of social services and director of communications.
    Majority Leader Gary Hughes said Democrats carefully reviewed the Republican amendments.
    “These are not proven and it is not prudent to adopt them,” he said.
    As part of the budget, top managers in the county will receive raises of 3 percent, totaling $250,000. The raises mirror those given to unionized workers through newly signed contracts.

I cant afford you and you certainly cant afford me.....we cannot afford eachother anymore.....this is the busting of the old wineskins......time for new
wineskins......we cant put new wine in old wineskins the fermentation will break them open.....

Quoted Text

The vote was anticipated late Thursday to fall mostly along party lines, 10-5. Party leaders said the Republicans would vote against it and all but Democrat Martin Finn would vote in favor. Finn, D-Niskayuna, is running for the seat in District 3, representing Niskayuna and Glenville.

The ultimate in political pandering and calculated actions.  Finn is the only Legislator running for election.  The Democratic majority leadership likely understand that the residents of District 3 do not support the tax rate increase and that Finn doesn't stand a chance of winning the election if he doesn't speak out about the need to decrease spending further.  Finn was granted permission to vote "against" the budget because Savage knows that she had the votes to pass the budget without Finn's.  Note that the article was written before the vote was taken and the reporter has apparently already been informed of the results.  The statement that Finn "would vote against it" indicates that his position was discussed/orchestrated prior to the meeting in the majority caucus.

This scenario has played out in past years with Jasenski.  Not surprisingly, these tax and spend liberals lose their interest in cost cutting once they have duped the voters.

As an aside, I understand that Bob Godlewski attended the meeting.  At the public forum on Tuesday night, Tim McFarland and Joe Guiderelli were in attendance and both spoke against the budget.  Tim, of course, is running this year for District 3 Schenectady County Legislature.  Does the attendance by Bob and Joe foreshadow coming political campaigns?

Apparently Suhrada voted against the democrat "cuts" I wonder why? is there a reason why he would vote against their plan?

Lamendola (gazette reporter)left long before the meeting was over. Mr. Farley stopped speaking  on a few ocassions. Mr. Petta, Mr. Hughes and Mr. Lamendola appeared to be having their own discussions that were disruptive while Mr. Farley was speaking.

The cuts the minority suggested were quickly rebuked which led to some bantering back and forth. It was clear that the majority was not going to cut any services or positions that were created this past year during a hiring freeze, such as the new Director of Communications or Mr. Kosiur's new position.

Like I posted earlier, it was entertaining at best, since the outcome was inevitable.

Graham,

I wasn't able to attend the meeting last night.  However, I believe that the vote was up or down on the
entire budget.  I understand that Farley wanted a vote on each of the amendments proposed by the
minority and that Savage would not allow that to occur.  I suspect that if Suhrada voted against the
Democrats proposed budget that it was because he wanted additional spending cuts including those
amendments proposed by the Republican minority.  That said, this is only conjecture.  I don't speak
for him.

Quoted from GrahamBonnet

Apparently Suhrada voted against the democrat "cuts" I wonder why? is there a reason why he would vote against their plan?

I believe that Mr. Surharda voted against the budget solely on the idea that there could have and should have been more spending cuts. He gave several additional solutions as to how the budget could have been cut further, if not  completely eliminated.

Mr. Suhrada and the rest of the minority also expressed concern that the spending plan relies on $1.42 million in surplus or fund balance. I believe Mr. Suhrada stated, "The biggest problem is that we're raiding the fund balance,"

Quoted from 78

Graham,

I understand that Farley wanted a vote on each of the amendments proposed by the
minority and that Savage would not allow that to occur. .

Brad, you are correct. The majority bundled the 39 amendments into one for a vote.

The Democrats eliminated ONE POSITION from the budget! Belt tightening Schenectady County Democratic style. They don't care. They are too busy feathering their own nests.

      When the County Manager refuses to find any cuts don't expect the Democrats to do anything. Expect blow hot air. Marty Finn voted against the budget. He is the only Democrat running this year. An absolute civic disgrace. Remember next November when silent Judy D wants your vote again.