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SCHENECTADY
Tough talk on 2010 city budget
BY KATHLEEN MOORE Gazette Reporter
Reach Gazette reporter Kathleen Moore at 395-3120 or moore@dailygazette.com.

    The mayor is presenting his 2010 budget a week early this year, partly in response to the City Council’s decision to change his 2009 budget at the last minute.
    Mayor Brian U. Stratton has criticized those changes all year, never missing an opportunity to point out unexpected expenses that could have been more easily afforded if the council had not cut $1 million out of the budget to eliminate his proposed tax increase. Stratton called the cuts irresponsible.
    To avoid another marathon cutting session, his spokesman said that this year Stratton wants the council to have plenty of time to “work collaboratively” with him on any changes. Stratton will present his budget 5 p.m. Sept. 24 at City Hall, giving the council six days more than normal to deliberate. The council must vote by Nov. 1.
    “We want to work in a very collaborative way with the council, rather than scurrying around at the last minute,” finance consultant John Paolino said. Stratton asked Paolino to speak for him because Stratton is lobbying in Washington, D.C.
    Councilman Mark Blanchfield dismissed the criticism of last year’s budget talks, noting that department heads have managed to stick to the council’s budget. The city is also on track to collect more building permit revenue than the mayor had predicted. The council substantially increased that revenue estimate in the budget. ..................>>>>...................................>>>>...................http://www.dailygazette.net/De.....r01002&AppName=1

Someone should wake Stratton up and tell him that the taxes are already too high and because of it businesses won't open in Schenectady and the property and school taxes are so high people can't even sell their homes so that they can move out of the area.

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Stratton asked Paolino to speak for him because Stratton is lobbying in Washington, D.C.

Now what?

Stratton is in Washington DC to beg for more money to try to keep Schenectady from going under. Instead of cutting taxes and balancing the budget like we all have to do he goes and begs for money not thinking what will happen when the free money in Washington DC dries up.

Quoted from Shadow

Stratton is in Washington DC to beg for more money to try to keep Schenectady from going under. Instead of cutting taxes and balancing the budget like we all have to do he goes and begs for money not thinking what will happen when the free money in Washington DC dries up.

Just approach Moody's and get a better rating.....is that the lobbying effort?

Quoted from Shadow

Stratton is in Washington DC to beg for more money to try to keep Schenectady from going under. Instead of cutting taxes and balancing the budget like we all have to do he goes and begs for money not thinking what will happen when the free money in Washington DC dries up.

Like I said....everybody just bend over.