It is an undisputed FACT that counties across New York State have been strapped with unfunded state mandates --- It is a fact that in 34 years in the State Senate, Hugh has done NOTHING to reverse this trend ---- therefore ... Hugh "double-dipper, do-nothing" Farley bears a HUGE part of the responsibility for spending increases in Schenectady County.
So, can you name one resolution that has been passed at the town or county level where they requested that the state not raise the mandates? Or that they said they would not take the money that the state has been sending and sent it back?
By the way, the Metroplex itself is losing money, would you also call that a self-funded mandate, since it is something that isapproved by the Assembly and Senate? So is that the state's fault, or the County's for continuously asking for more authority to waste taxpayer money? And if the Metroplex is doing so well, then shouldn't there be less people who need to apply for those state-funded mandates?
So, can you name one resolution that has been passed at the town or county level where they requested that the state not raise the mandates? Or that they said they would not take the money that the state has been sending and sent it back?
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New York State has the most expensive state medicaid package of any state in the nation -- and unlike the other states a large share of the cost is shifted to the counties. County leaders have been askingfor relief for years.
George Amedore & Christian Klueg for NYS Senate 2016 Pete Vroman for State Assembly 2016[/size][/color]
"For this is what America is all about. It is the uncrossed desert and the unclimbed ridge. It is the star that is not reached and the harvest that is sleeping in the unplowed ground." Lyndon Baines Johnson
The fact is that County Taxes have been cut in 3 of the past 5 years. The Perpetual Negativity Choir says that they are for lower taxes .. and yet is offended when the Democrats on the County Legislature cut taxes for 3 out of 5 years. Something is wrong with you folks.
Can you PLEASE explain to me why the county tax portion of my tax BILL has gone up every year??????????
The tax LEVY might go done, the tax RATE might go down, but the tax BILL goes up up up. Please explain why our tax BILLS have done up if YOU claijm taxes have gone down? What math are you using?
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 county property tax rate HAS been cut in 3 of the past 5 years -- that is a undisputable fact -- and unless your house INCREASED during value in the past 5 years your county tax bill should have gone down in those years that the rate was cut. It is possible that your city/town taxes went up .. or sewer district .. or water district .. and that might explain why your OVERALL tax bill went up.
No absolutely clearly the COUNTY tax has increased
Yes, the RATE per thousnd has been cut. DUH, Our assessment used to be something like $3,500. So I remember chuckling when we moved here at the tax RATE for school taxes was something like $300 something per thousand. Rotterdam used to have "partial value assessment" and the state wants everyone to have full value which was done during the reassessment. So now we have a tax RATE for school (we're in Mohon) this year of $17.68.
So, based on your rationale, the previous rate a few year ago of $300 +/- per thousand and today's tax rate of $17.68 means that the district can cheer - Mohon can claim it has reduced the tax rate big time.
But the tax BILL is another thing. And hey, our house previously was assessed on the higher end in comparison to other houses and we're all pretty much the same now.
SO stop using fuzzy math trying to support Savage in her attempt to fool people. If the county tax RATE was $12 per thousand in 1956 and was $10 per thousand today, well I can guarantee that does not mean that a tax BILL in 1956 was $1,200 and it's only $1,000 today.
Obviously people can read between the lines and know her claim is not valid because tax RATE does not properly reflect tax BILL, because she's losing big time
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 fuzzy math comes when the fabulous public school system doesn't teach about the usual 'math' of life......hence taxes.....the town should have been fully assessed AGES AGO....but the GE/ALCOA wave was ridden.....hence a 'beechnut'.......as for the Savage lie....it still is a lie....a half-truth IS a lie......if P then Q
...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 County to adopt budget Monday, October 4, 2010
SCHENECTADY COUNTY — The Schenectady County Legislature is scheduled to adopt a $293 million budget tonight. The county held a public hearing Monday night at which one person spoke, saying county taxes are too high. Minority Leader Robert Farley, R-Glenville, said he will propose amendments to the budget. Philip Fields, D-Schenectady, chairman of the county Legislature’s Ways and Means Committee, said Democrats are not proposing amendments. The tentative budget represents an increase of $5 million in appropriations from the current $288 million budget. It reduces next year’s tax levy by $135,000, or by 0.2 percent, through use of $9.5 million in surplus funds. The 2011 tax levy is tentatively set at $64 million. The county’s fiscal year begins Jan. 1. Taxpayers will learn what their county tax bills will be after municipalities set their tax rates in December, based on their assessments and their equalization rates. County taxes represent about 15 percent to 20 percent of a resident’s total tax bill; school taxes and local municipal taxes and fees comprise the remainder. The county is using the surplus to cover for the loss of federal stimulus funds, for increases in mandated payments into the state pension system and in costs for Medicaid and foster care and to cover the loss of state revenue. In all, the county is projecting the loss of $3 million in federal funds and $1 million in state funds for 2011..............>>>>...............>>>>........................http://www.dailygazette.net/De.....r01101&AppName=1
In all, the county is projecting the loss of $3 million in federal funds and $1 million in state funds for 2011
Quoted Text
It reduces next year’s tax levy by $135,000, or by 0.2 percent, through use of $9.5 million in surplus funds.
They're increasing the budget $5 million dollars, but proclaiming a 0.2 percent decrease in the levy. That's fiscally responsible? Everyone in Schenectady County is tightening their belts to record levels - and the county legislators think that because only one person complained (mainly because complaints fall on deaf ears) that we're "ok" with it??
So much for saving for emergencies. So much for working on the infastructure. So much for thinking they're "looking out for us". So much for "working together works".
Most people don't even know where the county leg' meets!
"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."
Probably Tops now ever since Evan went down to complain (rightfully) about lack of fiscal constraint. However he seems to be firmly on the dem-copservative bandwagon now!
"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."
Legislature OKs 2011 budget By Paul Nelson Staff Writer Published: 12:10 a.m., Wednesday, October 6, 2010
SCHENECTADY-- The Democratic-controlled Schenectady County Legislature says its newly adopted $293 million budget, which lowers property taxes by 0.2 percent, is fiscally responsible.
"This is as close to a good budget as we can come to during perilous times," said Legislator Vince DiCerbo, one of several Democrats who lauded the 2011 spending plan before voting for it Tuesday.
Before the 12-1 party-line vote, Philip Fields, chair of the legislature's Ways and Means Committee, gave a budget overview. The legislature will use $9.6 million of its fund balance, but will still have $35 million left at year's end.
He also outlined the increasing costs of pension, Medicaid and public assistance, which he pegged at $5.2 million. He emphasized that the small reduction in taxes is the fourth one in the past six years, and the county will be shedding 22 more positions through attrition next year.
Republican Minority Leader Robert Farley, the lone "no" vote, said he couldn't support a budget he called "Swiss cheese" because it has a lot of "holes and unproven programs."
He called the property tax reduction nothing more than election-year politicking. Legislature Chairwoman Susan Savage, a Democrat from Niskayuna, is vying to unseat Robert Farley's father, veteran Republican state Sen. Hugh Farley, in November.
Legislators Brian Gordon, a Democratic, and Republican James Buhrmaster were absent.
On Tuesday, the younger Farley, proposed several Republican amendments, including requiring a super-majority vote for the budget, doing away with patronage jobs, a financial plan for the Glendale Nursing home project, an independent and comprehensive audit of the Sheriff's Department and correctional facility, and an appraisal report of county-owned land. The proposals failed to win any support.
Legislators Brian Gordon, a Democratic, and Republican James Buhrmaster were absent.
I wonder what was more important than doing the public's work. They are still accepting the paycheck for representing the people, right?
Also, it goes to show that the Democrats on the board do NOT believe that "Working together works," as per the Gazette, even the "Conservative" member of the legislature did not vote for the amendments that the Republican Party was trying to bring to the floor. I wonder how much would have been saved if any of them were passed.
Quoted Text
On Tuesday, the younger Farley, proposed several Republican amendments, including requiring a super-majority vote for the budget, doing away with patronage jobs, a financial plan for the Glendale Nursing home project, an independent and comprehensive audit of the Sheriff's Department and correctional facility, and an appraisal report of county-owned land. The proposals failed to win any support.
It now down to a mini 0.2 cut? How close to zero can they get?
Another fraud County budget which will be be lost in the huge town/City/School tax increases. It allows SS Savage to trick a couple of morons into believing she is anti-tax. Nothing will help her. Or the taxpayers of this County. What about the County nursing home Savage?
New York State has the most expensive state medicaid package of any state in the nation -- and unlike the other states a large share of the cost is shifted to the counties. County leaders have been askingfor relief for years.
They keep complaining, but they can't get anything changed? I mean, wasn't the Metroplex supposed to create a whole bunch of jobs, hence removing people from the Medicaid roles? And if the people are removed from the Medicaid roles, shouldn't that reduce the county's cost for this unfunded mandate? And where is that reduction? Or is that how we came to the 0.2% reduction?
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It now down to a mini 0.2 cut? How close to zero can they get?
