FDG was under assessed for decades, he has structures on his property that were never taxed, he is disputing his assessment claiming his 6000 square foot million dollar home is worth $250K, and he has the balls to propose a double digit tax increase?  Maybe if he and the many others in the Rotterdam political class that received preferential treatment over the years PAYED THEIR FAIR SHARE along the way, the rest of us that live in modest homes wouldn't be faced with this ridiculous double digit increase.  

This will result in pitch forks and torches if it passes.  

Quoted from CICERO

This will result in pitch forks and torches if it passes.  

That's what should happen if this isn't changed to anything other than a cut in spending and a DECREASE in taxes.

Quoted Text

“I know how to run a business. If you only have so much money coming in you can only spend so much of it and when you run out of it you can’t tax the people to death,” said DelGallo.

DelGallo said he’s not interested in getting paid for the job if he wins. Instead, he would like to donate his salary to charities throughout Rotterdam.

http://spotlightnews.com/spotlightnews/article.php?article_id=tF1253130962t4ab142d2c5695

Quoted Text

REFORM #1 REDUCE SPENDING TO REDUCE TAXES
County government saves about $6 million each year through progressive health care
reforms such as the Canadian Drug Program. Our Town Government resists such
reforms, and that costs us money. The County also offered to provide fleet vehicle
maintenance to the Town at a savings of $50,000 per year. The Town said no. As your
supervisor, I will work with our neighbors in government to explore these and other cost
saving measures that will have an impact on our bottom line and save tax dollars.

http://www.frankdelgallo.com/DelGallo_Platform.pdf

This nonsense was cut and pasted from the County DEM playbook. They keep citing the Canadian Drug program. Meanwhile, County spending keeps exploding under SS Savage. "Working together" never works.

     Of course, a double digit tax increase during Obama's recession will be trimmed. They did a great job the tax increase is now only 9%! The fact that someone who campaigned on tax relief and running the town as a business would propose this is shocking.

Looking forward to the public hearing and what options our town leaders can offer up.  Since DCVOR has a close ear to the matter can we offer up suggestions on this forum that could possibly brought up at the public hearing?  I know these are small things and don't solve it all but it could be a start.

I'll go first eliminate free pick up of lawn debris. Charge an optional fee if you would like pick up

DVOR is not interested in any real fiscal solutions. Anyone who offers any solutions is dismissed as crying or whining. His whole shtick is cheer leading the whole working together DEM fiasco. Then maybe he can receive a crumb from the feast on the taxpayers dime.

     The whole working together farce has been destroyed. It's everyone for themselves as the County continues to go down the toilet. The City has decided to screw the County. The town should follow. FS should be jumping up and down today. We need checks on these working together idiots. They have moved businesses from Rotterdam to the City, thrown property tax breaks at them and proclaimed "renaissance". No wonder revenues are in free fall. Rebuilding the towns commercial/industrial base should be the top priority.

Quoted from benny salami

DVOR is not interested in any real fiscal solutions. .

Not true -- however I am not the one putting together the town budget -- so direct your concerns and
complaints to the people responsible for the budget.

Benny can you offer any tangible solutions to the problem at hand?

Quoted from gaiaworshipper

Benny can you offer any tangible solutions to the problem at hand?

I'm not benny, but I'm gonna toss in my 2c.

STOP SPENDING WHAT YOU - AND THE TAXPAYERS - DONT HAVE!

Quoted from 147

I'm not benny, but I'm gonna toss in my 2c.

STOP SPENDING WHAT YOU - AND THE TAXPAYERS - DONT HAVE!

which areas would you cut ?

Quoted from 147

I'm not benny, but I'm gonna toss in my 2c.

STOP SPENDING WHAT YOU - AND THE TAXPAYERS - DON'T HAVE!

   That's a start. Of course I could say I'm not on the budget committee and offer nada.

     What the town needs is a major property tax cut that would increase commercial occupancy and lessen the burden on home owners. Lower the costs to business. That will increase revenue. Make Rotterdam the place to shop and work again. Hiring freeze, 10% across the board spending cut, cut town recreational programs. Promote the town to other area businesses. I'm happy to work with anyone to turn this thing around. The answer is not chasing away more businesses and home owners.

cutting town recreation programs would be a HUGE mistake

Yea this new admin is really the tops!!   LOLOLOLOL

Thanks Benny and MT those ideas make sense.  It seems that Rotterdam gives certain things away to the residents without charging a fee.  If you want something bad enough you pay for it?

Quoted from DemocraticVoiceOfReason

which areas would you cut ?

Since you asked:

1. I'd eliminate 2 "Sr. Typist" positions in the town justices office (save $81,600)

2. Eliminate $20,000 in "Web Fees" from the Assessors office.

3. Eliminate a Deputy Town Clerk - $32,500  (there's no need for 3)

4. Eliminate (or reduce) "Senior Custodian" in the Buildings Department $46,850

5. Reduce Town Hall Electricity Expenses. $42,500 is just insane. Turn off the dang lights!

6. Central Mailing - $29,000 (Every department already has a postage budget)

7. Reduce or postpone "CIS Support and Upgrades" $110,000

8. Special Items Misc Expense $25,000 - WTH?? Get rid of it or do without.

9. Eliminate Civilian Paramedics (PT) $150,000

10. Teletype in the Police Department.  Hello, folks, this is 2010.   $5,000

11. Child Safety Seats  $3,700

12. Eliminate "REMS Contract" $120,000.  Return to capitalism, take the deal.

13. Eliminate "Building Inspector Cell Phone" - $1,800 / yr - seriously?? $150/mo??

14. "Account Specialist" in the Highway Department - $44,990

15. Street Lighting - Roberta Road?  Why does this even have it's own line item?? $500

16. Parade Expenses  $6,000 - Eliminate.

17. Sr. Typist in the "Office for the Aging" $37,000 ?

18. Recreation Specialists (PT) $19,500 (8)

19. Recreation Specialists (PT) $19,300 (8)

(Note - 18 and 19 are ON TOP OF the $201,000 for 5 FT park attendants)

20. Playground "Recreation Leaders" (seriously?) $14,200

21. Refuse and Garbage "Security Workers" (3) $20,000 (seriously, is our garbage that valuable it's gotta be guarded?)

22. Close Brush/Weed center - along with composting. Save $499,000 immediately.


Just in a cursiory look - VERY briefly, there's $1,529,440 in immediate cost cutting & savings. I'm sure, if each department were forced to layoff one person, and consolidate duties - even better, renegotiate contracts for benefits, another $500,000 could be trimmed very easily.