ROTTERDAM Budget carries cut in taxes Supervisor cites careful spending BY JUSTIN MASON Gazette Reporter
Rotterdam spending in its general and highway funds is projected to decline by more than 2 percent in 2008, according to the preliminary budget from Supervisor Steven Tommasone. The proposed $9.46 million tax levy for the townwide spending reflects a decrease of $205,962 from this year’s fi gures, according to information provided by the town. Tommasone attributed much of this reduction to an emphasis on controlling spending, reducing Rotterdam’s debt service and increasing the town’s income from sources other than local property taxes. “It’s truly a number of factors, not just one,” he said this week. Under the dual tax rate adopted by the town in February, residential property owners will pay $3.36 per $1,000 of assessed property value, while commercial owners will pay $5.59 per $1,000. Residents owning a home valued at $200,000 can expect to pay roughly $671 in town taxes, according to Tommasone’s preliminary figures. Overall, the town’s general fund includes $13.03 million worth of spending, up from the $12.8 million allocated in this year’s budget. Including all expenditures, the budget totals $19.9 million, according to figures provided by the town. That higher number includes all special districts such as fi re and sewer service. Because of the recent property revaluation and the town’s decision to use the dual tax rate, Tommasone said, it would be diffi cult to compare tax rates between the 2007 and 2008 budgets. However, he said the owner of a $200,000 home paid roughly $885 in taxes this year. “Comparing them is comparing apples to oranges,” he said. Tommasone said the 2008 budget uses part of the town’s existing surplus. But he said the increase in non-tax revenues — such as development fees or court fines — is enough that the town will still end up with an increase in the surplus. “Non-tax revenues are up pretty much across the board in the town,” he said. In 2007, the town increased general fund spending by more than $500,000. The result was a 5.9 percent increase in taxes. Tommasone, part of the Republican majority, anticipates presenting the budget to the Town Board during the first meeting in October. He presented board members with a budget abstract earlier this week and will provide the full budget text later. “I’m very hopeful that the board will look at this budget and see that we’ve really worked to control expenses,” he said. Democratic board member Robert Godlewski expressed skepticism about the figures. He said he doubted the town would be able to sustain a tax decrease given the number of expenditures that should be considered next year, including the police contract and funds for a new public safety facility. “There are a lot of things in that budget that I’m going to be looking at,” he said.
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z2im
September 29, 2007, 5:18am
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Democratic board member Robert Godlewski expressed skepticism about the figures. He said he doubted the town would be able to sustain a tax decrease given the number of expenditures that should be considered next year, including the police contract and funds for a new public safety facility.
Godlewski is suggesting increased spending in his comments. Further, his statement speaks volumes to why he was initially handed the Conservative Party endorsement by the party bosses only to have it taken back by the rank and file party members in the primary election.
Democratic board member Robert Godlewski expressed skepticism about the figures. He said he doubted the town would be able to sustain a tax decrease given the number of expenditures that should be considered next year, including the police contract and funds for a new public safety facility.
Who is Robert Godlewski kidding here? HE knows all too well that IF the dems control the Rotterdam board, negotiating the police contract will clearly raise the town's budget. That is what the RPD is banking on. And yes Mr.Godlewski, IF the dems take control of the town board, the budget proposed by Mr.Tommasone will in fact be too low since Mr. Tommasone is looking to run the town as lean as possible to benefit it's tax payers.
So we will see what the taxpayers/residents have to say in November. Do they want the dems to control so the RPD can be the only benefactors in this. Or the reps who will look out for the taxpayers/residents FIRST! Let US decide! For me...I'll go for the 2nd choice.
When the INSANE are running the ASYLUM In individuals, insanity is rare; but in groups, parties, nations and epochs, it is the rule. -- Friedrich Nietzsche
“How fortunate for those in power that people never think.” Adolph Hitler
I would also like to know where the increased revenue is from Railex (metroplex). Where is our return on our investment to the metroplex and all of the private businesses, movie theater and proctors that we have been supporting? .
When the INSANE are running the ASYLUM In individuals, insanity is rare; but in groups, parties, nations and epochs, it is the rule. -- Friedrich Nietzsche
“How fortunate for those in power that people never think.” Adolph Hitler
I would also like to know where the increased revenue is from Railex (metroplex). Where is our return on our investment to the metroplex and all of the private businesses, movie theater and proctors that we have been supporting? .
They will say that there were jobs created---all nice and good....what kind of jobs...."just starting out" jobs...you know the $7.00 tp $9.00 hour jobs...not the kind to raise a family, pay good rent, get a mortgage etc....so will metroplex subsidize vocational schooling too??? or college tuition---you know --work in Schenectady go to SCCC and get 40% off your bill after completing the course with a C or better average....(this after being edumacated in the wonderful city school district)........
...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
When the INSANE are running the ASYLUM In individuals, insanity is rare; but in groups, parties, nations and epochs, it is the rule. -- Friedrich Nietzsche
“How fortunate for those in power that people never think.” Adolph Hitler
I glanced at the pdf budget file. I like the way it's listed, only thing I wish it was a spreadsheet so the column headings would always show.
Just being the average person who is not budget person or manager person, I glance through this as a homeowner and taxpayer who might say, "this is too much, they need to cut."
Stuff is listed in easy to read format, but is there any narrative, i.e., explaining why an expense is what it is and/or why it is needed. Like with gasoline, you'll see that listed and I think it reflects an increase in cost. Obviously, to the average joe, we know gas prices are going up. Can't a document like this say "last year used X number of gallons, projected next year is Y (X + 10,000) gallons because we now have a position of "something" inspector, estimated driving will be suchj and such number of miles. Then of course there would need to be an explanation of why the town has added this "something" inspector position. Was it a state mandate? Was it an occurrence that caused the residents to be up in arms and angry, this needing inspector position which no one else could absob the work. Get it?
Now, I saw an expense for a Tennis Pro. What in the heck is that? Is it a necessity? Also I noticed life guards. For what pool? I didn't know Rotterdam has a pool.
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.
They will say that there were jobs created---all nice and good....what kind of jobs...."just starting out" jobs...you know the $7.00 tp $9.00 hour jobs... not the kind to raise a family, pay good rent, get a mortgage etc
Point well made, senders.
Which of the following doesn't belong?
Albany County: Sematech, Albany Molecular Rensselaer County: GE Digital X-Ray Manufacturing Facility to be located in the Rennselaer Technology Park Saratoga County: AMD Schenectady County: Muddy Cup, Bombers
While Albany, Rensselaer, and Saratoga counties attract high tech companies that offer professional career positions with high compensation, our Schenectady County Legislature and the Metroplex Authority have spent millions of dollars of taxpayer money (our money) to produce a handful of minimum wage paying jobs that may, depending on the success or failure of the retail establishments that are locating in the several block strip of State Street, be only of limited longevity. The actions and decision of the majority party will neither raise the standard of living of Schenectady County residents nor increase the county property tax base so that meaningful tax relief can be achieved.
Rotterdam holds line on property taxes Proposed town budget keeps tax levy about the same as last year
By PAUL NELSON, Staff writer First published: Saturday, October 6, 2007
ROTTERDAM -- Property tax payments would remain stable under a tentative $16.8 million budget that relies on $1 million in surplus and conservative mortgage tax projections, according to town officials. But Town Council Member Robert Godlewski argued the biggest reason for taxes staying steady is the recent revaluation that increased the total assessed taxable property value in the town by $160 million.
"That is the biggest, prime reason why the tax rate is going down," added Godlewski. "It has nothing to do with efficient government."
Supervisor Steve Tommasone said Godlewski has it all wrong, adding that fiscal responsibility and economic growth under his watch are the real reasons property taxes will remain flat.
Until earlier this year, Rotterdam used the fractionalized value of 2.95 percent of the full market value to assess properties.
Town Comptroller Patrick Aragosa said the town has earmarked $725,000 in mortgage taxes and the recent revaluation will give the town a little more in mortgage sales tax revenue.
He said the town allocated $3.5 million in sales tax revenue, up by $50,000 from the 2007 budget.
"We've been conservative and I'm confident we're in the ballpark," said Aragosa about the mortgage tax. In most other communities, it has taken a hit because of slumping home sales and subprime loan problems.
The 2008 tax levy -- the amount to be raised by taxes -- in the general and highway funds is $9.5 million, roughly the same as last year, said officials.
The budget draws on $1.05 million in surplus funds, said the comptroller.
That figure was around $900,000 in the current budget.
A person with an average home assessed at $172,500 would pay $3.36 per $1,000 of assessed valuation or a total of $592 in municipal property taxes.
That does not include other school, county, fire, water and sewer taxes.
"The rate comes all the way down because of full value," said Aragosa.
Town Council members will review the spending plan with department heads and hold a public hearing, likely during the first week in November. They must adopt a budget by Nov. 20. Paul Nelson can be reached at 454-5347 or by e-mail at pnelson@timesunion.com.
But Town Council Member Robert Godlewski argued the biggest reason for taxes staying steady is the recent revaluation that increased the total assessed taxable property value in the town by $160 million. "That is the biggest, prime reason why the tax rate is going down," added Godlewski. "It has nothing to do with efficient government."
Mr. Godlewski fails to also state, as we should all expect from him, that there was a surplus BEFORE the recent revaluation. WE have not heard once from Mr. Godllewski, who is running for a Country Legislature seat, to represent US, that he would fair against the sitting legislature, with spending, if elected. He never once vocally opposed the metroplex that funds private business with our tax dollar. He never once vocally opposed our tax dollar funding Proctors in the millions. He never once vocally opposed the bullying of SCCC to move their music department to Proctors. Which proves to us that he will only contribute to the already, overspending, dysfunctional democratic dictatorship.
When the INSANE are running the ASYLUM In individuals, insanity is rare; but in groups, parties, nations and epochs, it is the rule. -- Friedrich Nietzsche
“How fortunate for those in power that people never think.” Adolph Hitler
At the Meet the Candidates forum hosted last week by the League of Women Voters, candidate Godlewski quipped "Death and Taxes" and said that he wished that he had a "magic wand" that he could wave and make things better. His subsequent remarks offered no suggestion that he would fight to lower the taxes on county taxpaying residents nor that he would vote in opposition to excessive and irresponsible spending plans by the County Legislature or the Metroplex. The residents of District IV don't need another rubber stamp in the majority party.
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