SCHENECTADY Stratton sounds budget alarm Mayor outlines measures to cut costs, keep services BY KATHLEEN MOORE Gazette Reporter
In the next two years, the city must cut $13 million from its $78 million budget just to keep taxes from rising, Mayor Brian U. Stratton said Monday. He warned that if changes this year do not add up to enough to fill next year’s hole, the council will have to lay off workers or cut services, or both. “We should know if we have to take that step by the end of summer or September,” Stratton said. “We need to enact systemic, long-term change.” Stratton proposed a three-page list of savings that could be implemented now to save money before 2011 hits. Among them: The Fire Department could immediately start billing the insurance of nearly every patient it sees — even those who do not need advanced life support. In the past it charged about 15 percent of its patients, the ones who needed defi - brillation, life-saving drugs and other extreme measures. But about 78 percent of the department’s medical calls are for possible advanced life support situations — and it could charge patients’ insurance for each of those ALS evaluations. That would likely bring in $500,000 from about 6,750 patients. “We could charge for nearly every call,” Fire Chief Robert Farstad said. The department cannot charge for basic life support, but it only gets about 2,000 such calls each year. Stratton also wants to stop paying delinquent taxes owed to the county and school district by individual property owners..............>>>>...............>>>>...................http://www.dailygazette.net/De.....r00102&AppName=1
Where was Stratton for the last few years when every taxpayer was telling him to cut spending to avoid this situation.
In his taxpayer paid JEEP? For seven years he has exploded the budget 30%. Now his bringing up the PILOT for Union/Ellis again which he knows is a nonstarter? Take a State lob job.
Cut City emploment 10%, cancel the Erie Blvd. fiasco {saving the City $1 MILLION} and abolish the City development office. Stratton must be very worried about the rumored business challenger.
Where was Stratton for the last few years when every taxpayer was telling him to cut spending to avoid this situation.
He ignored everyone. He continuously allowed the budget to swell with unnecessary jobs and artifical projects and now it is going to catch up to him. At the same time he ignored the City's neighborhoods and allowed them to go further into disarray. He should be worried, the truth about his "leadership" is about to come out.
Hopefully, SOS will finally get his lob job and leave public "service". Make way for someone that can budget and balance a payroll. Didn't he "work" for horrible then State Senator Paterson?
Hopefully, SOS will finally get his lob job and leave public "service". Make way for someone that can budget and balance a payroll. Didn't he "work" for horrible then State Senator Paterson?
He did??? Is that what his patronage job was before Schenectady voters thought they were electing Sam???
I knew he was a "Communications Specialist." Which is terribly funny because he doesn't "communicate" well, but I didn't know he worked for that stupid crack-head, wife cheating rag we've got in place of the bulldozer, whoring out in DC SOB that he replaced!
He did??? Is that what his patronage job was before Schenectady voters thought they were electing Sam???
I knew he was a "Communications Specialist." Which is terribly funny because he doesn't "communicate" well, but I didn't know he worked for that stupid crack-head, wife cheating rag we've got in place of the bulldozer, whoring out in DC SOB that he replaced!
Wow!
Could you tell us how you REALLY feel!!!!
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
SCHENECTADY City moves on tax reimbursement issue BY MICHAEL LAMENDOLA Gazette Reporter
The City Council Monday night began the process of ridding itself of having to reimburse the city school district and the county approximately $4 million annually in delinquent taxes. It submitted home-rule legislation to the state Legislature that seeks to exempt the city from having to make the city school district whole on delinquent taxes. It also agreed to amend the City Charter so that it does not have to reimburse the county for delinquent taxes. The council can take this action on its own, following a public hearing. The hearing will occur in the coming weeks. The city reimburses the city school district approximately $3.25 million and the county $375,000 annually for delinquent taxes. The money comes from the city budget. Corporation Counsel L. John Van Norden said the cost is “passed onto taxpayers who have paid their taxes.” Mayor Brian U. Stratton called the obligation “a huge financial drain, and it puts Schenectady in a somewhat unique and unfair position compared to other local governments.” The city recoups some, but not all of the money, through penalties and interest when the property is foreclosed on and sold, Van Norden said. Often, the property is so dilapidated that it does not sell at auction, leaving blighted buildings throughout the city, he said. ..............>>>>...................>>>>...................http://www.dailygazette.net/De.....r00800&AppName=1
How 'bout privatizing their garbage service for a start? Take that beast off the budget table. They are county jobs that the taxpayers pay for. Salaries and life benefits and equipment.
Privatize it and open it up for competition. Let each homeowner/landlord be responsible for their own garbage like every other municipality does.
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
How 'bout privatizing their garbage service for a start? Take that beast off the budget table. They are county jobs that the taxpayers pay for. Salaries and life benefits and equipment.
Privatize it and open it up for competition. Let each homeowner/landlord be responsible for their own garbage like every other municipality does.
what would be the percentage..
...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
the percentage of what? The budget? I don't know cause I don't know how many garbage trucks and how many people work it the garbage dept.
I'm sure County Waste would be more than happy to take over the garbage pick up in the city.Privatize it!
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
who would actually be responsible for taking the garbage out and paying for the service...the renter or the landlord? I work with a few folks who purchased property in Schenectady and were sorry.... the 'gypsy renters' destroyed their homes......like PIGS and GOATS....
...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
Logged
In his taxpayer paid JEEP? For seven years he has exploded the budget 30%. Now his bringing up the PILOT for Union/Ellis again which he knows is a nonstarter? Take a State lob job.
