The Association of Towns of the State of New York in the Nov/Dec 2010 issue of its periodical "Talk of Towns"
has a great article about how several towns in Dutchess County are establishing a Consolidated Assessing
Unit.  

At a time when local governments must find ways to cut spending yet still deliver mandated services and
other services which improve the quality of life for its residents,  we should be exploring EVERY opportunity
to consolidate government services.

I see no reason why a county as small in area as Schenectady should not be considering a Consolidated
Assessing Unit --- either 1 for the whole county or, at the very least,  the 3 western most towns in the county
should consider consolidating their 3 assessors' offices into 1.

Why not ask the majority in Albany to reduce the number of state mandates that they push on the counties?

Excellent idea Kevin, but the words cut, reduce, eliminate, or repeal are not in any liberals vocabulary.

Quoted from Kevin March

Why not ask the majority in Albany to reduce the number of state mandates that they push on the counties?

I guess you must not have been following my posts all throughout the election campaign --- I supported
Ms. Savage, Mr. Santabarbara, and Mr. Cuomo    precisely because they have been calling for cuts in the
number of state mandates.    Mr. Farley - on the other hand - admitted that he had done NOTHING in 34
years to stop new state mandates .. let alone reduce them.

Mr. Cuomo is a long time proponent of intergovernmental shared services arrangements -- such as the
CAU proposal.    Mr. Cuomo has also been a long time supporter of consolidating school districts,
consolidating town and other municipalities, and eliminating the village form of government ... all of which
would save tens of millions of tax payer dollars.

As for completely eliminating the function of assessor -- that would be impossible --- unless we eliminated
the property tax system and went to income tax funding of all levels of government.

consolidated Assessing  - this town cant consolidate neighborhoods not to mention schools and you want do do something on a county level

it will go like this
got land $$$$$$$$   - why because you could develop it
got a postage stamp lot $ - because it is used junk and you cant develop it

fix it at the town level first

The liberal socialist progressive agenda IS to consolidate EVERYTHING! Be careful what you wish for!!

My agenda is lowering taxes by finding ways to save money and still carry out the mandated functions and
provide the necessary services.
It is not "socialism" to suggest that certain government functions could be consolidated.  There are 6
assessor's offices in Schenectady County -- it is at least worthwhile to explore the idea of a Consolidated
Assessing Unit.
The fact that the naysayers are dismissing out of hand ANY discussion of possibly consolidating some local
government functions --- sends the strong message that these naysayers really do NOT believe in lowering
local spending .. which is vital if we are going to lower taxes.

Well, as another way to save money, how about the city, towns and villages that are in the county that supply their own police forces shouldn't have to pay for the county sheriff's office?  

That would lower the taxes on many a Schenectady County Resident.  

Quoted from Kevin March

Well, as another way to save money, how about the city, towns and villages that are in the county that supply their own police forces shouldn't have to pay for the county sheriff's office?  

That would lower the taxes on many a Schenectady County Resident.  

You can't do away with the County Sheriff's department .. every county must have a sheriff .. that is state
law.    

Technically and historically, the Sheriff's office exists to run the county jail.

You could legally go the other way -- consolidate the local police agencies into the Sheriff's department --
but that is a much bigger topic/issue.    I am NOT proposing such a consolidation .. just saying that it is
legally possible.

Quoted from DemocraticVoiceOfReason

You can't do away with the County Sheriff's department .. every county must have a sheriff .. that is state
law.    

Technically and historically, the Sheriff's office exists to run the county jail.

You could legally go the other way -- consolidate the local police agencies into the Sheriff's department --
but that is a much bigger topic/issue.    I am NOT proposing such a consolidation .. just saying that it is
legally possible.

Then maybe they can just run the county jail and we can sell off all of the patrol cars.  And actually, I wasn't saying to do away with them, just have the people who are actually using them and don't have another police force pay for them.  We already have ours.

Quoted from Kevin March

Then maybe they can just run the county jail and we can sell off all of the patrol cars.  And actually, I wasn't saying to do away with them, just have the people who are actually using them and don't have another police force pay for them.  We already have ours.

But every citizen of the county benefits from having a county jail to incarcerate our criminals ... so we would
still have to pay for that.  

Frankly, I think we will live to see the day when the Sheriff's department will provide all of the policing for
the county ... with the help of the State Police.

So Ron Seversen is in favor of consolidating the police in Schenectady County and closing down the Rotterdam Police force!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Quoted from GrahamBonnet

So Ron Seversen is in favor of consolidating the police in Schenectady County and closing down the Rotterdam Police force!!!!!!!!!!!!!

No -- I said that it is legally possible to consolidate the police forces and that we are likely to see it n our
lifetime   ---- didn't say that I was in favor of it

I also think that the Yankees will win some more World Serieses  .. in our lifetime ... doesn't mean that
I am rooting for it to happen           Go Red Soxs

Consolidating some common functions was proposed by Joe Suhrada when he was a county legislator.  It's something we really need to look at in these fiscal times.

However, when I ran for Co. Leg., I can tell you it didn't meet with warm and fuzzy feelings in Princetown.  

Our current on his way out Assessor did his property reviews on Goggle Earth and didn't take into account elevation, water resources and basic geography of property when assessing rural property. In Rotterdam you can own lots of acreage, but it doesn't make it that valuable if you can't even walk on it without rock climbing ropes.  

I could make the argument that local community asessors are good to have if they actually know the community and the lay of the land literally.  In Rotterdam, 15 acres of rural flat land or side hill gets valued at the same assessment.  I believe that was part of FDG's complaint for his assessment.  A lot of his property is vertical.

Apparently folks in Princetown are happy with their Assessor and don't want that function consolidated. If it ain't broke don't fix it!  I think it depends on the people performing the assessor's job as to how this consolidation function would be either rejected or embraced.

Consolidation is a huge joke in this County. If SS Savage is such a proponent of it why doesn't she eliminate the Village of Scotia which is part of the town of Glenville? Because she is a phony and wants to keep the separate police force, village jerk and all the other public sector jobs.

     In fact just the opposite is happening. The County Real Property Administrator is being forced out because of political stupidity. At least consolidate purchasing for the separate towns. No, No, No! Every town/City wants its hand greased by sales representatives. Consolidation will happen only if forced by Gov elect Cuomo. Our County "leaders" will never consolidate anything if it cuts any patronage jobs or grease soaked contracts.