The simple facts are, Schenectady City residents are being taxed, re-taxed, over-taxed, and the City keeps finding ways to squeeze more from the bankrupt masses. Over inflated assessments, curb fees, garbage tax, water usage.....Schenectady residents pay $43.00 per $1,000 on their assessed homes. This is an astronomical number for the services and climate in the City.

We do not live in a cultural metropolis like New York City...we are not a tourist destination. We are simply an over-taxed, crime ridden City which allows businesses to remain tax exempt at a time when firefighters are being cut from the budget. A reality check is needed here before the City goes bankrupt again.  

Quoted from rachel72

The simple facts are, Schenectady City residents are being taxed, re-taxed, over-taxed, and the City keeps finding ways to squeeze more from the bankrupt masses. Over inflated assessments, curb fees, garbage tax, water usage.....Schenectady residents pay $43.00 per $1,000 on their assessed homes. This is an astronomical number for the services and climate in the City.

We do not live in a cultural metropolis like New York City...we are not a tourist destination. We are simply an over-taxed, crime ridden City which allows businesses to remain tax exempt at a time when firefighters are being cut from the budget. A reality check is needed here before the City goes bankrupt again.  

Well said and totally accurate! The residents, that are still living in the city, have reached the end. Privatize the trash collection. Meter the water individually. Privatize the nursing home. Start collecting taxes on the businesses that the taxpayers help develop and are now supporting. Desolve the SPD and let the sheriff's dept and the state police take over. Forget the unnecessary bike trail and repair the roads and antiquated water lines.

And above all....to the elected officials.....start showing some respect to the residents who still choose to live in the city and foot these huge expenses.

Any one ever go to a city council meeting or a county leg meeting? They are the most disrespectful, obnoxious, arrogant elected officials that I've ever seen! They basically give the attitude of 'I DON'T GIVE A SH!T' And they apparently don't!
IMHO of course

Quoted from rachel72

The simple facts are, Schenectady City residents are being taxed, re-taxed, over-taxed, and the City keeps finding ways to squeeze more from the bankrupt masses. Over inflated assessments, curb fees, garbage tax, water usage.....Schenectady residents pay $43.00 per $1,000 on their assessed homes. This is an astronomical number for the services and climate in the City.

We do not live in a cultural metropolis like New York City...we are not a tourist destination. We are simply an over-taxed, crime ridden City which allows businesses to remain tax exempt at a time when firefighters are being cut from the budget. A reality check is needed here before the City goes bankrupt again.  

Fact Check -  The city has never actually gone bankrupt.  

The best way to reduce the tax rate would be to consolidate the entire county into ONE  city-county. The
county is geographically compact enough -- that the idea makes eminent sense.  it is an idea that has
been brought up by politicians of BOTH parties for at least 30 years.   It is long overdue.

I can say with great certainty that although Schenectady is not financially bankrupt, its politicians are morally bankrupt.

Quoted from DemocraticVoiceOfReason

Fact Check -  The city has never actually gone bankrupt.  

The best way to reduce the tax rate would be to consolidate the entire county into ONE  city-county. The
county is geographically compact enough -- that the idea makes eminent sense.  it is an idea that has
been brought up by politicians of BOTH parties for at least 30 years.   It is long overdue.

Uh, NO, DV, while I'm not opposed to consolidation, just so you know, because you've NEVER paid city, county, school district taxes, nor any fees, ANYWHERE in Schenectady county, taxes were lower before your Savage thief started giving ouit tax exemptions to EVERY WELL HEELED business downtown; you have said you think tax exemptions should be "rare" but CLEARLY you have not spoken one word against your dem buddy savage totally exempting each business under her leaderhip---THAT is what is causing a MAJOR problem in Schenectady.

CLEARLY these tax exemptions were NEVER a "last resort" because Marcella's, as an example, could have moved ANYWHERE, they could have moved to ANY of the edges of this state and state would still collect the SAME amount in sales tax for Schenectady county.  It DOES NOT MATTER where the store is.  The local sales tax is calculated based ON WHAT COUNTY IN WHICH THE CONSUMER LIVES AND IT IS THE COUNTY IN WHICH THE CONSUMER LIVES THAT GETS THAT  amount.

The bottom line with marcella's is that YES they could have moved anywhere and schenectady county would have still made out on sales tax. Why? Because marcella's supplies appliances to most apartment complexes in schenectady. And the sales tax is paid to where the appliances are 'delivered'.

So schenectady county would have lost nothing in regards to sales tax. However, Marcellas WAS paying property taxes while they were on crane street. But since they moved to broadway, they are tax exempt.....which means that schenectady county has come out on the short end of the stick. Marcella's no longer pay property taxes.

It will take decades (if at all) for the county to recoup the loss in property taxes they were receiving AND the money the taxpayers put in to this relocation.


Same for villa italia. Sales tax is the same. But they use to pay property tax, but since their relocation in the county, they are tax exempt. Again, it will take decades (if at all) to recoup the loss in property tax and the money the taxpayers put in to this relocation.

While marcella's and villa italia rakes in the dough......the taxpayers will lose millions in lost property taxes!

Who was the brain child behind these negotiations?

Atlas Shrugged and vomitted out Schenectady and it's unions......we're F'd.......

Who are the Arbitors.......??????

The move to consolidate the entire county into ONE city-county should be THE top priority for 2011.  
The sooner we do it -- the sooner we can reap the benefits of a single efficient government entity,

Quoted from DemocraticVoiceOfReason

The move to consolidate the entire county into ONE city-county should be THE top priority for 2011.  
The sooner we do it -- the sooner we can reap the benefits of a single efficient government entity,

Or on the other hand, we could be dealt a corrupt lot of politicians who have a greater tax base in order to unwisely spend our money. I can't imagine the Schenectady City Council being in control of the entire county. Folks in Rotterdam and Glenville would be in a state of perpetual shock each time they opened their tax bills...we in the City are.

The only way to make government efficient is to hold them accountable. Right now, the 'dealings' of the City are coming to light and not many taxpayers are happy about the illegal dealings, overpaid golf pros, water and curb taxes, abuse of City vehicles and free City cell phones. Once the abuse of power ends, maybe the taxpayers will be able to afford their homes in the City once again.

Quoted from bumblethru

Same for villa italia. Sales tax is the same. But they use to pay property tax, but since their relocation in the county, they are tax exempt. Again, it will take decades (if at all) to recoup the loss in property tax and the money the taxpayers put in to this relocation.

While marcella's and villa italia rakes in the dough......the taxpayers will lose millions in lost property taxes!

Who was the brain child behind these negotiations?

Death Ray Gillen! Working together works! Connected DEMS raking in the dough-paying NOTHING in property taxes-while the sheeple get raped and have to pay for these deadbeats. This is how bad it is, fire damaged 902 McClellan must be knocked down. The building owner was $38,000 behind in record City taxes and the City does not have the $50,000 to knock this hazard down.  The insurers claim they don't know the building owner. Take it out of Mayor's SOS travel fund! He ain't going anywhere.

     Whether declared or not the City is totally bankrupt. Millions flushed on relocating Bethesda House and overpaid lobs. DEMS refuse to cut any City spending. In fact they are trying to expand services on a Body Shop and water line repairs. BTW, in DVR's book Schenectady is now a destination City! Right for hookers, crack heads and unemployed DEMS looking to run unopposed.

Quoted from rachel72

Or on the other hand, we could be dealt a corrupt lot of politicians who have a greater tax base in order to unwisely spend our money. I can't imagine the Schenectady City Council being in control of the entire county. Folks in Rotterdam and Glenville would be in a state of perpetual shock each time they opened their tax bills...we in the City are.

The only way to make government efficient is to hold them accountable. Right now, the 'dealings' of the City are coming to light and not many taxpayers are happy about the illegal dealings, overpaid golf pros, water and curb taxes, abuse of City vehicles and free City cell phones. Once the abuse of power ends, maybe the taxpayers will be able to afford their homes in the City once again.

Holding government officials accountable is an important part .. but only part .. of the solution.

The fact is that the current municipal boundaries were drawn in the 19th century - with some changes made
when Mont Pleasant and Bellevue were annexed from the Town of Rotterdam into Schenectady in the
early 1900's and Woodlawn was annexed from the Town of Rotterdam in the mid 1900's.    

Those boundaries may have made sense in the 19th century and to some extent into the 20th century -
but they do NOT make sense any longer.

I propose a unified City-County Government with an executive  (Mayor/County Executive) elected at-large
and a  legislative body elected by ward or districts.   The wards or districts would be drawn based on
population.

You're still circumventing the problem. The issue is the misuse of taxpayer dollars, overspending and illegal dealings - all of which are not corrected through your consolidation plan.

The feigned ignorance of the City officials is no longer an excuse for the mishandling of funds. A complete and thorough audit of the City budget...line by line...paycheck to paycheck is needed. People who work for the City need to LIVE in the City. That's where the betterment of the neighborhoods and vested interest of the area begins. The padding of pensions and deals which border on illegal (just because we've always done it) doesn't wash anymore, especially during a tough economic time and in a City where the taxpayers are paying double if not triple that of the surrounding towns. Currently, the City of Schenectady has proven itself to be riddled with issues which are hurting the taxpayers. You have to clean up your own backyard first before you start tearing down fences.

Quoted from rachel72

You're still circumventing the problem. The issue is the misuse of taxpayer dollars, overspending and illegal dealings - all of which are not corrected through your consolidation plan.

The feigned ignorance of the City officials is no longer an excuse for the mishandling of funds. A complete and thorough audit of the City budget...line by line...paycheck to paycheck is needed. People who work for the City need to LIVE in the City. That's where the betterment of the neighborhoods and vested interest of the area begins. The padding of pensions and deals which border on illegal (just because we've always done it) doesn't wash anymore, especially during a tough economic time and in a City where the taxpayers are paying double if not triple that of the surrounding towns. Currently, the City of Schenectady has proven itself to be riddled with issues which are hurting the taxpayers. You have to clean up your own backyard first before you start tearing down fences.

There is no reason why a local law requiring ALL municipal employees to live in the same municipality
in which they work.    That is a rather simple thing to fix ... draft a law .. hold some public hearings ...
and pass it.    I would support it 1000 %.     Same with passing a local local to forbid pension padding.


My proposal is more of a long term fix -- which is needed to correct the structural problem -- the
structural problem UNDERLYING many of the problems faced by the city and the towns boils down to this .
the city and the surrounding towns are all OBSOLETE 19th century creations.   It is time to move into
the 21st Century.

How does the city know how long our garden hoses are??? Did they do a house to house check when they were looking at the 200 abandoned properties lol. I sent the tax/fee break down that mentions the garden hose fee to my stepdad who used to be the comptroller in albany for a short while because he just couldn't believe it.