SCHENECTADY Council hears call for cuts $1 million check not in budget BY KATHLEEN MOORE Gazette Reporter
Two City Council members vowed Monday to take on the city’s crumbling finances after the council again voted to spend money it doesn’t have. Councilman Vince Riggi, the only non-Democrat on the council, asked the council to help him find a series of spending cuts and urged residents to help too. “We haven’t cut anything out of the budget since we wrote the county that check,” he said, referring to a $1 million expense that wasn’t in the budget. On Monday, the council also voted to spend $85,000 in tax refunds. They had budgeted to spend just $75,000 on that for the entire year. After the vote, Riggi said, “I would really like to see us adopt an austerity budget for the rest of the year. We should have a hiring freeze, for sure. We’re having to borrow money for cash fl ow!” Councilman Carl Erikson, a Democrat, leaped to his feet as the audience applauded Riggi, “minority president” of one. “Amen, president,” Erikson said, and offered to meet with Riggi to come up with cuts. “It comes to creative ideas and solutions,” he said, explaining that “not spending money” is not enough to get the city out of its hole. Among his ideas: leave “friendly notices” on residents’ trash cans if they don’t put out any recycling cans. “We could save upwards to a million dollars if everybody in the city recycles as their neighbors in the suburbs do,” he said. But Erikson added that he supports some expenditures even though they’re not strictly necessary — particularly the improvements proposed for Steinmetz Park, in his neighborhood. “If we didn’t do the park we’d save $60,000, but then we’d complain that our parks aren’t maintained,” he said. “We need creative brainstorming.” Mayor Gary McCarthy insisted that’s not needed. “We’re not spending money frivolously,” he said, citing his decisions to sell the mayor’s car and to cut the city’s membership in the state and U.S. Conference of Mayors. If there are any unnecessary expenses, he said, “Bring it to my attention. I will stop it.” Residents didn’t have to be asked twice. Resident Mary McClaine told the council that it should not allow Commissioner of General Services Carl Olsen to spend $382,000 on salt and snow removal that he might need later this year, in No- vember and December. Rather than using that money for cash flow needs this summer, the City Council is taking out a loan. “How many council members would handle their household budgets that way?” McClaine asked. Republican Committee Chairman Michael Cuevas, in an interview before the meeting, said he believes the situation is dire enough to need outside help. “They need to have some serious intervention,” he said. He suggested, only half-jokingly, that the mayor should lock all of his fi nance officials in a conference room and not let them out until they’ve recalculated the budget. The city has gone over several budget lines, ranging from small expenses like the tax refunds, to $1.4 million in an unexpected tax payment to the county. The county, in return, gave the city $400,000 it had been withholding, but the city was forced to wipe out its savings to pay the rest of the bill. .....................>>>>.........................>>>>.....................http://www.dailygazette.net/De.....r01101&AppName=1
Big Mac keeps bringing up the Mayor's car. What about in the past year? The former all DEM moron Council actually INCREASED the 2012 budget. They need professional help. The lack of any business/common sense is shocking. Besides Vince Riggi not a small business person in sight. Give them ides but don't expect any action except more insane DEM fees.
I'd say we nuke the city from orbit and collect the insurance money...It's the only way to be sure
"Approval ratings go up and down for various reasons... An example is the high post 911 support for GWB even though he could be said to be responsible for the event." --- Box A Rox '9/11 Truther'
Melania is a bimbo... she is there to look at, not to listen to. --- Box A Rox and his 'War on Women'
"If there are any unnecessary expenses", he said, “Bring it to my attention. I will stop it.”
Unnecessary expenses:
Tax exemptions for the wealthy in downtown. They are absolutely positively NOT NECESSARY. Perhaps nice for the owners, but not a NECESSITY. And I DEFY ANYONE.....yes, that means the board cheerleader for higher taxes on the homeonwers....to explain WHY it is a NECESSITY to but a financial burden on lower income people to pay the taxes of the super wealthy for whom the taxes on their property are a mere drop in the bucket in their financial situation. Explain WHY homeowners should pay their own bills PLUS the bills of the millionaires and billionaires. Oh yeah, DV won't respond to this. He's quiet lately because of all the bad news coming out of what he claims is a renaissance, the renaissance is causing the city to go broke, and now DV REFUSES to address that.
City employees being given expensive cars and be allowed to take them on daily pleasure drives FAR FAR FAR outside the city.
Two STAR exemptions (illegal) for the overpaid CEO of Proctors.
Health insurance for council reps.
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.
Like Lake Luzerne? Everyone is laughing at these DEM morons. DVR has been unplugged. Fiscal incompetents that refuse to cut anything least they they offend public union supporters. Another fee? lol. Then apologist Marion Poterfield has a Congressional style swearing in party as if she actually got elected. She couldn't even run a charity shop. Perfect resume for these do nothing City rubber stamps.
Big Mac keeps bringing up the Mayor's car. What about in the past year? The former all DEM moron Council actually INCREASED the 2012 budget. They need professional help. The lack of any business/common sense is shocking. Besides Vince Riggi not a small business person in sight. Give them ides but don't expect any action except more insane DEM fees.
Kinda' easy to sell the beat up jeep when you collect your state pension ALONG WITH a Mayoral salary. Who wants to drive a jeep when they're taking over $200K a year of taxpayers money?
McCarthy wouldn't be caught dead driving a jeep to the golf course!
Kinda' easy to sell the beat up jeep when you collect your state pension ALONG WITH a Mayoral salary. Who wants to drive a jeep when they're taking over $200K a year of taxpayers money? McCarthy wouldn't be caught dead driving a jeep to the golf course!
Big Mac is sporting his brand new Mercedes! Not some beat up old JEEP that was destroyed on broken City pavement. Another phony in the Taxin Tonko mold.
Big Mac is sporting his brand new Mercedes! Not some beat up old JEEP that was destroyed on broken City pavement. Another phony in the Taxin Tonko mold.
"Approval ratings go up and down for various reasons... An example is the high post 911 support for GWB even though he could be said to be responsible for the event." --- Box A Rox '9/11 Truther'
Melania is a bimbo... she is there to look at, not to listen to. --- Box A Rox and his 'War on Women'
You have a Mayor and DEM Council incapable of budgeting, incapable of cutting any pork. Then they pretend to invite suggestions. When you are in a hole stop digging. No new bonding, 10% City Hall layoffs, end the City vehicle fleet and Friends and Family phone plans. Still waiting for Marion Poterfield's budget ideas. She did such a great job at her Jay St charity shop and Weed and Feed- lol.
If the position of Mayor was eliminated, the City and State would save over $200K. Just a thought....
He is up at 3AM working on City issues according to the Gazetto- lol. Call a bankruptcy attorney. It's the only why out of this mess caused by 37 straight years of DEM "leadership". Mayor is working on a new fee.
Logged
Big Mac keeps bringing up the Mayor's car. What about in the past year? The former all DEM moron Council actually INCREASED the 2012 budget. They need professional help. The lack of any business/common sense is shocking. Besides Vince Riggi not a small business person in sight. Give them ides but don't expect any action except more insane DEM fees.
