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SCHENECTADY
City may ignore county tax bill
Officials on both sides surprised by McCarthy’s support BY KATHLEEN MOORE Gazette Reporter


The city might stiff the county to the tune of $1.5 million next year.
Apparently unbeknownst to county legislators, the city’s proposed budget would not make the county whole on unpaid property taxes. Currently, if any city property owner doesn’t pay his county taxes, the city pays the bill then can try to collect the money from the owner through foreclosure or other means.
The city also pays the school district for all unpaid taxes. That’s required by state law, but the city can opt out of paying the county. Mayor Gary McCarthy said the City Council should opt out because the county would have no way of forcing the city to make the payment.
    Councilman Carl Erikson Share your said he was worried the coun- thoughts ty would withhold money it on this story has promised to pay the city. at daily That happened early this year, gazette.com when the city opted out of this year’s tax payment. The county responded by withholding agreed-upon funds for hazardous materials protection and police patrols.
    But now, those grants have been added to the sales tax contract between the city and the county.
    “It’s in the contract. It’s a contractual obligation,” McCarthy said.
    Council members did not discuss the matter at length, but were clearly surprised by the move. Just nine months ago, McCarthy convinced them to pay this year’s tax debt to the county even though the council had opted out of the payment for 2012.
‘INTERESTING CHESS PIECE’
    County officials also seemed to be taken by surprise. County Legislator Philip Fields, who chairs the fi nance committee, said he had no idea of the city’s plan.
    Speaking just hours before the county Legislature met to discuss the final 2013 county budget, he said, “My goodness, it’s a surprise. I didn’t expect the mayor to do that.”
    He questioned whether the city would legally opt out this year, noting the city made a technical error in its attempt to opt out last year.
    “We can’t stop them from trying to do that,” he said. “I understand the city has its own struggles. So does the county.”
    He hinted that the county might respond in kind,
    “It’s a very interesting chess piece,” Fields said.
    The City Council tried to opt out of the payment due this year, but County Attorney Christopher Gardner found a technical error in the City Council’s legislation and another county attorney threatened to sue the city if it did not pay. In the end, the council paid, wiping out the city’s entire savings account.
    At the time, McCarthy argued paying the county would make it easier to foreclose on tax-delinquent properties...............................>>>>......................................>>>>..................................... http://www.dailygazette.net/De.....r00900&AppName=1

Quoted from mikechristine1

Al's talking about it

Quoted from GrahamBonnet

working together works, just read the press releases

Quoted from GrahamBonnet

I wonder what would happen if EVERYONE ignored their tax bills?

Quoted from GrahamBonnet

I wonder what would happen if EVERYONE ignored their tax bills?

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County should withhold services to city of Sch’dy

    Interesting to note that the city of Schenectady is not going to [make the county whole for uncollected] taxes this year (Oct. 23 article, “Schenectady may ignore county tax bill). Why don’t they just secede from the county? I believe we will do well without them!
    If the city is not going to pay county taxes, I sincerely hope the county will not provide any services to the city. I believe we can do as well without the city as we can do even if they paid the taxes they are supposed to.
    What action is the county going to take to make up the defi cit? Lower services to the remaining towns in the county?

    ROBERT H. BOUTIER
    Glenville

Quoted from Shadow

The mayor has such good ideas, stiff the county and keep taxing the residents of the city into bankruptcy.