County is suing the city for unpaid taxes. City owes county $1.2 MILLION.
Did McCheese put that in the budget? Hell NO.
He doesn't want to pay the county until the property owners pay him. Is McC for real?????
How about this one. If you live in the city, tell the city you won't pay the increase in your tax bill until you get an increase in your income. And if you get a 1% raise and the taxes went up 5%, you only pay a 1% increase in taxes!
Obviously the mayor and DV learned together because they both thing everything is wonderful in the city. Totally blind to the DRASTICALLY FALLING tax base. Totally blind to the DRASTICALLY INCREASING TAXES. Totally blind to seeing how homeowners are suffering big time under the CRUSHING BURDEN of paying their own property taxes AND having to pay the property taxes of McCheese's and the dem party rich cronies downtown.
Yes, the mayor better pay up. We here in Rotterdam, and the other towns, are paying higher county taxes than is necessary because we are making up that loss in the county budget (as DV is not nor has ever been a property taxpayer, he does not understand this FACT, this TRUTH).
But don't you love the comment about the mayor downplaying the lawsuit. Of course, he doesn't want the taxpayers in the city to know about this, especially if he wants to get them to buy a house.
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.
"While Foreign Terrorists were plotting to murder and maim using homemade bombs in Boston, Democrap officials in Washington DC, Albany and here were busy watching ME and other law abiding American Citizens who are gun owners and taxpayers, in an effort to blame the nation's lack of security on US so that they could have a political scapegoat."
Got that right. That's why people are NOT buying homes in the city, contrary to what Mary Mary has said. The EVIDENCE has proven she LIED; I mean really, the drastically reduced home values in the city, historically low mortgage rates, and even handouts for down payment and closing costs and STILL people are NOT willing to buy in the city. Even the biggest cheerleader for the dems and the city refuses to put even one pinky toe into a owning a home, or even renting, in the city.
Then you have to laugh at this. This is the how "working together works." We in the towns have to suffer because the dems in the city won't pay up. In the same way as the homeowners in the city are suffering having to pay the taxes for the dem/plex rich political cronies downtown, we in the towns, via our county taxes, we ALSO have to pay the taxes--the county taxes--of the millionaires downtown, and now we will be required to pay the taxes of the delinquent taxpayers in the city because the city won't pay the county. Well, of course the county could reduce the budget but will that happen? The county could save us multi-tens or multi-hundreds of millions by eliminating the nursing home, but will they? NOT
Quoted Text
Does lawsuit signify strain? Dispute over $1.2M in back taxes seen as minor blemish on city-county relationship By Lauren Stanforth Published 9:49 pm, Sunday, May 5, 2013
Schenectady
The Democrats who control city and county government have strived over the last decade to appear united in most endeavors, whether it be through policies adopted or when election time rolls around.
But after what the county describes as "several amicable meetings," it has filed a lawsuit against the city seeking the right to begin foreclosing on tax-delinquent properties — or to force the city to pay $1.2 million in back taxes for 2012.
The kerfuffle began in 2011 when then-Mayor Brian U. Stratton, in search of much needed savings in the midst of the recession, decided the city could legally stop making the county whole for unpaid property taxes.
The tax bill at the time was nearly $1.8 million, and the city — which routinely paid the county in one lump sum — could expect to lose at least 10 percent (or $180,000) of that total as that amount of taxes was deemed "uncollectable."
The practice of the city paying the county its share of taxes in full dated back to the city's original 1906 charter when such practices were standard until 2011 when City Council amended the charter. At the time, it appeared Schenectady one of the only cities statewide that was responsible for making its county whole.
But in 2012, the county demanded the money, citing a legal loophole in which it claimed City Council did not pass the resolution amending the charter in time for the law to go into effect for the 2011 fiscal year. As a result, the city paid the county about $1 million out of its 'rainy day' fund, leaving the city with a balance of only about $75,000.
Now, the county acknowledges the city has the right to only pay the taxes that have been collected — but only if the county has the right to foreclose on delinquent tax properties and recoup the money just as the city does.
In a two-and-a-half page statement explaining the lawsuit, Schenectady County officials cited a history of amicable agreements, in particular the Schenectady Metroplex Development Authority's investment of a portion of sales tax money into downtown redevelopment. Also, the county mentioned its sales tax negotiation last fall with Mayor Gary McCarthy — in which some chastised McCarthy.
County Attorney Chris Gardner is recusing himself from the back tax lawsuit because he also assists the city during labor disputes. Local attorney Patrick Saccocio is handling the matter.
McCarthy says he can't discuss details of the disagreement, but said it's between city Corporation Counsel John Polster and Gardner and that "it's still an amicable environment."
McCarthy said the city still pays the county when it collects delinquent taxes, just not in a huge lump sum. Schenectady County Legislator and majority party leader Gary Hughes said he thinks the lawsuit was filed just to put a timeline in place to settle the negotiations.
"I don't make too much of the lawsuit to be honest with you," Hughes said. "I don't see it as indicative of a real change in the relationship," between city and county politicians.
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.
...people on good terms always sue each other, Hughes. makes sense. Why don't you go sit in your bosom pal Visitor's lap now.
"While Foreign Terrorists were plotting to murder and maim using homemade bombs in Boston, Democrap officials in Washington DC, Albany and here were busy watching ME and other law abiding American Citizens who are gun owners and taxpayers, in an effort to blame the nation's lack of security on US so that they could have a political scapegoat."
Didn't McCheesy take the bogus county-sales-tax share (yeah, the $11 miilion..the same amount since 1995) although the sales tax revenues have increased since the 90's?
So let's get this straight...the County screws the City in sales tax revenues by millions and then tells the City to pay up.
Wouldn't it be good for the city to LET the county foreclose on the houses then the county would be responsible for them.
No.
That would solve nothing.
If there is no money to pay the city, they won't pay the county.
We have already seen that taking the properties results in more debts for the city. The costs of winterizing, and boarding them up alone is unaffordable. The demolition costs more than most properties are worth. Nobody wants them, so selling them at auction won't help.
Didn't McCheesy take the bogus county-sales-tax share (yeah, the $11 miilion..the same amount since 1995) although the sales tax revenues have increased since the 90's?
So let's get this straight...the County screws the City in sales tax revenues by millions and then tells the City to pay up.
Wow, this DEM machine is backfiring on itself.
Oh, let's hear the big cheerleader's response to this one.
He's much too embarrassed about this dems to address the city issues anymore, except little comments about trees.
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.
Schenectady deadbeats don't want to pay up with the money they don't have.
Too bad the City schools don't sue McCheese/City DEMS for the money still owed the kids. But the DEMS care a lot and it's all about the kids. Intentions are more important than results.
No worry, McC will just decide to take out a loan to pay the bill.
Borrow, spend, tax, and tax some more. That's the new city/county dem slogan
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.
Logged
Too bad the City schools don't sue McCheese/City DEMS for the money still owed the kids. But the DEMS care a lot and it's all about the kids. Intentions are more important than results. 
