Loudonville, NY.  While only 28 percent of voters across New York trust either the federal or state government to do what is right at least most of the time, 43 percent trust their local government most or all of the time.  Similarly, only 27 percent give the federal government a positive job performance of either good or excellent, and 30 percent give the state a positive job performance rating while 42 percent say their local government is doing either a good or excellent job according to today’s new Special Local Government Siena College poll of registered New York State voters, sponsored by the New York Conference of Mayors (NYCOM), New York State Association of Counties (NYSAC) and the Association of Towns of the State of New York (AOT).

“While trust in government at every level is near historic lows, significantly more New Yorkers trust their local government most or all of the time than trust those working on their behalf either in D.C. or Albany.  And when it comes to assessing the job that they are doing, over four in ten give local government a thumbs up while a third call the federal performance poor and a quarter put that black mark on state government,” said Don Levy, Director of the Siena Research Institute.

“When comparing local government and state government on three components of governing – understanding and responding to citizen needs, getting important things done and effectively managing tax dollars – voters across New York, especially upstate and in the downstate suburbs, say local government is better,” Levy said.

By 70 to 20 percent, voters say local government is better at understanding and responding to voter needs. By 57 to 33 percent, voters rate local government over the state when it comes to getting important things done. And by 54 to 30, percent they say local government is better than the state at effectively protecting and managing tax dollars.  In every case, upstaters are most inclined to prefer the work of local government over the state while New York City voters are more evenly divided especially on getting things done and managing tax dollars.

No fewer than 61 percent of voters are at least somewhat satisfied if not completely satisfied with seven parts of local government.  A near universal 96 percent are satisfied with the fire department, and 87 percent with both ambulance services and recreation.  Seventy-eight percent are satisfied with the police department, water and sewer services receive a satisfaction grade of 77 percent, while 65 percent of voters are satisfied with schools and 61 percent with public works.

“When asked whether they would like to increase, decrease or keep spending unchanged on local services, only schools, 51 percent, and public works, 50 percent, receive the backing of a majority calling for increased spending,” Levy said.  “Still, when spending more and increasing services are specifically tied to higher taxes, 51 percent say keep both taxes and services about the same, one-third call for providing fewer governmental services and lower taxes, while only one in eight say they would like more government services and higher taxes in order to pay for them.

“With half of New Yorkers calling for increased spending on public works and many hesitant to support increased taxes, it may not be surprising that when asked how they would like the Governor and Legislature to allocate the one-time $5 billion surplus the state received from bank settlements, 27 percent call for funding for local infrastructure and 15 percent advocate for state infrastructure,” Levy said.

This study received sponsorship from three organizations – NYCOM, NYSAC, and AOT that represent New York’s city, village, county and town governments.

“As leaders of New York’s three statewide associations providing support and advocacy for local governments, we are thrilled to work collaboratively to address the needs of not only our members but all New Yorkers.  While we are enthused by the comparatively high grades local governments receive from taxpayers, we know that more must be done to build trust and increase satisfaction among all New Yorkers.  The survey also reveals a surprisingly widely held misconception.  Most New Yorkers do not know that two-thirds of their property taxes go to schools, while the remaining one-third goes to all other local taxing jurisdictions (i.e., counties, cities, towns, villages, special districts) combined.  Voters actually perceive just the opposite.  We believe this finding further demonstrates the need for more publicly transparent discussions when it comes to state funding and statewide property tax policy.”  --Gerry Geist, Executive Director, AOT; Stephen Acquario, Executive Director, NYSAC; Peter Baynes, Executive Director, NYCOM

This Siena College Poll was conducted February 9-15, 2015 by telephone calls conducted in English to 815 New York State registered voters.  Respondents were selected by asking for the youngest male in the household.  It has an overall margin of error of +/- 3.4 percentage points including the design effects resulting from weighting.  Sampling was conducted via a stratified dual frame probability sample provided by Survey Sampling International of landline and cell phone telephone numbers from within New York State weighted to reflect known population patterns. Data was statistically adjusted by age, party, region and gender to ensure representativeness.   The Siena College Research Institute, directed by Donald Levy, Ph.D., conducts political, economic, social and cultural research primarily in NYS. SRI, an independent, non-partisan research institute, subscribes to the American Association of Public Opinion Research Code of Professional Ethics and Practices. For more information, call Don Levy at 518-783-2901.  For survey cross-tabs: http://www.Siena.edu/SRI/research.

- See more at: https://www.siena.edu/news-eve.....sthash.gzUiwTs6.dpuf

HOW ABOUT MORE CASINOS....???

OH WAIT,,,,,that's what banks are.....fu(king casino gangsters backed by the Fed....

Quoted Text

“With half of New Yorkers calling for increased spending on public works and many hesitant to support increased taxes, it may not be surprising that when asked how they would like the Governor and Legislature to allocate the one-time $5 billion surplus the state received from bank settlements, 27 percent call for funding for local infrastructure and 15 percent advocate for state infrastructure,” Levy said

Quoted from DemocraticVoiceOfReason

“When asked whether they would like to increase, decrease or keep spending unchanged on local services, only schools, 51 percent, and public works, 50 percent, receive the backing of a majority calling for increased spending,” Levy said.  “Still, when spending more and increasing services are specifically tied to higher taxes, 51 percent say keep both taxes and services about the same, one-third call for providing fewer governmental services and lower taxes, while only one in eight say they would like more government services and higher taxes in order to pay for them.

“With half of New Yorkers calling for increased spending on public works and many hesitant to support increased taxes, it may not be surprising that when asked how they would like the Governor and Legislature to allocate the one-time $5 billion surplus the state received from bank settlements, 27 percent call for funding for local infrastructure and 15 percent advocate for state infrastructure,” Levy said.

Corporate welfare is not a public service.

You worship wealthy corporations and you despise taxpayers that are unhappy about financing your corporate welfare dream projects.

Is your church a corporate worshiping center?

Because you preach corporate welfare as the greatest achievement since the real renaissance.

You are a non stop basher of hardworking taxpayers that don't want to fund your riches for the rich dreams.

I'll bet Jesus would kick you in the nuts.

Quoted from Libertarian4life

Corporate welfare is not a public service.

You worship wealthy corporations and you despise taxpayers that are unhappy about financing your corporate welfare dream projects.

Is your church a corporate worshiping center?

Because you preach corporate welfare as the greatest achievement since the real renaissance.

You are a non stop basher of hardworking taxpayers that don't want to fund your riches for the rich dreams.

I'll bet Jesus would kick you in the nuts.

You obviously do NOT know ANYTHING about me and what I believe in.  

Oh -- by the way -- I only posted the results of a survey that was taken BY SIENA COLLEGE .. NOT BY ME -- and the analysis was BY SIENA COLLEGE .. NOT BY ME -- so where do you get off attacking me personally?  I didn't make a comment one way or the other about the survey.  I certainly didn't bash anybody -- because all I did was posted the item from the Siena Polling Institute's website.  So obviously, you didn't actually bother to read or think about what was posted.  You just chose to spout a bunch of bullshit and make a bunch of false accusations.  

Quoted from DemocraticVoiceOfReason

You obviously do NOT know ANYTHING about me and what I believe in.  

Oh -- by the way -- I only posted the results of a survey that was taken BY SIENA COLLEGE .. NOT BY ME -- and the analysis was BY SIENA COLLEGE .. NOT BY ME -- so where do you get off attacking me personally?  I didn't make a comment one way or the other about the survey.  I certainly didn't bash anybody -- because all I did was posted the item from the Siena Polling Institute's website.  So obviously, you didn't actually bother to read or think about what was posted.  You just chose to spout a bunch of bullshit and make a bunch of false accusations.  

Well, first, you got your education there.

Now you post the words saying it is proof that you are right.

Now you try top claim the words don't represent your opinions..

Therefore, you are a moron, wrapped in an imbecile.

You preach taking from the poor, bashing the taxpayers and financing corporate welfare every time you open your mouth.

Like I said, Jesus would kick you in the nuts.

You are a supporter of taking from the poor to finance corporate welfare.

While actively employed in the business of Jesus and his teachings.

You are an anti - Jesus preaching worshiper of wealth and you post regularly how much you hate whining sniveling taxpayers that are victims of your corporate welfare massive transfer of wealth.

Then you feign indignant outrage.

You are without a doubt a corporate welfare worshiper.

Not one single dime of taxpayer burden has been eased by the actions that you support.

Taxpayer burden has doubled from the actions of your government/corporate lords.

Absolutely 100% in opposition to the teachings of Jesus.

How about defending the victims instead of the victimizers, you hypocrite preacher of the worship of corporations.

Quoted from Libertarian4life

Well, first, you got your education there.

Now you post the words saying it is proof that you are right.

Now you try top claim the words don't represent your opinions..

Therefore, you are a moron, wrapped in an imbecile.

You preach taking from the poor, bashing the taxpayers and financing corporate welfare every time you open your mouth.

Like I said, Jesus would kick you in the nuts.

You are a supporter of taking from the poor to finance corporate welfare.

While actively employed in the business of Jesus and his teachings.

You are an anti - Jesus preaching worshiper of wealth and you post regularly how much you hate whining sniveling taxpayers that are victims of your corporate welfare massive transfer of wealth.

Then you feign indignant outrage.

You are without a doubt a corporate welfare worshiper.

Not one single dime of taxpayer burden has been eased by the actions that you support.

Taxpayer burden has doubled from the actions of your government/corporate lords.

Absolutely 100% in opposition to the teachings of Jesus.

How about defending the victims instead of the victimizers, you hypocrite preacher of the worship of corporations.

(yawn) The above is the same tired  old sh*t from the boring and boorish sock puppet.

Quoted from DemocraticVoiceOfReason

You obviously do NOT know ANYTHING about me and what I believe in.  

Oh -- by the way -- I only posted the results of a survey that was taken BY SIENA COLLEGE .. NOT BY ME -- and the analysis was BY SIENA COLLEGE .. NOT BY ME -- so where do you get off attacking me personally?  I didn't make a comment one way or the other about the survey.  I certainly didn't bash anybody -- because all I did was posted the item from the Siena Polling Institute's website.  So obviously, you didn't actually bother to read or think about what was posted.  You just chose to spout a bunch of bullshit and make a bunch of false accusations.  

So DV, what is YOUR OPINION of the corporate welfare?

Do YOU support increasing taxes on the poor so the poor can pay the taxes (or most of the taxes) of the millionaires and billionaires downtown, and also to cover the tax bills of the tax deadbeat politicans and their cronies?

Is it YOUR OPINION that it's OK for homeowners to lose their homes because they cannot afford to pay downtown's taxes on top of their own?

Homeowners cannot afford to make repairs to their own homes, do you feel it's just and proper that the homeowners are forced to pay the $300,000+ cost of the demolition of a building owned by a billionaire?



Just a simple "yes" or "no" to each of the above questions is sufficient.   But we know you  will either yawn, spew nonsense babble about the "nayboobs," and you will REFUSE to answer just a "yes" or "no" to each of the above questions.

This is a quote from the survey analysis:  "Most New Yorkers do not know that two-thirds of their property taxes go to schools, while the remaining one-third goes to all other local taxing jurisdictions (i.e., counties, cities, towns, villages, special districts) combined."
IMHO, this underscores the need to consolidate the 600+ public school districts in the state into + or - 62 school districts.  This would be a major first step towards eliminating redundancy and waste in our public school system.

Quoted from DemocraticVoiceOfReason

This is a quote from the survey analysis:  "Most New Yorkers do not know that two-thirds of their property taxes go to schools, while the remaining one-third goes to all other local taxing jurisdictions (i.e., counties, cities, towns, villages, special districts) combined."
IMHO, this underscores the need to consolidate the 600+ public school districts in the state into + or - 62 school districts.  This would be a major first step towards eliminating redundancy and waste in our public school system.

yet theres always the exception...AND ITS SCHENECTADY CITY TAXES!! my city tax bill is twice my school tax bill  

Quoted from DemocraticVoiceOfReason

This is a quote from the survey analysis: "Most New Yorkers do not know that two-thirds of their property taxes go to schools, while the remaining one-third goes to all other local taxing jurisdictions (i.e., counties, cities, towns, villages, special districts) combined."
IMHO, this underscores the need to consolidate the 600+ public school districts in the state into + or - 62 school districts.  This would be a major first step towards eliminating redundancy and waste in our public school system.

And I bet you anything "Most New Yorkers" don't pay attention to half of the bills they pay. People blindly accept that Verizon TWC Grid or their credit card company is paying attention and would never over bill them

Its why they created auto-pay accounts, for consumers that don't pay attention.

Quoted from RPEGCL

And I bet you anything "Most New Yorkers" don't pay attention to half of the bills they pay. People blindly accept that Verizon TWC Grid or their credit card company is paying attention and would never over bill them

Its why they created auto-pay accounts, for consumers that don't pay attention.

pretty soon folks won't be doing taxes.....with everything digital it will just be a continuous 'reckoning' of your fair share...

the future is coming along with the end of this ice age.....

Quoted from DemocraticVoiceOfReason

This is a quote from the survey analysis:  "Most New Yorkers do not know that two-thirds of their property taxes go to schools, while the remaining one-third goes to all other local taxing jurisdictions (i.e., counties, cities, towns, villages, special districts) combined."
.

That's funny, My property taxes and school taxes are almost exactly 50/50.