To the Editor:
Everyone complains about taxes, but nobody does anything about them.”
I’m sure we have all heard this said. It seems that the “Tea Party” is attempting to do something about it on a national level.
However, unless they are willing to cut the biggest part of the federal budget, defense spending, social security, and Medicare/ Medi-caid, I doubt they’ll have much success.
As for Albany, we can only hope that such a dysfunctional institution can be reined in.
However, we CAN have an impact on our local taxes, by letting our elected officials know what we think about the budget.
Unfortunately the Public Hearing on the 2011 TOW Preliminary Budget was attended by less than a dozen citizens.
The proposed tax increase for 2011 is $2.18 per thousand of assessed value, 41 cents of which is for the Highway Department, and the remaining $1.77 is General.
Total amount to be raised by taxes is $3,196,011.
Questions were raised about the ever increasing General Fund Balance, the over estimation of expenses and under estimation of revenues, and the need to raise taxes.
I questioned why the budget is based not on the actual expenses and revenues of the last completed fiscal year, 2009, but rather on the 2010 approved budget, which is at best a good guess since the year isn’t over yet.
I was informed that this is the way it has always been done and it is the basis for determining the tax rate for the coming year.
I should have asked if this is simply a past practice or a legally required formula, but I goofed.
Perhaps had there been more people present someone else might have thought to do so.
I realize that even in our household budget you try to give yourself a cushion for unexpected expenses and for short falls in income due to illness and the like, but the TOW General Fund Balance, even with $1,300,000 going toward reducing 2011 taxes, will be over $2,000,000 according to the published preliminary budget.
If you factor in the difference between actual expenses and revenues in 2009 and the preliminary budget for 2011, allowing for increases in fuel and a few major outlays, the figure should be closer to $3,000,000.
I realize that there are expenses looming in the future, such as the replacement of “Lock and Dam” and other infrastructure needs, and having a Fund Balance to address those issues is most desirable.
But as was asked at the meeting, “When is enough ENOUGH?”
In a year when all of us know people who are out of work, just getting by, or really struggling; when those of us who are retired have not seen an increase in Social Security in two years; when the CSEA contract calls for employees to reduce their work hours proportionate to a modest hourly increase, which makes it “A wash” according to Supervisor Moore; while at the same time he and other salaried personnel are receiving raises; I and several others at the meeting expressed the need for the taxpayers to get a break.
If you agree, I suggest you let your council person know it.
But if you just want to complain about your taxes, don’t complain to me, unless you were at the meeting.
Hazel Dellavia, Old Forge
