Happy New Year From Your County Legislature
What a way to bring in the New Year......."one of the most economically depressed regions of New York, the Catskills," will see a nearly 6 percent hike in their property taxes.
The "economically depressed regions" statement was made recently by New York State Governor David Paterson.
Greetings from your friendly County Legislature......we bring you good tidings and cheer.......and along with everything else a nearly 6 percent hike in your property taxes.
This along with the 7 percent hike in 2009 amounts to 12.84 percent
property tax increase in two years.
Those county legislators who voted in favor of this tax hike include Leni Binder, Jodi Goodman, Elwin Wood, Jonathan Rouis and Ron Hiatt.
Opposing the budget and the tax increase were legislators David Sagar, Kathy LaBuda, Frank Armstrong and Alan Sorensen.
The county also laid off 25 full-time employees and one part-time employee along with 12 Division of Public Works employees who lost their jobs because of the landfill closing.
Once again it plays out to the old tune of Sullivan County taxpayers be damned and the distasteful New Year's message that they really don't care what county residents say and all they want you to do is pay.
In addition to the nearly 6 percent property tax increase most county residents also will have to pay an annual $84 waste-disposal fee to help pay for the new trash exportation system.
We along with many others feel the user fee system is not fair and is a flawed (solid waste) user fee.
Comments made recently from several legislators who opposed the new 2010 budget included statements that "if our roads aren't safe, lives could be lost," that there "should have been a lot more talked about and an eye much further out on the future and we have to look in the county where the real waste is," and "people just can't afford that."
We have said it before and will say it again.........strong business like planning and proper management procedures along with intelligent consolidation would have prevented what Sullivan County taxpayers will be facing in the new year.
Taxpayers with verbal opposition had clearly noted the difficult economy everyone is facing and that this was not the time for this tax and user fee increases.
Sullivan County voters should remember very well the legislators who have approved these moves and they should mark it down on their political calendar and vote their opinion at the polls the next time these folks run for re-election.
Happy New Year Sullivan County taxpayers.....remember to send a thank you card to the five county legislators for their New Year's gift to you.
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