Time for Taxpayers to act

First off I want to make clear that all the views expressed here are mine alone and represent no group that I may belong to.

Recently I watched Mayor Pontieri express his views on News 12 in opposition to Governor Cuomo's new tax cap proposal which will freeze village taxes at a two percent growth rate for two consecutive years. His opposition to the Governor's proposal has been getting other media attention. As recently as this Tuesday a Newsday report was published airing his views again. But just what is the Governor proposing?

Very concisely, because the tax cap is no simple formula, the Governor's proposal, if adopted by the State Legislature, will give back to all village tax payers a tax credit as a direct incentive to tax payers to urge their elected officials to comply with the law. Renters will also receive a tax credit.

The best words about the Mayor's position are to be found in the News 12 video, the one I saw myself. I recommend that anyone reading go to the link provided next to hear the Mayor speak directly about his views: no better source really:  http://longisland.news12.com/news/suffolk-county-village-officials-association-opposes-gov-cuomo-s-property-tax-proposal-1.6914920

On the other side I would also recommend seeing a comparison video: Governor Cuomo's video about his proposal. It too should be seen to hear the Governor's own words. Please note this time line to find the relevant section of this otherwise long video clip...go to time mark sixteen minutes thirty eight seconds to nineteen minutes forty nine seconds: :http://www.livestream.com/newyorkstateofficeofthegovernor/video?clipId=pla_27c6ed8e-9758-405c-aae7-aba75b4120e6.

About four minutes in total but packed with information.

I did look at that video and several others that are on the net that feature the Governor's views about the tax cap law in general. My take is that I agree with the Governor and I must, respectfully, disagree with the Mayor.

I agree with the Governor that it is up to us the people to stand up for our rights to manage our local finances for this one good reason: it is our tax money that we must pay that is at stake. Taxes are too high and their growth must stop.

I do think that with some hard choices that village tax increases can be kept within the limit for two years in a row delivering tax credits to all village tax payers and renters much like Star tax credits do at present with respect to school tax bills.

Here are some ways that the village could force economies and lower taxes so that it could get itself within the cap for as long as it takes. Spoiler alert: no one is going to be happy with these choices but I do not think that at this point in time anything is exempt from scrutiny. In fact if we as a community are going to find solutions then we have to start from the point of view of looking at everything no matter how unpopular with some that might be.

1: divert expected parking fee revenues and fines to tax stabilization. The Mayor and other trustees have expressed confidence that the parking fees and fines will deliver surplus revenues to the village general fund. Good but why not divert some of that to help getting within the cap?

2: build what the tax payers can afford. A two story parking deck is not a bad idea but surface parking is cheaper to build and cheaper to maintain. Do we need new debt payments plus interest when the village should be going in the other direction? If we can avoid that that helps staying within the two percent cap goal.

3: force economies for example except for seasonal staff freeze all new hiring including civil service positions. Every new job means new commitments and long term ones in the case of civil service jobs. Holding staff numbers down also contributes to reducing pension costs as well. Taken altogether there is money to be saved with these and similar ideas too. That would help us keep within the two percent cap.

4: increase supervision and tighten priorities. I mean by increased supervision the avoidance of such issues as a cost over run for road repairs that amounted to 65,000 dollars just a few months ago.

However that happened it should not have and should not happen again but attention must be paid to make sure it doesn't. By tightened priorities I wonder about the need for a putting green at Shorefront park for example when other issues more urgent ones are all around. Nice extra that I am not sure a vast amount of the residents will make use of: 25,000 dollars later. It all adds up.

5: review the basics. Where are the village funds banked? Ten million plus dollars annually flow through the village accounts. Where are these funds banked and are we getting the most interest on that cash?

Can we find ways of sharing services for example refuse with another governmental body and keep workers working but cutting costs. In other words can't the village do what you or I would do if we had to live on more of a budget: find economies and save money?

6: Beware of fiscal gimmicks.  The village has managed to stay within the tax cap so far but it has reduced its surplus funds to do so. That can not go on forever and it is a strategy that just puts off facing hard choices. It's making the hard choices that will reduce taxes over the long term more effectively than using up savings. There is always only so much money to go around and one day when the village might need that money it will not be there if this tactic keeps being used.

I am sure that there are more ideas out there then these and maybe better ones. I offer these as a staring point. And this discussion must get started. In a few months the village will be adopting its next budget. Decisions are going to have to be made by the elected Board of Trustees. I urge all who support a two percent tax cap freeze to reach out to Board members and express your views. The budget vote will be preceded by a public hearing too. This time more than just a handful of residents need to show up. Apathy costs everyone in higher taxes and fees when financial goals are set in the absence of real public participation.

It's time to speak up. I want a tax credit myself and if you feel the same now is the time to act. If the Mayor will not stand up for that tax credit in the Governor's words there is no one else then but the people who must stand up for their interests and rights. But they must.

I certainly invite comments about this blog and promise as well that this is just the first of a number of blogs that I will be writing suggesting how the village can cut costs and deliver real tax relief to all. Ten years of tax increases and fee hikes is ten years enough. It's time for something different.

On this issue the Governor has said: “an educated citizen is an empowered citizen”. I agree again. In learning more about the issues involved here or to take action please see these additional links (as above paste or click as needed) that provide useful public education and advocacy tools:

NY state webpage on tax cap issues: http://governor.ny.gov/citizenconnects/?q=reforminggovernment/guide-to-the-property-tax

Email links for the Mayor and all elected village officials: www.patchoguevillage.org.