09/14/09 - My Letter to the County Legislature on the 2010 Budget

Hi everyone,

Just wondering how you all are doing on our Cortland County 2010 budget process? It seems as though our Tompkins County neighbors are pretty far along, and are currently at a projected 3% TAX LEVY increase. I attached a portion of a page from the Tompkins Weekly for your information. It can also be found at www.tompkinsweekly.com. Pretty good, eh? That's even before a thorough review by the Legislature. How can they do it so quickly and yet we cannot?

I have and seen heard snippets of budget talks on the radio and in the Substandard, but honestly you folks should be shouting to the public the fact that you are going to keep the budget increase down a lot more loudly and frequently, especially as Election Day approaches. Leaving the work to the Administration is political suicide - especially after last year's budget fiasco (of which I unfortunately played a part!). Do you think another year of 15% tax levy increase is the way to quality life in Cortland County? My guess is that if you let the budget talks and decisions slide until November without correction we will be staring at least 25% in the face. Although, if budget numbers aren't published in November after Election Day... hmmm.... you guys out for re-election might have a chance!

Please be proactive and begin to discuss and make the difficult choices NOW. I advocated for immediate review after the last budget was voted on, however you all might know what transpired in December 2008 and January 2009 that re-organized my priorities on the Legislature. I understand that 14 of you think our Administrator is doing a good enough job to contract his services for another 4 years, but it is your job to best represent the taxpayers and you have the ultimate say in how much more - or less - we have to pay for services.

Please don't take the easy way out and listen to the Chairman and Administrator when they lobby for a 1% sales tax increase. Do you think that is the best way to balance the budget? How do you balance your budget at home? You live with what you have and within your means - that is how taxpayers have to do it. Does anyone know what kind of additional burden an increased sales tax would put on families in the County? I didn't think so. Maybe proponents think that the sales tax will be spread to and borne by shoppers coming into Cortland. My guess is that those people will shop at other Walmarts and stores closer to their homes, or even that Cortland residents will begin to travel to adjacent counties to shop rather than stay here. After all, we already have higher than average gas prices, and with 281 expanding and bypassing the heart of the County who would want to stop and shop at all once we have the highest sales tax in the state? In case you were wondering where we stand now - http://ny.rand.org/stats/govtfin/salestax.html

Best of luck. YOU control the budget.

Chad

PS - any word yet on how many millions the Jets brought in?