Last night the Troy City Council rejected legislation that would allow them to pay the City's bills. In order to pass a budget with a projected 8-9.3% tax increase the Council needed pass a local law allowing it to exceed the roughly 1.5% real property tax cap. The Council vote was 5-4 against.Those voting for the override (who many have labeled "the adults") were Dean Bodnar (D-3), Bob Doherty (D-4), Gary Galuski (D-6), Erin Sullivan-Teta (At-Large) and Lynn Kopka (At-Large).
The nays (who many have labeled the adults) were Jim Gordon (D-1), Ken Zalewski (D-5), Rodney Wiltshire (At-Large) and Anastasia Robertson (D-2).
Councilman Zalewski had said for almost a week that he would be a 'No' vote. His vote was never in doubt. Councilman Wiltshire said that a 5% increase was palatable but they extra 3% was not. Councilman Gordon pulled a Zalewski and stated that a babysitter might be a good thing.
Councilwoman Robertson said, "Not another dollar for Amerikkka!"*
We don't yet know all the consequences, intended or otherwise, from this vote. Some may say they nays exercised fiscal responsibility. Others may say it is not fiscally responsible for a municipality to be unable to pay its bills. This is especially true because we know the source of the problem. Troy was not spending like a drunken sailor in Shanghai on leave in for the first time in 6 months (which sounds more and more attractive). Rather, the bulk of the problem came from pension fund payments, a problem that will plague cities like Troy in the years to come.
We do not believe that the Council, as a whole, made a serious effort to find appropriate and real cuts. We do know that the entire Council never met to try and work this out. certain members, due to personality differences, acted more like petulant children than leaders. One actually threw a juice box against the wall when it was bedtime.** Cutting supplies is not a serious effort. That's a Band-Aid.
Another Councilman who shall remain nameless (Wiltshire) spent more time casting blame and playing victim (Wiltshire) than he spent working on a solution.
Is it telling or mere coincidence that every person voting 'no' will not be present to pick up the pieces? Two of the four have telegraphed a certain disdain for the Troy Police Department. After what happened this summer, do we want to cut into ERT funding? Do we want to close two firehouses? Will this be the typical situation where citizens do not want a tax increase but want services unaffected?
Getting and keeping the fiscal house in shape should be a priority. Falling back on the New York State Comptrollers Office for oversight still seems like passing the buck.
We guess the question for our multitudinous readership is: Is last night's vote a net positive or negative?
* To the best of our knowledge not actually said
** To the best of our knowledge not actually done
33 comments:
So what happens now? Isn't there supposed to be a budget vote tonight? This is a fine mess you've gotten us into Ollie.
I have not researched this fully, but based on what I recall, if the Council does not pass a budget, the Mayor's budget becomes the default budget (just like last year). However, the amount of the tax increase in excess of the cap is placed into escrow, and cannot be spent. I am not sure if the next Council and Mayor can pass the necessary legislation and release the escrowed amount or whether OSC action is also required.
How about the administration and city council take a pay cut. The way I see it these people are NOT worth the salaries they are collecting. And spare me with the Monica crap. She is responsible for the shrinking of the tax base with her "pilot programs". "Want to buy business property in Troy.sure..Monica will give you grants, loans and as an added bonus..no property taxes.. These businesses haven't brought jobs.. Please she will bankrupt this city..Get off the taxpayers back!!
Phana, I believe you are correct. I think we still pay the increase but it is held and put towards any shortfall for the next budget. I could be wrong. I'm much better with gunpowder plots.
As per back property taxes that are not current . . .
As per outstanding parking tickets not paid . . .
Wondering how many city employees drawing a pay check
are delinquent to the city in either of the above ?
Maybe someone should publish the list.
I just read Jim Gordon's comments on the budget in the Record. No specifics, no ideas, no responsibility and a complete lack of intelligence. Thank god he wasn't elected mayor and let's just hope he doesn't do too much damage on his way out the door.
What will potential investors think with the lack of services. There's always fat to cut but this could be severe.
Amen to 11:44's comment. Gordon and Wiltshire share one characteristic in common: they are both disastrous for Troy.
and thankfully 1254pm they are both gone..along with ken the bloviator and anastassia the race baiter...none of them care because they just walk away and begin plotting how to get back at everyone who conspired to save us from them..4 idiots good riddance ...
Let me get this straight. all the promises Rabbit and the WFP made to voters to vote against Madden were wrong. The 17 or 19 unions that Rodney and friends bragged about just stuck it to the Workers of the city of which I'm one. I thought the working families party was created to ensure folks had jobs to raise their families and pay their bills, in the end Rodney voted to screw 30-40 workers out of a job. Why do I just know the axe will fall on the people who actually do the work and not the management. Sour grapes and a a classless loser
Compliments Democratus on your knowledge of French, I put "Bouchon d'impôt remplacent échoue!" into a translator app and it came up as ""Tax Cap override fails" You nailed it. I expected something like the cap of the tax doesn't ride the over. C'est Bon!
The pensions are killing us!
Some failed mayoral candidates just want to watch the world burn.
Actually, the complete lack of revenue and continued tax exemptions to lucrative organizations with big promises which never seen to come to fruition at the benefit of city taxpayers or residents is killing us.
You would deprive the heroes who keep you safe of our current pension scheme?
Haven't you learned? Dig deeper , pay up sucker!
UFA ALL THE WAY I ONLY WORK EVERY FOURTH DAY!
The only way to SAVE YOU MONEY is to HIRE MORE COPS AND FIREMEN!
Get a grip man! Just take it, it's worse if you struggle.
How can Lou hire a new cop next week who just this week raised over 100K under the premise that he has Stage 4 Hodgkins Lymphoma in his bones, spleen, spine and pelvis?
The city is self insured, so put that in your tax cap and smoke it.
I thought the Monica for deputy mayor was just nonsense, now I've heard it's real. Here we go again. At least Peter Ryan is happy for he has a chance now not to be the worst deputy mayor in Troy history.
I see the only true Working Family Party member of the council is Dean Bodnar. The rest WFP people, Rodney, Kenny and Anastasia voted no on the cap which will result in union layoffs. I hope Dean and Jim Welsh can continue to work together to rebuild our party.
Let's see if Carmellla has the balls to stop this like she stopped the IDA.
Or is she too loyal to her dad's Troy PD?
The party is over. The guacamole has turned brown , the chips are stale. It's time to take down the decorations, turn on the lights and face the consequences. Mom and Dad came home and found the mess you made and they are pissed. You're grounded.
McAsshole is even stealing your old Huggy Bear bit. What a loser. By the way, why is he worrying about taxes?
Its a net negative. Our "leaders" need to learn fiscal responsibility and not turn things over to the state every time things get difficult. This time, maybe they will meet regularly to discuss potential problems that may arise at budget time and not spring this on us when little time is left.
Wiltshire poisoned the council after 2013. Everything was so fractious and for what? His own ambitions.
What's the matter polo tattoo? No phone calls make it to the blog you type? Protecting your unemployable boy friend?
9:57 -- so you're questioning the fact that he does have this infliction? Far as I know, he has passed all the required testing -- so what's the problem???? Hope you sleep well you insensitive fuck. BTW--- I'm not a cop - just an individual who is also a surviver of Cancer. I wish this brave young man all the best, and would love to see your pussy ass go through just one round of chemo.
Troy GOP is not female friendly.
My nephew got rejected by the FD because he has Type 2 diabetes and the cops are hiring a kid with stage 4 cancer?
Is the fix in here or what?
I wonder what Kathy Jimino and Carmella think about that?
4:03
On election day, the headline in The Record was
" Jimino backs brother in race"
and the bottom of the front page read
" Carmella Mentello *Independent Voice for Troy City Council*"
When the polls closed that night the WFP line for Mayor had more votes on it than the friendly Troy GOP line for mayor did.
So, I'd bet they are thinking they called it right.
Guy, that gun powder alternative gets a little more appealing every day. We have a Council that may have essentially given de facto control to an outside agency. Regardless of who won, the new Admin and Council deserve a chance. What next, are they going to invite some Syrian "migrants" to relocate? Think twice before you publish this Demo, I really don't want them getting any ideas.
What's wrong with a tattoo? I thought everyone had a tat with their favorite driver's number. You Dems are strange people.
I always spent my half an hour to read this
webpage's posts daily along with a cup of coffee.
My web site :: lasertest
Post a Comment