Where's the impending doom? I was saving up for 30%


By AlfredMoisiu, Section Diaries
Posted on Thu Oct 02, 2008 at 04:10:34 PM EST

First let me get this over with by bringing it up right in front:

- According to the TU, several Albany police officers, a judge and some DA staff purchased machine guns. They didn't pay taxes on these sales.

So the 2009 budget is in. Taxes will increase 5.5%, about the rate of inflation.

They haven't laid anyone off, so after Jennings wins the 2009 election, they'll be able to lay people off and cut the budget further. Forecloseures, late payment of fees (water, garbage, etc) is probably up, and tax delinquincy is probably going up -- but the county is forced to make the city whole.

That's not to say that everything isn't peachy... losing $4-5 million of dump revenue is 5% of the budget, and shipping out trash is probably expensive. Inflation is probably going to be in the 7-10% range next year ( Fed loans are euphemisms for "printing money", so the next round of police/fire raises will probably be in the 5-9% range, thanks to mandatory binding arbritration

And then you have the school district, with half empty schools and declining aid. Not very good news either.

But none of this amounts to two back to back 30% tax increases. Time to sharpen the pencils.

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Where's the impending doom? I was saving up for 30% | 3 comments (3 topical, 0 hidden)
Isn't It 4.9%? (none / 0) (#1)
by Dan Van Riper on Fri Oct 03, 2008 at 05:11:53 AM EST
Well, whatever.  You're right Alfred.  I attended several public meetings over the course of a year or so where I heard The Mayor, Tuffey, Nitido and more than one of Jerry's minions on the Common Council announce that if Jerry didn't get His dump expansion that property taxes would go up 30%.

The problem with our Albany Dump is that 91% of the volume of trash in the dump comes from outside the City.  That means you only have to find somewhere to dump 9% of the trash.

If you no longer take trash from outside the City, you no longer have the expenses of handling that 91%.  And if you wish to institute innovative and aggressive recycling (and re-use) programs, most of which generate profit these days, then the City may not only meet costs but come out ahead.

Alas, it is easier to beg the State for favors, destroy the Pine Bush, lie to the taxpayers and spend a fortune on taxpayer funded lawsuits than to run the City well.

Budget hearing (none / 0) (#2)
by Tom Paine on Fri Oct 03, 2008 at 12:40:52 PM EST
We all need to come out in force at the budget hearing Oct 20 and in the pages of the TU.

And yes, its 4.9%.

Check out the Mayor's budget message for syntax worthy of Sarah Palin.

[ Parent ]

Money to Burn? (none / 0) (#3)
by A Muse on Wed Nov 19, 2008 at 04:29:34 PM EST
Al you are single with no kids and a pension right?

Where's the impending doom? I was saving up for 30% | 3 comments (3 topical, 0 hidden)
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