Democracy In Albany

Mayor Jennings in November 2007 when he was looking to borrow a bunch more of your future tax dollars.

“I put a responsible budget together with the least amount of impact on the taxpayers in the city.”

Mayor Jennings in January 2008 now that the budget he created will be the one we use.

We will face significant financial pressures in the near future unless new sources of revenue are identified and existing revenue streams such as from our landfill remain constant.

So, the budget he gave us is "responsible" and yet sets us up for "significant financial pressures in the near future". Got it?

If Albany chooses to let someone like this continue to run our city, we deserve what we get (hint: higher taxes and fees, fewer services).

"We budgeted an $8 million deficit for this year," he said.

"Don't look for the budget committee to solve your woes and do your work," said Sano, who voted for the plan. "I think we did due diligence."

The Mayor’s proposed 2008 budget is a BAD budget. It already has a $10 million hole in it ($8 million borrowed from the fund balance and $1.7 million from the IDA) going into the 2009 fiscal year. Plus, with the Mayor’s history of overspending the budget between $3 million and $5 million just about every year he’s been in office, the city’s potential structural deficit for 2009 could be as much as $15 million! Now, throw in the city employees’ COLA for 2009, rising health insurance costs, and the city’s retirement fund contribution, and a $20 million HOLE in 2009 is not out of the question. If taxes alone were the only way to close this deficit, the tax rate could increase by 30%! This is what we are looking at a year down the road. This is what the fiscal mismanagement of the Jennings’ administration is leading us to. The Council can only do so much – if we defeat the proposed budget, it goes into effect anyway, but at least we sent a message to the Mayor. It will take strong leadership and the willingness to say NO to any budget increase in 2009 by both the Council and the Mayor working together to solve this fiscal nightmare.

In 2009, I am willing to go on record right now with this proposal, the city must implement at a minimum a 10% across-the-board cut in its proposed budget if we are to begin the process of returning to fiscal stability. I say 2009 because 2008 is already a lost opportunity, and it isn’t even here yet.