Across the State, local officials are blaming Albany for not reaching a budget that allows local governments to know what they are getting....In the meantime, cuts big and small are happening. Some say 6700 NYC teacher jobs may go..Cuts range to smaller levels where here in Watertown at least six positions have been cut in the last two cycles. A lot of it depends on local finances and the level of reliance on Albany.
Mayor Bloomberg gets support from his friends at the NY Times in this editorial blaming Albany, and the behavior of the Legislature and Governor are a sight to behold. However, there is a solid case for less state aid...and the notion that local governments should rely on their local tax base and adjust expenditures accordingly.
In recent decades, local government has grown by doing an end-run around the consitutional tax limit. Its done by alternative revenue sources, mostly state and federal aid combined with sales tax and fees.
You know the drill... Lawmaker X says "let's spend some money" and Lawmaker Y says "OK, but let's see if we can get a grant because I am all about the 'taxpayers' "
The only way change will happen is with dire cirsumstances....Look at Greece (the one in Europe and in NY). If Albany's dithering is making change happen locally, that's a good thing.
Editorial - Blame Albany - NYTimes.com
5 comments:
Good blog ..this is what I was refering to when I asked you the?Why do you talk about the federal and state government like its mars.You....all of us rely on all forms of government to work together to solve the problems and help the people with there day to day survival.Nice job on your feet today on the Hotline just preparing you for whats to come.Dont get mad now is not the time...
what's the difference between a grant, a stimulus payment and a PILOT? ( I thought so....)
None of this should come as any surprise to anyone. The only question is when were we going to arrive here. The state has been led by dishonest, dishonorable men for a long time. The Shelly Silvers of our world have played this game to the end. It looks like Free Stuff has finally caught up with us. We knew when our schools were being run as they were it couldn't go on. We knew when well connected people obtained grants to run their businesses it was wrong. Even local people got taxpayer money to expand. In an honest world it would be called theft. But its all related to the same thing, Free Stuff. As Dannie says, we are all entitled, in some way shape or form. Now its gotten where as Earthbob says, we can't afford ourselves. We can't afford the lies we've convinced ourselves are the truth. Now we're figuring out someone has to pay. Or are we?
No budget is in place. No real sacrifices have been made. King Silver is nowhere to be seen, presumably no closer to doing what he usually does, borrow money and cook the books to pretend we balanced something. Bruno is going to jail, where most of them should be. Paterson is out, but who can really blame him? He serves as a scapegoat for everyone who wishes to avoid reality. Good, we need scapegoats. Cuomo will be next.
And you voters will do the same thing you've always done, scrap for your piece of rotten meat. Maybe you can get a government job, or even be a Trail Coordinator. Maybe a grant for your water system here, a school grant there. You know, something that will keep your school taxes to a 5% rise instead of a 7% rise. Makes you feel good. Forget that it was your money either way. And you will return all the same politicians you elected last time. You'll also make plans to visit your kids in other states. That's where they will be.
I'd go to Vegas. You might see Shelly Silver, on an illegal trip paid for by someone who doesn't have NY taxpayers in mind. Maybe he was thinking of our children.
Igor Stravinsky
A stimulus check is money spent by a level of governemnt other than the one that collected the money from the public.
A PILOT is private sector tax avoidance at the expense of the aforementioned taxpayers
"The upstate rubes, flush with their success at scoring a million two, go to the big city where the power brokers play, and get steamrollered!!"
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