Popular Searches
Print
E-mail
Comment
Rate
Share
Officials argue over budget
By Jamie Larson
Hudson-Catskill Newspapers
The Copake 2010 budget is still in its infancy but has managed to quickly stir up anger and controversy among citizens and officials. The focus of contention is a proposed property tax increase, currently estimated at 32 percent, needed to pay back a bond taken out to ease a nearly $100,000 deficit in the 2009 budget, and pay for an overall projected tax revenue increase of $277,000.
The Property tax increase for 2010 was originally projected at 57 percent, but at last week’s town board meeting, Republican Supervisor Reggie Crowley said he checked with the Columbia County Office of Real Property to find out the total assessed value of the town and the percentage increase was cut by more then half.
A war of words has continued to rage between Crowley and Town Councilman Robert Sacks over the issue. Crowley is the town’s budget officer and crafted the tentative 2010 budget, and said the town would not be facing the financial hardship it is dealing with now if the previous Democratic- controlled board had not squandered thousands of dollars, from what was at the time a surplus general fund, in the 2008 budget, in an attempt to keep taxes low.
“At the end of 2007 the Town of Copake had an unexpended balance of $277,897,” Crowley said. “The previous Board immediately appropriated $100,000 toward the budget to offset taxes. Then instead of making cuts, they went to the anticipated revenue side of the budget and over inflated the expected revenue.”
Sacks said that while they did use money from the general fund in 2008 on tax relief, there was still $75,000 left in the reserve. He said that it was the Republicans who made the 2009 budget which has sent the town into debt. Sacks noted that the three Republican board members voted on and passed the 2009 budget during a workshop meeting that neither he or fellow Democrat Linda Gabaccia attended due to illness.
Crowley pointed to one example in the 2008 budget where he said the previous board anticipated roughly $54,000 in revenue from their cable contract with Charter Communications, when they are contractually obligated to only receive $27,000. Sacks took offense to Crowley trying to use the figure against him, saying it was a typo put on paper by the town’s previous, and since fired, accountant, Brian Fitzgerald, and was never included in the final budget.
“He’s using typos as a political wedge,” Sacks said of Crowley. “It’s smoke and mirrors, it’s a sham.”
Sacks said that Crowley plays with numbers, skewing them to fit his political agenda. Sacks said that when Crowley ran for supervisor for the first time in 2007 he told voters that Sacks and the board were planning to raise taxes 27 percent, while the increase was only 2.7 percent. Crowley said there was initial talk of a 27 percent increase but when townspeople became aware and upset about the spike the amount dropped to 2.7 percent with the help of the general fund.
“The preliminary budget that was filed by the previous Board, in the Town Clerk's office on November 1, 2007, did indeed show a tax hike of 27.28 percent,” Crowley said. “This is a matter of public record, and anyone can ask to see a copy at the Town Clerk's office. The final adopted budget did indeed have a tax increase of less than three percent.”
Sacks said all of Crowley’s numbers are suspect and should not be taken at face value by any voter. He said that The town’s current accountant, Michael Torcia presented the figures that indicated a 57 percent property tax increase and called Crowley’s reduction of the property tax increase to 32 percent “magical.” Sacks added that if Crowley is right, the accountant made a large mistake. Sacks doubts that was the case.
Sacks said he and Gabaccia are working on their own budget draft which will cut $100,000 to $150,000 from Crowley’s tentative budget.
Crowley feels Sacks is being as dishonest with voters as Sacks feels Crowley is. “I can easily give the taxpayers a 0% tax hike.” Crowley said. “I'll simply do as the previous board did, overestimate revenue and underestimate expenses. Then we can all sit around next July and try to figure out how to pay the bills. I prefer to try to come up with a realistic budget that will put the town back on solid footing.”
One thing that both Crowley and Sacks readily agree on is that the tentative budget needs work and will be cut down, making whatever the current increase may be much lower. Only time will tell what these cuts will be, and if the two conflicting political factions will agree on them together.
***
To reach reporter Jamie Larson call 518-828-1616, ext. 2269, or e-mail jlarson@registerstar.com.
The Property tax increase for 2010 was originally projected at 57 percent, but at last week’s town board meeting, Republican Supervisor Reggie Crowley said he checked with the Columbia County Office of Real Property to find out the total assessed value of the town and the percentage increase was cut by more then half.
A war of words has continued to rage between Crowley and Town Councilman Robert Sacks over the issue. Crowley is the town’s budget officer and crafted the tentative 2010 budget, and said the town would not be facing the financial hardship it is dealing with now if the previous Democratic- controlled board had not squandered thousands of dollars, from what was at the time a surplus general fund, in the 2008 budget, in an attempt to keep taxes low.
“At the end of 2007 the Town of Copake had an unexpended balance of $277,897,” Crowley said. “The previous Board immediately appropriated $100,000 toward the budget to offset taxes. Then instead of making cuts, they went to the anticipated revenue side of the budget and over inflated the expected revenue.”
Sacks said that while they did use money from the general fund in 2008 on tax relief, there was still $75,000 left in the reserve. He said that it was the Republicans who made the 2009 budget which has sent the town into debt. Sacks noted that the three Republican board members voted on and passed the 2009 budget during a workshop meeting that neither he or fellow Democrat Linda Gabaccia attended due to illness.
Crowley pointed to one example in the 2008 budget where he said the previous board anticipated roughly $54,000 in revenue from their cable contract with Charter Communications, when they are contractually obligated to only receive $27,000. Sacks took offense to Crowley trying to use the figure against him, saying it was a typo put on paper by the town’s previous, and since fired, accountant, Brian Fitzgerald, and was never included in the final budget.
“He’s using typos as a political wedge,” Sacks said of Crowley. “It’s smoke and mirrors, it’s a sham.”
Sacks said that Crowley plays with numbers, skewing them to fit his political agenda. Sacks said that when Crowley ran for supervisor for the first time in 2007 he told voters that Sacks and the board were planning to raise taxes 27 percent, while the increase was only 2.7 percent. Crowley said there was initial talk of a 27 percent increase but when townspeople became aware and upset about the spike the amount dropped to 2.7 percent with the help of the general fund.
“The preliminary budget that was filed by the previous Board, in the Town Clerk's office on November 1, 2007, did indeed show a tax hike of 27.28 percent,” Crowley said. “This is a matter of public record, and anyone can ask to see a copy at the Town Clerk's office. The final adopted budget did indeed have a tax increase of less than three percent.”
Sacks said all of Crowley’s numbers are suspect and should not be taken at face value by any voter. He said that The town’s current accountant, Michael Torcia presented the figures that indicated a 57 percent property tax increase and called Crowley’s reduction of the property tax increase to 32 percent “magical.” Sacks added that if Crowley is right, the accountant made a large mistake. Sacks doubts that was the case.
Sacks said he and Gabaccia are working on their own budget draft which will cut $100,000 to $150,000 from Crowley’s tentative budget.
Crowley feels Sacks is being as dishonest with voters as Sacks feels Crowley is. “I can easily give the taxpayers a 0% tax hike.” Crowley said. “I'll simply do as the previous board did, overestimate revenue and underestimate expenses. Then we can all sit around next July and try to figure out how to pay the bills. I prefer to try to come up with a realistic budget that will put the town back on solid footing.”
One thing that both Crowley and Sacks readily agree on is that the tentative budget needs work and will be cut down, making whatever the current increase may be much lower. Only time will tell what these cuts will be, and if the two conflicting political factions will agree on them together.
***
To reach reporter Jamie Larson call 518-828-1616, ext. 2269, or e-mail jlarson@registerstar.com.
Share this Article
 |
 |
|
| Woman steals $123K | Cinema shuts down |
Article Rating
Reader Comments
The following are comments from the readers. In no way do they represent the view of registerstar.com.
You must register with a valid email to post comments. Only your Member ID will be posted with the comments.
Registered users sign in here: |
Become a Registered User |
