After reading the 'Freeman's' report on the intricacies of the new budget, one line item sticks out, 'Debt Service' $164,288 an increase of 35.66%. This increase is not the whole story, one must look at the past 4 years to understand how unacceptable this number really is. The main topic used to define the failure of the Woerner policies was the near disappearance of the fund balance, ($1.3 mil in 05 to $14,000 in 09), over the same period the Town Bonded for $1.3 mil. Most of the spending and added expenses were created during 2006 & 2007, years of an economic boom where revenues were also the highest in the last 20 years, making the need for this added funding further proof of the failures of Woerner's economic policies.
This is just one of the issues which will confront Supervisor Elect Jim Quigley. Fortunately, with his experience and credentials he is equipped to address the town's financial problems, eliminate bad practices and control spending in the current economic landscape.
He will need the support of all residents and his 'Open Door' policy welcomes all to Town Hall for both input and criticism.
A small town begs its citizens be involved, good government should represent the interests of all residents, with the doors of Town hall finally opened to all this will soon be a reality!
It won't be easy for Quigley. He will have to make some tough decisions. Town residents may have to accomodate some reductions in services or unhappiness among the publicly employed ranks. Woener spent his way into this crisis. Quigley will have to cut his way out of it. Otherwise the tax levy will explode even moreso.
ReplyDeleteI can mostly agree with 12:04 with one exception, there aren't many services the town affords it;s residents beyond Parks & Recreation and Police, the latter of which might be a little bloated since many of the services the UPD provide are redundant, (COunty Sherrif & NYS Trooper). Most residents are aware that the UPD was Woerner's tinker toy set, now that he's gone maybe the dept can be scaled down to reflect the actual # of residents, I believe we have as many as 9 detectives, any more than 4 or 5 might be overkill for a town with 12,500 total residents, (many of them weekenders).
ReplyDeleteAlso we will be saving quite a bit in legal fees now that Zweben's presence or lack thereof will be scarce.
What IN THE HELL is 1:12 babbling about? I think I get part of his point but the message has gotten lost in poor grammar.
ReplyDeleteHow about taking those eyesore campaign signs down. The campaign was over 10 days ago. It is bad enough we have to endure them during the election season. Enough is enough, take them down already.
ReplyDeleteTHANK- YOU
to 3:44, not to mention it is illegal to keep them up this long.
ReplyDeleteI heard something today that leads me to believe there should be some investigations into the actions of the Woerner Administration and the actions of the town attorney Zweben. It is regarding the sale of properties for the benefit of of a developer. I know that Jim Quigley wants to look forward for the benefit of the town, I agree, there is no point in beating a dead horse or in the case of Nicky Woerner, a dead horses ass, but if things were done outside the law then these people should be at best brought to justice and at least outed for the manipulative scam artists they are!
ReplyDeleteI'm sure we haven't heard the last of the shenanigans of Woerner & Zweben and Aaron, I just hope that they are held accountable!
thank you for taking the signs down. It is about time.
ReplyDeletehey 8:55, this is all anonymous. Tell us more of what you heard. What land was sold, and which of his many developer friends benefitted, at the expense of us poor taxpayers.
ReplyDeleteAlso, does anyone know if we can reverse that bullshit assessmant reduction that these crooks gave Aaron?
I am sure that Mr. Quigley will be hesitant spending our tax dollars after all he spent, to no avail, of his own money. Trying to get that shady deal reversed is going to be problematic. One thing you will find out about that developer is that he has never met a court room he did not like. He will keep the town in court until it is broke if he has to.
ReplyDeleteI am much more concerned about where Mr. Quigley is going to find the money to bring the fund balance back, restore the equipment fund balance, keep the town afloat, and fulfill all of the other responsibilites the town faces.
He asked for it, now he has it. Let's see what he can do.
To 6:44, I have no doubt regarding the properties in question, the deal although proposed by both Woerner & later Zweben never came to fruition, the economy was beginning to slow and the property in question would have given a developer who has business before the town access to town roads without traversing existing development.
ReplyDeleteThe owner subsequently sold the property to someone else and the this developer, at least as per the original owner's investigations never knew of the offer. I wonder what that means?
Jim Q will do just fine as long as the current supervisor doesn't do any further damage. The cut's necessary may take a real sharp knife, and some people will have complaints but it is important to remember that this is the way Woerner left the town. The things that must and will be done just to mitigate the damage done to town finances by Woerner & Friends are real and in some cases continuing, in the current economic landscape it will be harder to accomplish but I have no doubt that Jim is up to the task.
ReplyDeleteAs for the Aaron affair, there is 3 years left on the agreement, lets just hope that woerner is long gone from local politics when Aaron comes begging before the town again.
I heard Quigley was at the Legislatures meeting the other night. Eyeballing Auerbachs job already?
ReplyDeleteEyeballing Auerbachs job?? More like eyeballing Heinds job!!!
ReplyDelete