inactive
Otsego budget calls for 11 percent hike
Otsego County Treasurer Myrna Thayne has filed a tentative 2010 county budget that calls for increasing the property-tax levy by $1,148,718, or 11.11 percent.
In the current budget year, the tax levy was $10,343,089. For next year, as the tentative budget stands, it will be $11,491,718.
The number may change as the county board strives to adopt a budget by the Dec. 20 deadline.
Thayne has estimated that the county will collect $29.5 million in sales-tax revenue next year, just under what it is likely to collect this year.
In a letter to the Otsego County Board of Representatives dated Monday, Thayne wrote that appropriations in the tentative budget total $114,755,638, up $3,159,321 from the current budget. She indicated that a significant portion of the 2.83 percent increase comes from the county's rising contribution to the New York state retirement fund and the retroactive salary increases for members of the CSEA following the pay-increase agreement between the county and the workers.
``The impact of the recession along with the continued reductions in the New York State budget for state fiscal years 2009-2010 and 2010-2011 remains uncertain," she said, "as more of the costs of services are potentially shifted to the county by the state and federal governmental agencies.
"In addition, the continued decrease in sales-tax revenue ... along with the increase in the unemployment rate and the increase in unpaid taxes, deficit spending in 2008 and reductions in unrestricted fund balance continue to challenge those directly involved in developing a responsible, prudent fiscal plan of operation.''
County Board Chairman James Powers said Wednesday that further budgetary cuts were possible, but he noted that some board members and department heads want to increase the budget, which will be aired at a public hearing at 7:30 p.m. Dec. 1 at the county courthouse at 193 Main St. in Cooperstown.
The tentative budget includes cuts to the sheriff's office _ ones Sheriff Richard Devlin Jr. is fighting to overturn. These include a reduction of three deputies, six corrections officers and the county's boat patrol.
In a letter sent to dozens of county residents and ``public safety partner(s)" Nov. 16, Devlin urged people to come to the hearing ``in hopes of rescinding these detrimental cuts to public safety.
``We would encourage all of you who were going to attend the November 18 meeting to do so Dec. 1, 2009. We also suggest that you bring a friend or neighbor to support our cause!''
Powers said Wednesday that state police have assured him the county will be adequately policed, regardless of whether cuts in the sheriff's road patrol are made.
``The board will have a chance to restore positions, but I want residents to see what it's going to cost us in taxes,'' he said.
According to Laura Child, board-auditor clerk, the county tentative budget and other items included in the county tax bill are estimated to increase the county tax levy at different rates in different towns.
As of Wednesday, those estimates were city of Oneonta, up 11.30 percent; Burlington, up 2.99 percent; Butternuts, up 20.43 percent; Cherry Valley, up 19.72 percent; Decatur, up 14.04 percent; Edmeston, up 13.62 percent; Exeter, down .84 percent; Hartwick, up 7.97 percent; Laurens, up 4.47 percent; Maryland, up 10.06 percent; Middlefield, up 23.93 percent; Milford, up 7.22 percent; Morris, up 17.42 percent; New Lisbon, up 14.35 percent; Oneonta, up 16.85 percent; Otego, down 34.54 percent; Otsego, up 5.61 percent; Pittsfield, up 5.64 percent; Plainfield, up 12.63 percent; Richfield, up 8.60 percent; Roseboom, up 16.34 percent; Springfield, up 10.95 percent; Unadilla, up 2.72 percent; Westford, up 22.36 percent; and Worcester, up 13.48 percent.
Variations for county taxes within towns are often caused by differences in equalization rates.
- Local News
-
-
Police departments investigating apparent murder-suicide in Walton
WALTON _ An apparent murder-suicide shooting is being investigated by the Walton Police Department, the state police and the Delaware County Sheriff's Department, Walton Police Officer Brian Laauser said Monday. The shootings occurred at 32 Union Street at about 10 p.m. Sunday, police said.
- Police departments investigating apparent murder-suicide in Walton WALTON _ An apparent murder-suicide shooting is being investigated by the Walton Police Department, the state police and the Delaware County Sheriff's Department, Walton Police Officer Brian Laauser said Monday. The shootings occurred at 32 Union Street at about 10 p.m. Sunday, police said.
- Anna L. Bliss COOPERSTOWN _ Anna (Nonnie) Bliss, died peacefully, surrounded by her loving family, at Bassett Medical Center in Cooperstown on Sunday evening, May 9, 2010. She was 88.
- Holocaust survivor to speak ONEONTA _ Hartwick College will host a lecture by Holocaust survivor Helen Sperling at 4 p.m. Wednesday in the Celebration Room of Shineman Chapel House on the college campus. The presentation is free and open to the public.
- Ignore protesters; Arizona law protects citizens Congratulations go out to Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer and the state's legislature for having a backbone and passing a tough new law dealing with illegal immigration.
- Holocaust survivor to speak ONEONTA _ Hartwick College will host a lecture by Holocaust survivor Helen Sperling at 4 p.m. Wednesday in the Celebration Room of Shineman Chapel House on the college campus. The presentation is free and open to the public.
- Motorist rolls truck, charged with drunken driving A motorist who continued driving after his truck rolled 360 degrees in Summit early Monday was charged with drunken driving, state police at Cobleskill said.
- Motorist rolls truck, charged with drunken driving A motorist who continued driving after his truck rolled 360 degrees in Summit early Monday was charged with drunken driving, state police at Cobleskill said.
- Mary Lorraine Hawkins RICHFIELD SPRINGS _ Mary Lorraine Hawkins, 85, went to be with the Lord on Monday, May 10, 2010, she was at Bassett Hospital in Cooperstown.
- Area briefs: Video on natural gas drilling to be presented COPES CORNERS _ The Concerned Citizens of the Butternut Valley will sponsor a video presentation about natural gas drilling at 7 p.m. today at Gilbertsville-Mount Upton Central School at 693 State Highway 51.
- Area briefs: Video on natural gas drilling to be presented COPES CORNERS _ The Concerned Citizens of the Butternut Valley will sponsor a video presentation about natural gas drilling at 7 p.m. today at Gilbertsville-Mount Upton Central School at 693 State Highway 51.
- Evelyn E. Kinney MORRIS _ Evelyn E. Kinney, 81, of Morris, passed away Jan. 17, 2010.
- Frost may have damaged plantings Traces of a visit by Jack Frost overnight might leave severe damage to plant life in Otsego, Delaware and Chenango counties, weather officials said Monday.
- Daisy Wagner Schultz WALTON _ Daisy Meda Wagner Schultz, 65, of Walton, passed away unexpectedly Sunday evening, May 9, 2010, at home.
- Frost may have damaged plantings Traces of a visit by Jack Frost overnight might leave severe damage to plant life in Otsego, Delaware and Chenango counties, weather officials said Monday.
- Edward Luke Ryder MOUNT VISION _ Edward Luke Ryder, 71, passed away Monday, May 10, 2010, at his home.
- Police probe apparent murder-suicide WALTON _ An apparent murder-suicide shooting is being investigated by the Walton Police Department, the state police and the Delaware County Sheriff's Department, Walton Police Officer Brian Laauser said Monday. The shootings occurred at 32 Union Street at about 10 p.m. Sunday, police said.
- Police probe apparent murder-suicide WALTON _ An apparent murder-suicide shooting is being investigated by the Walton Police Department, the state police and the Delaware County Sheriff's Department, Walton Police Officer Brian Laauser said Monday. The shootings occurred at 32 Union Street at about 10 p.m. Sunday, police said.
-
3 area lawyers say Kagan likely to be confirmed
Elena Kagan is likely to be confirmed as United States Supreme Court justice and seems qualified for the post, according to three area lawyers.
Kagan, the nations solicitor general and a former dean of Harvard Law School, is President Barack Obamas choice to succeed retiring Justice John Paul Stevens. - Alyce H. Roberts ONEONTA _ Alyce H. Roberts, 89, of Oneonta, passed away Sunday, May 9, 2010, at home.
-
Police departments investigating apparent murder-suicide in Walton
