Story Created:
Nov 5, 2009 at 10:47 PM EST
Story Updated:
Nov 6, 2009 at 12:52 AM EST
NEW HARTFORD, N.Y. (WKTV) - The Town of New Hartford board held a public input meeting Thursday, regarding the proposed 54% property tax increase. Most residents wanted to know; how this happened, who's to blame, and more importantly, how can it be fixed.
For two hours the New Hartford Town board listened to upset tax payers vent. A room full of town residents upset over the large proposed tax hike wanted someone to explain what went wrong.
"Take responsibility for your actions, regardless of the political consequences you may suffer individually as a result there of, and be true leaders," Said one man in attendance.
"We don't work for you, you're supposed to work for us," Another man stated.
A good majority of the full room took advantage of the open forum to speak. While many used the time to say how upset they were, others offered suggestions to fix the problem.
"(You should) request a freeze on all salaries and wages for one year," suggested one resident.
The proposed $12.8 million budget, and 54% tax hike, would raise property taxes $178 dollars a year on the average home assessed at $150,000, according to a chart on display Thursday. However, current Town Supervisor, Earle Reed, says those numbers are not set in stone, and the budget is still a work in progress.
"(We will) continue to hammer away at this budget, it's not going to be 54%, were just going to keep working on it," Reed said. "We had great input from the citizens tonight (Thursday)."
Many residents wanted to know how the town got put into this financial burden. New Hartford Town Budget Director, Heather Mowat, explained to the public, and the board, that town officials have been using the town's savings account, or fund balance, over the past three to four years to avoid having to raise taxes. Mowat said now those funds are depleted.
Most Popular