Levi Spires

budget/cazenovia/infrastructure

Apr

Utica’s Next Budget Could Be as Tough As This Year’s

Can it get any worse? Yes, it can and will get worse. There are less people and thus less tax revenue.

The city will lose roughly $661,000 in water trust revenue, Budget Director Peter Fiorillo said. It used that much in the 2012-13 budget but doesn’t expect to use more next year.

Pension and health care costs – which rose $2.2 million last year – are expected to rise again next year.

The city is locked into more than $70 million in general fund debt obligations, and the biggest chunk of its budget — employee costs — are directly tied to the services the city provides.

via Utica’s next budget could be as tough as this year’s – Utica, NY – The Observer-Dispatch, Utica, New York.

Raising taxes will only work so much. Utica needs to find a way to increase jobs and get people to stay in the city.

News & Links/Policy

budget/policy/taxes/utica

Apr

Lockheed Martin Announces Layoffs

Lockheed Martin is making cuts to survive. Is your local government doing the same?

Lockheed Martin Mission Systems and Sensors, or MS2, announced it will lay off between 450 and 550 employees in the U.S. this year. MS2, which employs approximately 14,000 people, introduced a voluntary layoff program to reduce positions before it begins an involuntary layoff action. via Lockheed Martin announces layoffs – YNN, Your News Now.

Business/News & Links/Policy

budget/business/policy

Apr

NY Charter Schools Group Slams Mount Vernon Board of Education

This happens when government is your fund provider.

New York Charter Schools Association president Bill Phillips responded today to a court ruling invalidating Mount Vernon’s Amani Charter School’s charter and he criticized the Mount Vernon Board of Education for its legal actions against Amani. via NY Charter Schools Group Slams Mount Vernon Board of Education | Politics on the Hudson.

Policy

budget/education

Apr

Picente’s power play?

It’s the last line of the quote that says everything:

“According to the county charter, I am the budget officer,” Picente said. “I am the one who sets the tax rate and puts the budget in play.” But county Board of Legislators Democratic Minority Leader Frank Tallarino, of Rome, said Picente is “trying to assert himself as the most powerful man in the county.” “He is overreaching and making mountains out of molehills,” Tallarino said. “He has a very aggressive attitude.” via Picente’s power play? – Utica, NY – The Observer-Dispatch, Utica, New York.

Agressive attitude is probably what won Picente the election. These are desperate times, times that call for aggressive leaders.

Politics

budget/new york/politics

Apr

Students Protest School Budget Cuts

It’s refreshing that kids get involved and learn more about their government. However, I’m not sure Ms. Lewis’s protest is directed at the right things. Her message is for legislators in Albany:

“I hope our message is education is important and austerity and education, they shouldn’t mix.” Amor Lewis, 14, was barely visible behind her sign, which was a twist on Dr. Seuss’s “Oh the Places You’ll Go.” Instead, it read: “Oh the Places We’ll NOT Go From the Budget Cuts.” Lewis, a volleyball player, is upset a modified team has been cut, and said she would not have picked up the sport without it. via Students protest school budget cuts, funding from Albany – Utica, NY – The Observer-Dispatch, Utica, New York.

Cutting volleyball seems like the best cut for an institution that was established to teach kids, not fund every sport.

via Occupy Utica schools? Students rally against cuts – Utica, NY – The Observer-Dispatch, Utica, New York.

budget/schools/sports

Apr

Occupy schools: funny play on words….

Where should austerity be targeted? Education is important but if the government doesn’t have the money, it doesn’t have the money.

“I want to raise awareness and show that the youth are here and they pay attention and we’re here,” Truong said. “Austerity shouldn’t be targeted at education, ever.”

budget/budget cuts/education/tax

New York/News & Links

Apr

Congress has to cut somewhere.

There just isn’t enough money to keep funding everything. While I support our NY farmers I’m concerned that an entire industry is dependent on a “safety net” from Uncle Sam. There has to be a better way.

Dairy farmers could see a change in the MILC program, their safety net for when domestic milk prices fall below a specified level. And the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or food stamps, could also be cut, something New York Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, a member of the Senate Ag Committee, is fighting against.

via Federal Farm Bill up in the air – YNN, Your News Now.

via Opinion today: Property tax exemption for educational institutions go too far | syracuse.com.

budget/farmers/taxes

Apr

Practicing what you preach…

Le Moyne College’s purchase of a half-million dollar McMansion is not what taxpayers intended when they granted a property tax exemption for educational institutions. Perhaps it would be easier to accept if it were bordering the campus or within walking distance. It is so egregious for the Jesuit institution to buy such an elaborate home far from campus when every previous college president took a vow of poverty.

News & Links/Policy

budget/ethics/taxes

Apr

Task Force, For This?

The New York Works Task Force is planning to construct two bridges to connect Taughannock Falls and Allen Treman State Parks. They will also do repairs to Chenango Valley State Park and Soaring Eagles State Park.

via Money for state parks – YNN, Your News Now.

budget/new york works/task force

New York/News & Links

Apr

Cuomo Bragging?

But while drawing praise for his legislative accomplishments, the Governor is running into some criticism over just how open the process has been, in Albany. Critics say there has been little change in a system that saw the major deals done by a group described as “three men in a room”. If nothing, they claim, Cuomo has been even more secretive in his political deal making. The governor, himself, says that claim is a reach.

via Cuomo hits the road to talk about accomplishments – YNN, Your News Now.

budget/cuomo/politics/tax policy

New York/News & Links

Apr

Why Negotiate NY Budget in Private?

The Quinnipiac University poll released Wednesday found that 55 percent of voters said the closed-door negotiations weren’t necessary to finalize the $132 billion budget last week. It shows three-quarters of voters believe the lack of transparency is a very serious or somewhat serious problem, and no geographic or political segment of voters thought the secret dealing was justified.

via Poll: New Yorkers decry secret dealing in budget talks | syracuse.com.