Journal:Standing RoomCrowd Talks State Tax Cap

County Budget Meeting

Everyone had a voice Monday at the County Courthouse. I have to believe the majority that showed up were personally being effected by the cuts. With a 14 Million dollar deficit many county employees could lose their jobs. The sheriff's department was represented, claiming public safety would be at risk if the road patrol was closed. These are tough decisions and we elected our legislators to make them.

Standing Room Only

Preserving the current services would result in a 9.5% increase in the property tax. How much more can the property owners take and maybe it is time to look at the sales tax again.



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Journal:Ogdensburg Assessor Retires After 39 Years

                                  Kathy Bateman Retires

City Assessor is a tough job and one who never hears thank you for raising my assessments. Kathy Bateman has decided to the retire after 39 years of service to the community. Times are tough in the City and it is a good time to get out...her husband has plans of retiring the end of the year so they will be able to enjoy their time together.

I have been before Kathy about my assessment and if you do your homework and come prepared she has always treated me fair. Good luck Kathy and Steve on your retirement.
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Journal:Woods: Foreclosure Policy Presentation Stopped

The City turmoil continues! This just reinforces the chaos that exists between Mr. Scorria and his department/s head/s. With continual infighting not much of the City's business is getting done.

How deep this goes and what other departments are run without oversight only Art knows. The City Council is left in the dark, fed only half truths and misdirection does not fend well with the voters going into an election.


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Journal:Ivy Ridge Owner Meets Officials

Mr. Ma, Could be the New Owner of Ivy Ridge

Looks like there may be a new owner for Ivy Ridge Academy. Mr. Ma plans to open a school concentrating in ESL (English as a Second Language) for troubled Chinese youths. This is a nice piece of property that has set vacant and hopefully will lead to a good working relationship with the neighbors and the County.

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Vacation

Golfing Three Great Days in Penn. Then back to the blogging.

Journal:Woods Wants Knox Street Probe

City House for RENT (free rent, no taxes, and free renovations)

Art, 600,000 emails you have not read, what else have you missed?  We may never know! With a salary of approximately $120,000 and only 9000 citizens I would think Mr. Scorria should have a better handle on all issues in the City. Mr. Scorria has taken a laissez faire to a new level, it hard for me to believe he has any idea what actually happens in each department. The best part of this article is the idea Mr. Scorria tells everyone he does not or cannot do his job. When you're not reading emails from your department heads something is wrong.

There are a few underlying issues in this article that have not been brought to light.

First why would Mr. Woods publicly promulgate his boss's misfeasance and openly criticize him to the City Council; when it appears Mr. Woods has some culpability in the matter?  Mr. Woods claims fear from retaliation, retaliation of not telling or telling. If he did not tell what retaliation would there be. Something does not smell right.

Secondly, why is the City buying property, renting property, and developing it with tax payers money? This continues to perplex me.

This could be the tip of this conspiracy and could be the start to cleaning out some dead wood in City government.

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Salvation Army Taking School Supply Donations
@ Walmart

There is a big Yellow School bus parked at Walmart.  The Salvation Army has established a tent and concession stand to support students in the Ogdensburg School District.  They are looking for individuals to donate school supplies. Donating helps the community and sets a good example for your children.  They let the kids bring the supplies on to the bus. 

While you are there you can get a hotdog and soda for $2.00.

Summer In Ogdensburg

HCS Big Winners

Summer 2011, it has been a great summer with some signature storms to keep the ground moist and the greens in good shape. A great summer just makes it difficult to blog on a regular bases. I hope everyone is enjoying their summer and we are taking advantage of the positive things that happen in our area. Pirate's Weekend is underway in A-Bay and the streets are getting crowded.

The fishing is always great on the St. Lawrence, we went out 3 times last week and caught some nice walleye and a load of perch. That just means we will have a great feed this weekend.

I am not sure when Doug Sholette is leaving but he will be a big loss to the City Council and to the City Ogdensburg. Best wishes on his new career and business.

Journal:County Legislators Discuss Budget



Can the County Cut the Budget or Will They Raise Taxes?

The part of the process I missed and I guess all the County Legislators missed was how this snuck up and became a 15 million dollar deficit over night. This was the same legislature that last year approved raises for the last 2 years of the County's employees contract. This will not effect those employees with seniority but the employees with less than 10 year would of passed on this temporary pay raise in lieu of losing their jobs.

St. Hilarie wants to implement cuts to various departments and raise property tax by 15% to offset part of the deficit. As County Administrator, I have to question her lack of ability to foresee such a deficit and/or her negligence to inform the legislature. It may be time to re-evaluate her ability.  Maybe the legislature should cut their pay...we did elect them to represent us and they are failing.

Faced with such a deficit it is easy to come back to the property owners to foot the bill again, while those receiving services are paying little or nothing. Times are tight and the County needs to hold a tight line to balance the budget.

With a democratic controlled legislature we will most likely increase our property tax instead of cutting services. The time is right to take a hard look at the Sheriff Road Patrol, is it necessary with the presents of State and Federal law enforcement?

I guess if I had to choose between a property or sales tax, I would chose the sales tax! The legislature tried to end run Senator Ritchie with a last minute sales tax hike as the Senate Legislative session was ending. The big problem would have been the veto by our beloved Governor Cuomo.

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