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More compromise needed between village, town

Posted 10/25/11

To the Editor: “Lower taxes; simplify government; promote community economic growth.” Who wouldn’t be in favor of something that would deliver this wish list? But is dissolution really going to …

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More compromise needed between village, town

Posted

To the Editor:

“Lower taxes; simplify government; promote community economic growth.” Who wouldn’t be in favor of something that would deliver this wish list?

But is dissolution really going to achieve all this? Fourteen of us examined and researched these topics for sixteen months on the Dissolution Study Committee (DSC).

I began the process with an open mind; I concluded this exercise in local politics with a firm belief: dissolution is not the answer.

Within the guidelines of the New York State Article 19, the Potsdam Village Board charged the DSC with 2 tasks: a dissolution plan and alternatives to dissolution –“possible options to improve the delivery of municipal services”.

In preparing the DSC Dissolution Plan, I became aware of the comprehensive range of services delivered by the Village of Potsdam, and what sacrifices village residents would likely experience if the village dissolved. The second part of our job – to discover and enumerate more efficient means of government- resulted in the DSC Options Report.

This list of potential departmental savings, efficiencies and cost-saving measures caused me to value the Village of Potsdam as the best form of local government to meet our unique needs.

Planning and implementing these alternatives is the answer.

Regarding those issues of lower taxes, streamlined government and economic growth – here are some facts:

Taxes will only decrease if the town board implements the dissolution plan exactly as proposed; that include a built-in elimination of some current services like brush pickup and sidewalk plowing. Also, the recommended town wide police force, with the current sized force, implies less police protection (2000 percent area increase).

In fact, if a police district is created - an option we rejected but for which the Town has expressed interest - it would raise former village taxes.) The projected tax decrease is also largely dependent on a highly unreliable annual tax credit from the state.

Additionally, there are documented means of equalizing taxes between the Village and the Town.

Government at the local level reflects a historical need to address densely-populated villages. There are inherent differences between village and town residents. The Town of Potsdam is not accustomed to delivering the same services, or the degree of services that the Village of Potsdam delivers.

Also, due to the higher percentage of registered voters Town-Outside-Village residents (TOV), as well as their higher rate of voting, the former village would be a minority in the election process, and having a voice at the town level would be a challenge.

The pressure on Potsdam Town Board to keep TOV taxes at their pre-dissolution rates seems most likely; the former village could lose a political presence while simultaneously losing services .

Economic growth is important to the village and the town – but not at the expense of the village (water and sewer access is one of the village’s greatest assets). Annexation is a mathematically proven win-win for the greater community, financially benefitting Potsdam Village, Town, School District and St. Lawrence County.

More compromise between village and town should be a mutual goal in order to preserve our village, as well as offer future economic opportunities.

I believe that there are more uncertainties and risks with dissolution (especially in light of the town refusing to enter into any DSC recommended agreements), than with adopting items from the Options Report.

It cites numerous areas of savings, which translate into lower village taxes. Give the report and other “best practices” a chance before you consider dissolving our village. Dissolution is always an option in the future, but if you vote yes, the village is permanently dissolved.

The dissolution debate is a wakeup call to the Village of Potsdam.

We are residents of both the Village and the Town. We have an opportunity to voice our concerns to elected officials who are listening. This is a unique time to be involved; engaged in our governments.

Whether you realize a change by voting for new village trustees and new town board members or by attending board meetings – you can advance this community to be more efficient, more productive and more accountable. Vote NO to dissolution “Alternatives to Dissolution” http://www.cgr.org/potsdam - check it out!

Michele Arnold

Friends of Potsdam Village