To the Editor:

For many, the dissolution issue is a question of governance. Can one level of government do the job that two currently do?

When asked, I am from Potsdam…not the town of Potsdam or the village of Potsdam. If we think that the current village borders do not make sense where they lie, or that the issue of annexation cannot be resolved between the town and village, or that courts and other government functions can be combined, or that one economic and development plan would benefit all, then maybe it’s time to envision one Potsdam.

Some say they are fearful the town board will not represent them.

The town board will rise to the charge of governing differently when there is no village board. Instead of “us” and “them” can we begin thinking of “we?”

There are never guarantees that any board will do what we want, but the town board is elected by us all.

For others, it is about taxes and the services we receive.

There exists roughly a $14 per $1,000 of assessed value difference in the taxes of village residents and town residents.

Beyond these taxes, village residents pay for water, sewer, and trash removal.

Many times people tell me they’d love to live in the village, but because of the taxes they live just outside or in a neighboring town.

Would significantly decreasing taxes within the former village increase the tax base since people may be willing to live and fix up homes here?

Doesn’t a larger tax base decrease everyone’s taxes?

The Dissolution Plan results in a substantial reduction in taxes of village residents while those of town residents would increase. The future town board is not bound by this plan so all projections are just that.

Once the reality of merging two governments happens, will there be savings that this document did not project (such as renegotiated contracts)?

The questions of what services become town wide and what remain with the former village will be discussed again by all of us.

Returning to the point made above, can a future town board representing all of us find a fair and reasonable path so that the end result is not a greater than doubling of current town tax rates?

These are all questions to which the answers cannot be known for sure. There are no guarantees, but there are no guarantees for what the village government will or can provide in the future.

Rather than seeing this as a gamble that may destroy our community, it could be seen as an opportunity for shaping our community.

Will it be messy? Yes. Will it be hard? Yes. Can it be done? That is up to each village voter to decide.

There is no crystal ball that will tell us what will be best. We will need to choose a path and commit to making it work for Potsdam.

I am seeking a position on the town board. If the vote is to dissolve I will work on the reality of the decision in a reasonable way, seeking input from all members of the town.

If the vote is not to dissolve I will work towards a better working relationship between the two boards in an effort to seek ideas that would benefit all members of the town and village.

In the coming months it will be important to keep respectful discussions ongoing and based on the facts we do know as we speculate on what could be.

I am happy to continue the discussion with any who would like to do so. Contact me at rrivezzi@twcny.rr.com.

Rose Rivezzi

Potsdam