To the Editor:

I have been a resident and property owner in the Village of Potsdam since 1993. Dissolution of the Village is being discussed but the only reason for dissolution, that I have heard, is that it would reduce significantly the high property taxes in the Village.

Not true! Only 30 percent of the property taxes levied in the Village go to support the Village government. The other 70 percent supports the county, the town, the school district and the library district.

The studies of the Dissolution Study Committee report almost no change in the cost of Village government after dissolution when you throw out an annual state subsidy which is not, realistically, likely to occur in light of the state’s budget problems. The state is not even reimbursing St. Lawrence County for money already spent on mandated costs.

For veterans, 20 percent of their Village property taxes are offset by their exemption but that won’t happen when Village property taxes are largely replaced by the user fees of the numerous special service districts which will be set up.

So the cost of Village government after dissolution will go up for Veterans who own property. Those user fees won’t be tax deductible, either.

I am opposed to dissolution of the Village of Potsdam.

William E. Davidson, Potsdam