MADISON County supervisors pull fast one on public

This "LETTER TO EDITOR" re: MADISON COUNTY BUDGET certainly bares sharing. Letter: County supervisors pull fast one on public By Rick Kinsella osted: 11/27/13, 5:08 PM EST | People attending the Nov. 19 Madison County Board of Supervisors’ meeting and public hHearing on the 2014 budget participated in a classic “bait and switch” exercise organized by the board leadership. Approximately 100 members of the public attended, most of them prepared to support the restoration of approximately $200,000 cut from 13 not-for-profit (N-F-P) agencies and services. Funding for these agencies has been flat for the past three years. Nevertheless, they were slated for a 35 percent reduction. Draft resolutions to restore the proposed cuts to these agencies were prepared, circulated to all supervisors, and appeared to have garnered enough support to be passed. Although there had been multiple committee meetings and discussions throughout the day, most of the supervisors had not seen or discussed the actual resolution introduced Tuesday evening by exiting Cazenovia Supervisor Monforte. It was placed on supervisors’ desks just before the scheduled public hearing. Supervisor Degear immediately moved to call a vote which eliminated any discussion of the resolution. Under this stealth resolution, the board leadership also included more than $500,000 for the Sheriff and Highway Department in order to restore the popularly acclaimed N-F-P funding. The public got much more than they realized. Mr. Becker was heard stating that they had cut the county departments to the bone, yet the N-F-Ps were not willing to go along. The truth is substantially different. In past years, much has been made of the impact of “unfunded state mandates,” especially Medicaid and state retirement benefits costs. This year, both of these major expenses were actually reduced by approximately $450,000. These potential budget savings were far exceeded by a 3 percent across-the- board salary increase for all county management/confidential employees, including the supervisors; a new executive secretary position at about $70,000 annually; a more than 20 percent increase in health insurance premiums; and almost $267,000 for new software for the treasurer. N-F-Ps provide essential services, often much more efficiently and effectively than government can. This was a primary rationale for privatizing much of the Public Health and Drug and Alcohol services. The N-F-P organizations serving our county are also subject to inflationary costs and have to attract and retain qualified staff, pay increasing health insurance premiums and offer retirement benefits (albeit it less generously than we see in government). They play a significant role in protecting and serving our most vulnerable citizens and make a strong contribution to the quality of life for all of our communities. What the leadership of the Board of Supervisors perpetrated on our citizens at the Nov. 19 meeting looked more like the work of carnival grifters, not public servants. People were distracted from the major costs driving the budget increases while working to preserve essential services constituting less than 1 percent of total appropriation. Madison County deserves better and so do those supervisors and county employees truly trying to serve their communities. — Rick Kinsella, Oneida http://www.oneidadispatch.com/opinion/20131127/letter-county-supervisors-pull-fast-one-on-public#.UpcQHh6DhPg.email

SALKA Answers....THANK YOU!

Supervisor John Salka got back to us with the answers to questions raised in today's RAT posting re: 1. county health benefits; and 2. possible property tax rate for Brookfield. Thanks to John for the quick and informative reply. Salka voted AGAINST the proposed 2014 budget currently before the Madison County Board of Supervisors. "1. The health insurance contributions will be 10% for a single plan and 20% for a family plan. It will apply to any management or elected official hired after 1/1/14. "2. The tax rate for the Town of Brookfield will go from $6.61 per thousand to $6.99 per thousand. This is the rate increase as it stands now. Due to the fact that the property tax cap was overridden we are now seeing amendments to restore all the funding to the not for profits (including the Fair) and it is impossible to predict if there will be any more between now and the public hearing Tuesday night [Nov 19]. Theoretically you could see another 20 or 30 cent increase on top of the $.38. So much for fiscal responsibility. "

TAXES - Bend Over Madison County Taxpayers!

Caitlin Traynor of the ONEIDA DISPATCH does a great job of covering the MADISON COUNTY Board of SUPERVISORS.... following are links to the Supervisors' recent budget meeting, where they: .....are proposing to override the tax cap, raising taxes to 5.8%.....due to differences in equalization rates, tax rates will range from $6.98 per thousand dollars of assessed value to $10.06 on the same valuation...and cutting the MADISON COUNTY FAIR budget by 50%. Here are some highlights and please check out the links to both articles for more detail. This proposed budget will be passed onto the county’s finance, ways and means committee for review and will go before residents in a public hearing Nov. 19 at 7 p.m. I am contacting John Salka (who voted AGAINST the tax hike) to clarify what the hit to Brookfield will be. HIGHLIGHTS: $101.8 million county budget includes a 5.58 percent increase in the property tax levy, significantly exceeding the state’s 2 percent property tax cap, and equates to a 4.62 percent increase in the tax rate; The county’s property tax rate, as applied to each municipality, is based on equalization rates and sales tax apportionment. Taking into consideration those factors, county tax rates will range from $6.98 per thousand dollars of assessed value to $10.06 on the same valuation. More than 35 percent of next year’s levy will be consumed by Medicaid expenses alone that total nearly $11.4 million. Another 15 percent of the levy will go towards paying retirement expenses for county employees, nearly $4.7 million. MOST SURPRISING AND SEEKING CLARIFICATION: Starting at the beginning of the year all newly-hired management and confidential employees and elected officials will be required to contribute to their health care insurance premiums or participate in a new high-deductible plan. BUT NO DETAIL ON % CONTRIBUTION OR WHETHER THIS APPLIES TO ONLY "NEWLY-ELECTED" politicians. Seeking clarification from John on this as well... LINKS: http://www.oneidadispatch.com/general-news/20131113/madison-county-supervisors-vote-to-raise-taxes-higher-than-cap-would-allow and http://www.oneidadispatch.com/article/20131113/NEWS/131119697?source=jBarPopUp

POST ELECTION - Disappointing

Very disappointed that we did not get some new Town Board members. Only hope the results were sobering for Dewitt...only won by 10 votes and it wasn't in his "district" - North Brookfield. Voters continue to feel let down by the inability of the Board to look after the community's interests. Example: Would not even get us local Assessor hours from our assessor. If they can't look after us, then who the hell will?

BROOKFIELD - Meet the Candidates

Do NOT MISS! MEET THE CANDIDATES at Leonardsville Fire House this SAT 10AM.... last night's well-attended (40+)candidate meeting at the North Brookfield Fire House was a great opportunity to question candidates (write in questions - anonymous). All candidates showed up: COUNCIL - Marylou Rhodes; Larry Krauss; Chuck Blood; Dave Keith; Dewitt Head and Jeff Mayne; SUPERVISOR: John Salka and Joshua Haar. TOWN CLERK: Sherri Kabana and Kimberly Reed. MODERATOR: Virginia Keith did a great job(you can tell her mother was a teacher!!)orderly, well organized and informative!!!! TIME KEEPER: Perk Stalter was time keeper and COW BELL ringer! We should have her and that bell at the Town Board regular meetings!!!! Each candidate was given 5 mins to give background. Followed by a Q&A session with written questions from the audience. COUNCIL Q&A: Many questions aimed at Dewitt Head (Florida absence (confirmed 2-3 months in FL); "against" the Comprehensive Plan; "for" Fracking & Windmills). Chuck Blood was also heavily questioned re: Fracking & Windmills - had been "pro drilling" until personal, family experience; "for" the Comprehensive Plan. Mary Lou Rhodes & Larry Krauss both "pro" Comp Plan and "anti" drilling/windmills..and gave good background information, but not asked any audience questions (both are "pro" plan and "anti" drilling). Rhodes will hold office hours at the Town Hall to encourage community relations. No surprise from Jeff Mayne ("on the fence"...where else?)"pro & against" - Comprehensive Plan; "pro & against" - Gas drilling; and Dave Keith was a surprise - a new face to many; impressive with experience in windmills and gas drilling ("anti") and "pro" Comprehensive Plan; and addressed his issues with the former Town Attorney. TOWN CLERK Q&A: A tough call. Both personable and well qualified...and friends. Kimberly Reed is a relatively new face (from Mass)and very interested in youth; business & finance background, and community involvement. Sherry Kabana did a good job - experienced, straight forward and upfront, as usual. SUPERVISOR Q&A: The most adversarial contest between Joshua Haar and John Salka. Haar is a private rights/less government candidate. Currently attending Utica College; emphasized his accounting background and individual rights stance - "Pro" Gas & Windmill; "anti" Comprehensive Plan. Incumbent Salka stressed his experience and County relationships. SUMMARY - Take the time out and attend the Leonardsville Fire Hall presentation on SAT - 10AM....

BROOKFIELD - Meet the Candidates Schedule

Don't forget MEET THE CANDIDATES schedule ...TONIGHT - October 30 at the North Brookfield FIRE HOUSE 6:30PM. 5 min presentation with Q&A - Virginia Keith Moderator & Perk Stalter - Time Keeper & Bell Ringer. NOV 2 (Saturday) - 9:30 AM at the LEONARDSVILLE FIRE HOUSE.

BROOKFIELD TOWN BOARD: Special Meeting SEPT 25 (Wed) 7PM - Assessor & Moratorium

Please mark your calendar and plan to attend this SPECIAL Board meeting to consider: Assessor and Extension of the Gas Drilling Moratorium. This is an important meeting... we need to have ON SITE Office Hours for the ASSESSOR...or get a NEW ASSESSOR... several qualified assessors have submitted their resumes...our current Assessor provides on-site hours for the other Towns she covers, but is "refusing" to do so for Brookfield according to Town Officials. The financial impact of the Assessor position is too important to allow this to go on. Add to that, the influx of Amish who aren't going to be able to "hitch up the horse" and head 40 miles to the Assessor; and Sherry Kabana, the Town Clerk, has been handling assessor related questions and paperwork. For what we pay and the financial impact, it is imperative that the TOWN BOARD make sure we receive this coverage. SPECIAL BROOKFIELD TOWN BOARD MEETING Wednesday, SEPT 25 - 7PM - Brookfield Town Hall * Assessor and * Gas Drilling Moratorium Extension