Proposed tax hike causes unease
Residents voice concerns over potential 19.21 percent tax-rate increase
WATERVLIET, N.Y. » The Watervliet Senior Center was filled Thursday night with more than 40 residents and city property owners who gave their opinions on the proposed 19.21 percent tax-rate increase for 2018.
As part of city General Manager Jeremy Smith’s first proposed budget, residents would not see an increase in the sewer rate, and the water rate would also remain flat.
The roughly $11.46 million proposed budget does not cut any staff or services. There are no raises for employees except for a contractual 1 percent raise for CSEA employees. The city also had a budget deficit for 2018 of over $700,000.
The current city tax rate is $11.10 per $1,000 of assessed valuation.
The proposed budget also places park counselors in the parks to operate the splash pads and children activities in the afternoons during the summer. The 2018 budget proposes having student summer help to work in public works to help with beautification initiatives, such as curb cleaning, along with hiring an economic development employee. The proposal also plans for less overtime in Public Works and Public Safety.
“I was not advised by the council to make this a 5 percent, 10 percent, 15 percent budget and then find out how to get to that number; this is realistic numbers and not predetermined,” Smith said, prior to starting off the public hearing.
About a dozen or more community members spoke during the roughly one hour public hearing.
“The first question I’ve got to ask: How do you expect any of us — especially people on a fixed income, and I’m not one of them ... how do you in good conscious ask them to absorb a 20 percent increase?” property owner Victor Di Coppio asked.
“I’ve been reassessed twice, my water bill has
been jacked up over $500,” added resident Kevin Moran. “I live with my wife; between us we take 14 showers a week and [do] two loads of laundry and I’m paying over $500.”
Resident Paul Huban directed his comments towards other residents and community members and partially blamed some residents for allowing the sit- uation to occur.
“What I’m going to say these gentlemen up there [the council] aren’t going to like,” said Huban. “You people [the residents] are the ones that are at fault, every one of you. You wanna know why? And this is the only recourse you have, come Election Day what do you do? You vote for the same people. It’s your fault.”
Resident Paul Hughes also said some residents aren’t that involved in city matters.
“You know, I agree with a lot of you guys. I agree with you that the taxes probably shouldn’t have to go up, but I also hear a lot of you coming up going ‘ What are we getting for our taxes?’ Where were you? Check yourself. Where were you? You weren’t at any of these meetings before. You weren’t at any of the budgeting meetings,” said Hughes.
The council will vote on the 2018 proposed budget during its meeting at 7 p.m. Dec. 21.