The tax burden in the City of Kingston has become absolutely brutal. There is little question that city spending must be reduced and the tax burden reduced on residents and businesses. However, even if city and school taxes could be reduced by 10%, the burden would still be considerable.
Every year, Kingstonians must make 2 massive payments of their city taxes and 2 massive payments of their school taxes. The second payment of the school taxes is almost always in December. Citizens are saving money to give their children a Merry Christmas or a Happy Hannukah, yet have to deduct from their holiday money to pay the “Grinch” the second half of school taxes.
If elected Mayor, I will order the Comptroller’s Office to offer a new option for city taxpayers. If a taxpayer desires, they may keep the current payment system. However, taxpayers (residents and businesses) may also choose a new monthly payment system. Essentially, the tax payment would be collected in the form of monthly payments, so as to ease the burden of paying 4 massive payments. It would also allow for easier budgeting for households and businesses on a monthly basis.
The city does not accept partial payments. So, if you get behind on the massive payment, they will only accept full payment along with the monetary penalties which are quite steep. This prevents many people from paying down their tax debt. A monthly system would help alleviate this problem.
My hope as Mayor is to reduce city spending and begin to bring down the massive tax burden on our citizens and our businesses, all of whom are struggling mightily in this extremely weak economy. Payment of taxes, however, will always be required, even if reduced. Why not make the payment as easy as possible and allow a monthly payment program?
Currently, there is only one monthly payment program offered by the city. Unfortunately, it requires a property owner to be three years behind and in the process of foreclosure. Why are we offering such a program only at the last minute when people are within inches of losing their home? Is not home ownership something to be encouraged? Since the entire tax payment system is run by computer, it would not be difficult to arrange for a monthly payment plan. It would give assistance to working people struggling to make ends meet.
As Mayor, I will look to reduce city property taxes. I will also implement this monthly payment program so that citizens and businesses who feel this would be of assistance can take advantage of the opportunity, pay their taxes, and keep their homes or businesses.
Parts 2 and 3 of my Tax Burden Relief Plan will be released shortly.
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17 comments:
The City is bankrupt - millionaire employees getting 35 years of family health insurance at $ 20k year a pop. The contracts must be changed. We can't pick up trash or paint crosswalks of patch streets or put a patrolmen on the street but we still do free EMT calls and locksmith services.
3:41,
Yes, other changes are required. As I noted, this is just part one.
This makes good sense, Rich. This is something that can really help people.
Add this to a tax reduction or at least no increase and you have a good start.
Doesn't the current payment system stem on what NYS mandates in the way/types of payments/collection for taxes? If so, state would have to be tackled first before city could make its plans for payment of taxes. .
I like your idea Rich. Taxes are up and our services have been cut. Crime is up and we have a bunch of dept. heads that are Sottile's appointees that are not very good at what they do. Sue Cahill, Mike Schupp,Rick Salzmann, Steve Finkle are all poor dept heads and need to be reconsidered.
Rich i love this idea. I have 3 kids and i agree the big tax bill in December is a killer! I would really prefer to make the monthly payments! I really hope you win the primary so I can vote for you in nov. (I am a dem) You seem to have very good, reasonable ideas. Keep knocking on those doors...we need you in city hall!!!
The current administartion has already circumvented the 2% tax cap - they keep pushing more of the Mayor and Comptrollers pay into user fees - so we pay it on our water and sewer bills.
Fraud at it's best?
7:43 You make a great point. Look for the City to continue this practice. The treatment plant flies under the radar for this reason. Over 100k a year in overtime to 8 employees. One of which is the mayor next door neighbor.
7:43 Not only the Mayor and comptroller. Schupp, his asst, Civil engineer, principle accout clerk, admin asst., amin aide, sr. account clerk, payroll clerk, senior clerk, dispatcher and engineering tech.
Watch for more in this years budget.
7:43 and 4:18,
I will end that practice. By changing the second shift at the Treatment Plant, there will be no need for the overtime. With the stroke of a pen, the taxpayers save $100,000.00.
I proposed this to the Common Council in my budget plan. It was ignored.
Alderman Turco-Levin voted for the budget containing this overtime line. Alderman Polacco voted against the budget, though he did not submit any proposed cuts either.
The paid fire department is the real tax burden. What are your plans for them. At well over 100k per fire fighter, we can no longer afford their service. We can all live with a 10 minute response time like the rest of the county.
I do not hear an outcry for paid services in other parts of the county. Town of Ulster does a great job with their volunteers. We need to do the same as many ot the volunteers in T of U reside in Kingston.
There is one point you'll have to ask Turco-Levin---why did she vote for the budget? Hope it comes up at the debate and as a friendly reminder, when is that?
Good luck getting the boods and crips to volunteer
Not many people left in Ktown
8:47,
The debate is Thursday at 11 am on the Freeman web site.
11:33,
What are you talking about?
Someone mentioned that we need a volunteer FD.
Recently I drove into Kingston from Lucas Ave down to the strand, and I had a visitor with me from out of town.
He mentioned while driving thru town, that he didnt see one person walking that he would stop and ask directions from!
Not one person in 25 blocks?
Every single person that we saw walking in this city, was pushing a cart, filthy or mentally distrurbed (the mentally ill, I can deal with), the others I cannot figure out where they are employed?
Not one person looked like somone you would want to have as a neighbor.
Do you think you can get these people to volunteer for anything?
This city is being flooded with cases, not citizens.
Until some politician notices this, we are doomed!
What's wrong with the concept of a homeowner setting up a bank account that they use to deposit their taxes into each month? When their taxes are due, they just draw off of this account and pay their bills. Since this would be a private homeowner bank account, there is no need for the govmt to get involved and cost us additional money. Of course this is all based on the premise that the homeowner take responsibility to make their bank deposits each month.
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