MAYOR PALMIERI TO LEAD CITIZENS’ BUDGET FORUMS
This Tuesday morning, (2-19-13) Mayor Robert M. Palmieri will present his 2013-2014 Budget to the Board of Estimate and Apportionment.
Tuesday night, the Mayor will bring his budget proposal to the people in the first of three Citizens’ Budget Forums.
The initial “Citizens’ Budget Forum” will be held Tuesday, February 19th at 6:30 PM in the Auditorium of the Jewish Community Center. The JCC is located at 2310 Oneida Street in South Utica.
Mayor Palmieri will conduct two additional public meetings as follows:
February 21, 6:30 PM, Utica School of Commerce, Room 122, 201 Bleecker Street, Downtown Utica.
February 25, 6:30 PM, in conjunction with the North Utica Neighborhood Association, North Utica Senior Center, 50 Riverside Drive, Utica.
Gene A. Allen
Community Affairs Specialist
Cell 315-534-4328
Tuesday night, the Mayor will bring his budget proposal to the people in the first of three Citizens’ Budget Forums.
The initial “Citizens’ Budget Forum” will be held Tuesday, February 19th at 6:30 PM in the Auditorium of the Jewish Community Center. The JCC is located at 2310 Oneida Street in South Utica.
Mayor Palmieri will conduct two additional public meetings as follows:
February 21, 6:30 PM, Utica School of Commerce, Room 122, 201 Bleecker Street, Downtown Utica.
February 25, 6:30 PM, in conjunction with the North Utica Neighborhood Association, North Utica Senior Center, 50 Riverside Drive, Utica.
Gene A. Allen
Community Affairs Specialist
Cell 315-534-4328
Utica budget: ‘There will be pain’
City departments give estimates to council
By STEVE HUGHES
Here we go again- Mayor submits unbalanced budget, council debates, city departments whine, and our taxes go up. Been like this for years, why would this year be any different.
COUNCIL MEMBERS term is up this year- don't like the double talk? Replace your council representative. Big need for some new blood in there!
COUNCIL MEMBERS term is up this year- don't like the double talk? Replace your council representative. Big need for some new blood in there!
Report Abuse
Report Abuse
You must be logged in to report abuse.
I am not going to continue to pay ever increasing Property Taxes and Fees, just to pay high wages and benefits ,to Public Employees, which I can not even provide to myself or family. There comes a time when it is the obligation of a taxpayer of a citizen not to pay obsessively high taxes. I am not interested in feeling more pain while I am still feeling the effects of an Upstate NY economy which has not improved and is killing the private sector. Government does not exist to subsidize itself through taxes, fees, or regulations to the detriment of the people paying to support it.
Higher taxes just mean that the people with any sense leave to places of lower taxes and fees, while those who remain are less ale to continue to pay the confiscatory taxes. All higher taxes will mean is more lines in the the OD Legal Notices Section publishing the names of property owners giving up on paying taxes, more abandoned worthless properties, and a populous less likely to pay the ever increasing taxes in the future.
Read - ' Detroit : An American Autopsy ' by Charlie Leduff. Every reference to Detroit can be seamlessly swithed to Utica. Every picture of Detroit's decline can be imagined to be Utica.
Political rhetoric and high taxes will not save Utica - actual property paying businesses and private homes will, but driving both out just cover the grave faster.
Higher taxes just mean that the people with any sense leave to places of lower taxes and fees, while those who remain are less ale to continue to pay the confiscatory taxes. All higher taxes will mean is more lines in the the OD Legal Notices Section publishing the names of property owners giving up on paying taxes, more abandoned worthless properties, and a populous less likely to pay the ever increasing taxes in the future.
Read - ' Detroit : An American Autopsy ' by Charlie Leduff. Every reference to Detroit can be seamlessly swithed to Utica. Every picture of Detroit's decline can be imagined to be Utica.
Political rhetoric and high taxes will not save Utica - actual property paying businesses and private homes will, but driving both out just cover the grave faster.
RPotocki
1 hour ago
Report Abuse
Report Abuse
You must be logged in to report abuse.
MacWM makes a telling comment. One could go back and read past local government budget stories and learn that the words by public officials are pretty much the same, year after year. Sadly, so are the results which include never ending tax increases. There is not even any creative discussion over how to change this cycle of increased taxes and the resulting economic decline.
JoeOhDee
Were looking at a very difficult year, he said. Im going to keep taxes as low as possible and keep services at the level people require' said Mayor Palmieri
Councilman Frank Meola, D-at-large said, We have to see whats cut, whats increased. Hopefully, we can keep services at the level people are used to.
Both said they want to keep services at the level people are used to. WHY? Make cuts to lower or keep taxes at the same level and forget about services, Property taxpayers are the shareholders of this corporation called Utica and they demand lower taxes! Period,
Besides, keep services at the level people are used to, is just doubletalk for ,'I'll have to raise your taxes to keep up the pace you're use to.' Just look what Roefaro did to the PD to squelch crime in the city.
Both said they want to keep services at the level people are used to. WHY? Make cuts to lower or keep taxes at the same level and forget about services, Property taxpayers are the shareholders of this corporation called Utica and they demand lower taxes! Period,
Besides, keep services at the level people are used to, is just doubletalk for ,'I'll have to raise your taxes to keep up the pace you're use to.' Just look what Roefaro did to the PD to squelch crime in the city.
RESOLUTION ADOPTING A CITY POLICY REGARDING THE HIRING OF PART-TIME POLICE OFFICERS AND FIREMAN TO HELP REDUCE THE OVERALL COST OF PUBLIC SAFETY
Sponsored by: Councilman Zecca Feb. 20, 2013
WHEREAS, the City of Utica will continue to face significant financial pressures in the 2013/2014 budget cycle caused by the general economic downturn, increased costs and decreased County, State and Federal revenues; and
WHEREAS, in 2007, by way of Public Referendum, the Common Council was given significant authority to oversee the city’s budget and to implement cost control measures as needed; and
WHEREAS, cost control measures must be implimented to prevent a catastrophic financial failure of our city; and
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED , that the Common Council adopt the following fiscally responsible public safety plan:
No later then April 1, 2013 the Common Council, Mayor, Board of E&A, Police Chief and Fire Chief and their respected Unions shall initiate a pilot program to hire part-time police officers and firemen to help reduce overtime, decrease the overall cost of public safety services.
-end-
RESOLUTION ADOPTING A CITY POLICY REGARDING THE HIRING OF PART-TIME POLICE OFFICERS AND FIREMAN TO HELP REDUCE THE OVERALL COST OF PUBLIC SAFETY
Sponsored by: Councilman Zecca Feb. 20, 2013
WHEREAS, the City of Utica will continue to face significant financial pressures in the 2013/2014 budget cycle caused by the general economic downturn, increased costs and decreased County, State and Federal revenues; and
WHEREAS, in 2007, by way of Public Referendum, the Common Council was given significant authority to oversee the city’s budget and to implement cost control measures as needed; and
WHEREAS, cost control measures must be implimented to prevent a catastrophic financial failure of our city; and
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED , that the Common Council adopt the following fiscally responsible public safety plan:
No later then April 1, 2013 the Common Council, Mayor, Board of E&A, Police Chief and Fire Chief and their respected Unions shall initiate a pilot program to hire part-time police officers and firemen to help reduce overtime, decrease the overall cost of public safety services.
-end-
UTILIZING PART-TIME POLICE OFFICERS IN THE CITY OF UTICA
While some feel there are positives and negatives in employing part-time officers, there are many areas that cannot be disputed. If utilized properly, they can effectively supplement the full-time police force in recognition of the safety of the officers and providing cost saving measures, especially when there are apparent fiscal constraints being experienced by the City. They can also assist the department with special events ( ie: Saranac Thursday Nights & The Boilermaker Road Race) that take up much of the departments manpower and time. Part-time police officers can fill that void. In addition, if part-time police officers are utilized properly, they can help decrease the cost of police services that may be necessary to maintain the level of police service now being provided by the City.
Note: Part-time police officers would not receive health and other benefits now received by full time police officers.
Some of the effective uses of part-time police officers are outlined below:
• Unscheduled overtime: Can be first awarded to part-time officers – if the part-time officer list is exhausted, the shift shall be filled by full-time officers in a manner described in the current Union Contract.
• Sick leave or injury shifts can first be awarded to part-time police officers – if the part-time officer list is exhausted, the shift can be filled by full-time officers in a manner described in the current Union Contract.
• Part-time police officers can fill open shifts caused by vacations.
• Part-time police officers can be utilized for special events ie: Saranac Thursday Nights & The Boilermaker Road Race
If the part-time officers are employed and trained properly, to provide the level of police service that is expected in the City, they can be an additional asset.
The City of Long Beach Fire Department is comprised of 165 Volunteer Firefighters and a 25 Member Career Uniformed Force. Combined, they make one of the finest fire fighting units on all of Long Island.
The Department operate five Engines, two Ladders, three Ambulances, a Rescue Truck, a Floodlight Truck, a Field Communications Unit and two inflatable boats from three Fire Houses.
Our department protects approximately 43,000 people residing in the City of Long Beach and the Atlantic Beach and East Atlantic Beach Fire Districts. Each year the department responds to almost 5,000 fires, EMS calls and other emergencies.
Long Beach provides Fire and EMS protection by contract to the Atlantic Beach and East Atlantic Beach Fire Districts.
Fire and Emergency Operations are under the command of the Chief and two Assistant Chiefs of the Volunteer Fire Department.
No comments:
Post a Comment