Essex County wants more e-government

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February 2, 2009

<a href="mailto:lmckinstry@pressrepublican.com">By LOHR McKINSTRY</a> The Press Republican Mon Feb 02, 2009, 04:56 PM EST

ELIZABETHTOWN — Essex County Manager Daniel Palmer is advocating a new county radio system, more Internet-based government services and use of full Geographic Information Systems mapping.

Palmer, a Minerva resident who was named county manager by the County Board of Supervisors in August, gave his first State of the County address Monday morning.

“The faith and support you’ve shown in me means a lot,” he said.

County employees are working hard during difficult times, Palmer said.

“In a rural area such as ours almost every service comes from county government. I’ve come to learn the significance of the person who provides it. We are the last resource for so many of these services.”

INTERNET SERVICE

With the state cutting back aid, the county has to do more with less, Palmer said.

“One of the ways is through e-government. I’m proud of the employees of Information Systems (Department), as we have moved forward in this area.”

He said residents can now check taxes, review spending, read meeting minutes and contact county officials via the Web.

Palmer advocated affordable broadband Internet for all.

“We must pursue and support this concept for all of Essex County.

“Another area of concern is for Geographic Information Systems and Global Positioning System services. We are now lacking in this critical area. I have directed our Planning Department to renew their efforts in this area.”

Emergency services, transportation, mapping, real-property services and survey work will all be dependent on GIS in the future, he said.

“I will be asking (the Board of Supervisors) for a commitment to funding these kinds of services.”

TAXES

He said the county tax rate of about $2 per $1,000 of assessment is commendable, and the county must continue to work to deliver services for the lowest cost.

The county built its new courthouse for $4 million, he said, and “we have paid the entire project with the mortgage tax.”

The county used a local mortgage tax of $1.25 per $500 of property value to pay for the courthouse and is now using that for the $35 million County Jail in Lewis, which has a $1.5 million annual bond payment.

RADIO PROJECT

A local property-transfer tax of $1 per $500 of value has been requested by the county to help pay for a proposed $9 million public-safety radio system.

Palmer said the estimated $600,000 annual revenue from the new transfer tax would come close to covering the cost of the radio project’s bond payments.

He said the foundation of the county’s emergency services is its volunteer fire and ambulance companies, and they need a modern radio system.

“This critical and necessary upgrade has been put off for too long.”

BOARDING INMATES

He said a contract with the U.S. Marshal Service to board federal inmates at the 120-bed jail has resulted in about 50 additional prisoners at $98 a day.

“If we maintain the 50 inmates a day, the cost of the (jail) bond could be paid from this revenue source, as opposed to the property tax.”

TAX CAP

He supports a proposed statewide property-tax cap.

“Government agencies need to learn to operate within boundaries. This applies to all of us: county, town, village and school.”

Palmer said they should not count on a federal bailout that may never come.

“I appeal to the board to join me in moving forward. Standing still is no longer an option.”

E-mail Lohr McKinstry at:

lmckinstry@pressrepublican.com