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November 11, 2008

Mayors use Web in state-budget campaign

<a href="mailto:jlotemplio@pressrepublican.com">By JOE LOTEMPLIO</a>

PLATTSBURGH — Local government leaders across the state are sending a message to Albany: Don’t make us pay for your mistakes.

This week, the New York State Conference of Mayors launched a new Web site designed to inform people about how the State Legislature’s actions could have a dramatic impact on local taxpayers.

The site, www.stopthetaxshift.org, talks about the role state aid plays in municipal property taxes and how unfunded state mandates hurt local governments.

It also features a blog, “Joe Taxpayer,” which discusses how the decisions made by state lawmakers can impact the average New Yorker.

Plattsburgh Mayor Donald Kasprzak said the new Web site can be a valuable tool for taxpayers as they brace themselves for the next fiscal year, which figures to be difficult because the state is facing a multi-billion-dollar deficit.

“I’ve always advocated educating the taxpayers on exactly what state policies are and the costs associated with them,” Kasprzak said.

“I also support open and honest government, and this Web site gives the public the opportunity to voice their opinions on all of the major issues that are affecting them.”

State legislators are scheduled to reconvene next Tuesday to deal with the budget deficit.

Kasprzak said it is imperative that they consider the opinions of the mayors and the public they represent.

“The message to Albany is that it would be in their best interests to listen to the people who pay the taxes in this state,” Kasprzak said.

Assemblywoman Janet Duprey (R-Peru), who served as the Clinton County treasurer and as a legislator for a total of 31 years before joining the Assembly in 2007, said unfunded mandates are trouble for municipalities.

“I know the impact when the state allows the crunch to hit the local taxpayers,” she said.

“Taxpayers simply cannot afford an increase in taxes.”

Duprey said the state is facing some difficult choices next week.

“It is not going to be pretty, and I am not looking forward to it. But I agree with the Conference of Mayors, and I am on their side. It hurts everybody when you add the burden to the local taxpayer.”



E-mail Joe LoTemplio at:

jlotemplio@pressrepublican.com

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