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General News: Taxes, Water and Garbage Rates Up in Village
January 26, 2010
Village and town residents face a sharp rise in their water and sewer bills following a vote by the Cornwall-on-Hudson board of trustees on Monday evening that raised rates 18 percent effective March 1, 2010.
The board voted 3-to-1 in favor of the increase, citing a drop in water consumption last year that meant revenues did not cover costs. Earlier in the evening, trustees approved a 5.4* percent tax increase for property owners in the village of Cornwall-on-Hudson and a six percent increase in garbage rates. The new tax rate will be $8.95 per thousand of assessed value.
Village mayor Joseph Gross opened the meeting by noting that the trustees faced a big shock with the water rate hike. “It’s staggering,” Gross said. Trustee Rick Gioia said that even with the increase, they still faced a deficit in the water department. Gioia suggested that the village pursue selling water to neighboring municipalities even though he had opposed it two years ago when he first ran for public office.
Trustee Mark Edsall voted against the hike in water and sewer rates, saying it was not fair to the users when there is a chance that consumption will return to the level of previous years and, if not, other spending could be cut.
Trustee Barbara Gosda predicted that with the 18 percent increase, consumption could drop even more and she encouraged other cost-cutting measures.
The village tax rate will cover the municipality’s $3.59 million budget. Last year, tax rates went up 2.85 percent. Water rates have not gone up in two years.
Effective March 1st, the water rate per thousand gallons in the village will be $8.56 for village customers and $14.56 for town customers.
“I don’t feel good about the 18 percent increase,” Gross told his fellow trustees, but, he later added, “We’ve brought the consumption back to reality. You can’t keep projecting revenues.”
*Editor's note: The tax rate increase was incorrect when originally published. It has been corrected in this version.
Comments:
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Wow, why is the town's water rate so much higher??
"$8.56 for village and $14.56 for town"
posted by Linda Carella on 01/26/10 at 8:30 AM
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We should give serious consideration to privatizing our water supply and waste water system. There are a number of efficient water resource companies who are able to spread their fixed costs over a multitude of projects. We on the other hand can only share our fixed costs with the town. Even West Point is moving in this direction:
(P -- Utility Privatization of the Water and Wastewater Utility System Infrastrucure at the U.S. Army Garrison - West Point, NY
Solicitation Number: SP0600-08-R-0802
Agency: Defense Logistics Agency
Office: DLA Acquisition Locations)
Location: Defense Energy Support Center
I would argue that the terrain of West Point and Cornwall/Cornwall on Hudson are very similar. If one of the premier military academy's in the world recognizes that it is in their best interest to outsource this, shouldn't we consider it too?
posted by PETER MALONE on 01/26/10 at 9:41 AM
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Some questions:
Why were people using less water? Was is because it was a relatively wet summer and no one really needed to water the lawn? Or is it that people cut back because they could not afford the current rate?
If the money was the issue then...
The rate is going up because less people could afford the old rate. So when less people can afford the new rate, what happens?
What if it's a dry year and use skyrockets? Do we get a reduction?
posted by J Klein on 01/26/10 at 1:20 PM
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Oh yeah, I think privatization is a bad idea. Sounds like a KJ window of opportunity to me. Then again they already have the wells. Never mind.
posted by J Klein on 01/26/10 at 1:34 PM
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As a village tax payer I would like to ask why is it important for the assistant chief to purchase or lease a new vehicle and also a repave of a parking lot.
Did I misread or misinterpret?
Concerned
John Buescher
posted by J Buescher on 01/28/10 at 6:24 PM
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