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| May 05, 2024 |
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General News: PBA Issues Dominate Hearing on Tax Cap
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| Lou Dimeceli talked about his views on the tax cap. |
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| Supervisor Quigley talked about how the town is working to keep the tax increase at 2 percent. |
October 25, 2011
The Cornwall Town Board passed a resolution that will allow the board to override the state mandated two-percent property tax cap if need be.
Cornwall Town Supervisor Kevin Quigley explained at the beginning of the public hearing for the resolution that the prospective town budget is actually under the two-percent limit. He stressed that lifting the tax cap was a precaution.
Around 20 people crowded into the meeting room for a chance to speak at the public hearing. Most who spoke out were against lifting the cap.
Marcella Speert said that the board needed to do a better job negotiating with unions, specifically the PBA, and find more ways to save money rather than raise tax over two percent.
An Arbitrator’s Ruling Impacts Local Budget Talks
Deputy Supervisor Mary Beth Green Kraft responded to that by explaining that the board had taken the last round of arbitration with the PBA as far as it could go, and were told that the police union’s demands were reasonable and the town had to go along with it.
“We lost in court,” Green Kraft said.
Larry Kerwan praised the board for keeping the budget under the two-percent cap, but was against the resolution.
“Removing the tax cap is setting your selves up for failure,” said Kerwan. He added that the tax cap was a bargaining chip in negotiations with the police union.
Attorney for the town Steven Gaba said this wasn’t the case. He explained that the town would be held to the outcome of arbitration and that without the resolution to lift the tax cap, it force the town to violate state law.
Future of Local Dispatch Service at Issue
J. T. Seaman, a police dispatcher for the town, said that the town should not consider cutting two shifts that were discussed during the Saturday budget talks. He said that people at the dispatch center in Goshen wouldn’t be as knowledgeable of the area.
“I still have people call up and say ‘there’s an accident by the old roller rink’ (what is now Cornwall Farms),” Seaman said. “Would someone in Goshen know what that person meant?” he asked.
Louis DeMiceli, a former village and town police officer, said that he came to the meeting against the resolution but without much knowledge of the situation. After he heard the board explain the resolution, he said he saw how it would protect the town. He added that he was disturbed by some of the comments railing against the PBA.
“I find it difficult, as a retired police officer, to hear people not appreciate officers,” DeMiceli.
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