[Announce] Wanted: Ideas!

[Andy Arthur]

On Fri, 2007-06-22 at 19:35 -0400, Sally Cummings wrote:
> 
> To help the City of Albany become financially solvent without using
> the landfill revenue to support/balance the budget, I am planning on
> speaking to the City Comptroller to give him the ideas.  I am thinking
> that perhaps several different funding sources could be suggested
> that, together would bring in the needed income. 
>  
> Please email me your ideas as soon as possible.  They still have it on
> their plans to go ahead with the expansion, inspite of all the
> opposition.  I have been told that it is a "done deal", so we have to
> get our ideas in to them soon to try and head them off!  

The key is to get the city's finances under control. The city needs to
find ways to spend less.

Albany already gets more state aid per capita then any other city in New
York State. They also spend more then many cities per capita. They claim
that hosting state government, with all it's property off the tax rolls,
yet if you look carefully it's not much worst then most state cities
with the amount of exempt property.

If anything, the city needs to look towards cutting property taxes. The
way they can afford that is to cut services and raise fees. They could
for example raise fees to use city pools and cut hours that they are
open. Limit the amount of overtime that city employees are allowed to
work. Reduce the number of free events. Turn off every other street
light after 11 PM (possibly combine this with a curfew). Use energy
efficient lighting in all city buildings. Use both sides of sheets of
paper.

Albany needs to learn about austerity. They have been living high off
the state for too many years. Raising taxes again is not an answer!