City Councilwoman Rose Mary Christian writes letter in support of consolidation

Posted by Philip Anselmo on December 24, 2008 - 3:06pm
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We received the following letter from Batavia City Councilwoman Rose Mary Christian:

(SMSI) shared municipal services

(CGR) center for govermental research

(AIM) Aid Incentives Municipalitys

Our obligation is to our city and our taxes payers. AIM revenues would be approximately $650,000 In the first year and that would reduce the combined property tax levy of the city and town by 15% per year.  Only if the city and town are consolidated. That’s a win-win situation.

The cities growth is down -7% and the towns growth is up + 26.2% giving these figures that the burden is on mostly city taxpayers for Ambulance, police and fire services. The city and town both have recognized boundaries to be shifted for growth. We are faced with fiscal challenges all the time and now is the time to step up and make the necessary changes to be a viable one municipality.

We have been successful with water, city dispatch consolidation and economic efforts. Now is the time to move forward for shared services and consolidation of the ambulance, fire and police departments.  I can foresee other shared services in the future to engage fiscal responsibilities like town and city highway departments  and the animal control officer.

My goal is to create joint shared services with economic growth for a fiscal responsibility for all. Giving the State of the economy we must protect our communities with shared services to create a fordable standard of living.

                            Councilwoman
                            Rose Mary Christian

Posted by scott rytlewski on December 24, 2008 - 4:52pm
what happens when the aim money stops and you need to find a million in revenue

ask cgr they cant give you a answer
Posted by Dean Norton on December 24, 2008 - 6:35pm
Is this the same Rosemary who against consolidating dispatch services with the county or the one who was against closing fire station 2 before she was for it? Funny how things change when we are driving the bus!!!!
Posted by Ron C Welker on December 26, 2008 - 6:47pm
Merry Christmas Ms Christian,

As always we feel good knowing you are on the job, always putting the citys best intrest first. Thank you for suporting the 6th ward and hope you are around for many years to come. Kudos for a job well done.


RW
Posted by John Roach on December 24, 2008 - 8:34pm
Dean,
Last year a lot of people were against the dispatch, including me.

I am pleased to see Councilwoman Christian looking at new idea instead of putting her head in the sand like some others.

Last year, talk of consolidation with the town was just that, talk. Now it is a fact. Since last year things have changed a lot. One is neither the City or the Town can keep going as they are. If you look into the issues of police and fire prevention, water and sewer service, road maintenance, etc., you see things are changing.

Some of the changes are driven by the bad economy right now, but much of it is driven by State and Federal mandates that we can not control.

If we want the Batavia area to compete, if we want to be a place were kids stay instead of moving down south, we have to change the way we do business.

Anyone with any sense knows there are too many layers of government in NY. Study after study has shown that.

I know some people don’t like change, they are afraid of it. But if they state their concerns, maybe on this site, over the next few months, maybe others can address them.

Sad, but this study has just started and already the malcontents are out.