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Should the Sheriff's Office cut spending as much as other county departments?

By Howard B. Owens
Dave Olsen

Don't know Chris. But I do think that each and every county entity should sharpen their pencils and be honest about what they absolutely have to have and what can be done away with or done differently. I'm not convinced that has been the case.

Sep 2, 2011, 11:03am Permalink
Chris Charvella

Agencies have been 'sharpening their pencils' for years at the behest of our county government and they'v e done a hell of a job cutting costs. Hell, last year, a man voluntarily gave up his job to help keep Genesee Justice (a program that SAVES the county piles of money) funded.

If you have to raise taxes, then do it, then find a way to keep people shopping locally so we can boost our sales tax revenue. Bob Bausch is on the right track with that sort of thinking.

Another way to create revenue without raising taxes is to stop giving property tax abatements to all comers, keep property on the tax rolls and offer tax breaks based on tenure and actual job creation rather than the simple existence of a company.

Example: If Pioneer Credit's tax abatements had been based on how many actual jobs they created vs. the amount of jobs they said they would create when they opened up here, they never would have received the full amount.

Example 2: If a company seeking a tax abatement was required to be in place for x-amount of years before they saw the benefit, we would be incentivizing them to stay and get the money, rather than take the money and run.

Sep 2, 2011, 11:34am Permalink
Mark Potwora

Chris your statement ....Another way to create revenue without raising taxes is to stop giving property tax abatements to all comers, keep property on the tax rolls and offer tax breaks based on tenure and actual job creation rather than the simple existence of a company...Is right on the money...Too much property in this county and city are off the tax roll for one reason or another..Time to make all pay taxes on the property they own..Right On Chris..

Sep 2, 2011, 11:54am Permalink
Dave Olsen

No argument about the tax give-aways Chris. All county departments need to continue to search out ways to cut costs as well. That should be an ongoing effort. See you at the cash-mob location, spending my money here

Sep 2, 2011, 12:49pm Permalink
terry paine

Mark, What would be a reason a business would want to relocate or start up in this county or state? We have the highest taxes in the country, the highest electric cost by 30%, more regulations than any other state, employees are burdened with a state tax not all states have. Please let me know the balance sheet advantages to having a business here.

Sep 2, 2011, 12:52pm Permalink
Chris Charvella

See you at the Cash Mob Dave. I'll be down there for dinner after work.

Also, for all you folks who hate paying for the Medicaid mandate via county property taxes, I have a solution for you: a Single Payer Federal Healthcare System.

Sep 2, 2011, 1:08pm Permalink
Bob Harker

I fully support all law enforcement efforts and agencies. Add to that the fact that Calls for Service are on the rise in all municipalities, and it is obvious that these agencies need whatever it takes to keep our communities safe.

I question, however, how realistic it is to ask ANY government agency to "sharpen their pencil" as so many comments suggest. Having never had to make financial decisions based on return on investment, I doubt that the decision makers have the skills or perspective necessary to make those difficult decisions.

Likewise is the case for any governmental agency responsible for oversight.

I would like to see a PRIVATE entity involved with financial decisions in the public sector - one that is beholden to taxpayers and not yet another bureaucratic agency.

What a concept - someone that gets paid by tax dollars that understands they are actually accountable to those very taxpayers - not the opposite.

Sep 2, 2011, 1:48pm Permalink
Mark Potwora

Terry whats wrong with all being taxed equally...No one group should get an advantage over another...If we have to give out tax breaks then that means we are over taxed..But to give out tax breaks to businesses and not for all homeowners puts all the burden on the homeowner and then he or she can't afford to live here...Corp.welfare has a high cost...Just as we hate seeing able body people collect welfare the same goes for Corporations collecting tax breaks who don't need it...I would have no tax breaks for anything and let us all pay a flat tax..All property should be taxed weather its business,non profit ,farm or home...Get rid of all these IDA's who role it is to just give out tax breaks..Tax but tax fairly...............

Sep 2, 2011, 2:06pm Permalink
Dave Olsen

Bob; great idea re: private accounting. I believe a lot of things government does could and should b privatized.

Terry; Business re-locate, expand or start for many reasons other than taxes, utilities and regulation. Take the yogurt plant that is supposedly building in batavia. I'll betcha a glass of milk it has more to do with location (proximity to market) water supply and the milk plant next door than any tax breaks or electric discounts. The GCEDC may have sweetened the deal and closed it but if it didn't make sense regarding the items I mentioned, it wouldn't happen. If it in fact does happen.

Sep 2, 2011, 3:04pm Permalink
Daniel Jones

Public safety is paramount, the deficits of our day (which are deficits of decency) have less to do with the people who run government not having private sector experience (many of them do) and more to do with lack of vision or regard for the future. They come from a general unwillingness to budget responsibly and a reliance on quick-fixes and feel good, expensive programs (like Medicare Part D).

You can see it on a local level in the City of Batavia, where large sums of money was spent on nice things that we did not need nor added to the quality of life of our community, like the bench that faces the wrong way on Main St and the flowers that a few years ago were not watered, yes they look nice, but does it really benefit the ability of business to prosper? Will more people use it? Would the money have been better spent improving neighborhoods by doing things like fixing sidewalks and streets and improving parks? Could downtown improvements have been done in a more cost efficient way? All questions that should have been asked then and should be asked in the future.

Sep 2, 2011, 11:12pm Permalink
Charlie Mallow

We tried to turn them and actually did move a few but, the BID wants those benches to face they way they do. If they think it's better for business, why fight them?

Sep 3, 2011, 11:16pm Permalink
Dave Olsen

I thought the benches were for resting your feet while doing all that downtown shopping. A libertarian answer for ya: bring your own damn chair.

Sep 4, 2011, 9:01am Permalink

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