The Democrat & Chronicle is, at least, consistent.
Today contained yet another story telling us that New York has too many local governments, special districts, etc. While that may be true, the fact that there are numerous taxing entities does not (as they imply) prove that those units of government are the main source of New Yorker's over-taxation.
As I have previously noted (e.g., here), I am sure that consolidation of some of those districts or cooperative service arrangements between them would save taxpayers money. My issue is that the D&C and certain politicians, (i.e., Andrw Cuomo) contend that this is New York's biggest tax problem. The consolidators have grossly oversold the tax savings value of consolidation.
The real taxation problem in New York is obvious to everyone who wants to face it. Our incredibly dysfunctional State Government in Albany is the problem. We have a Legislature that mocks its constituents by gavelling in and out of session without even trying to act on overdue budget legislation. We have a Governor who talks tough but fails to do anything concrete to force fiscally responsible action.
The D&C and others can try to keep the focus on the "big problem" of too many local government units but the fact is that the percentage of our total NY tax bill resulting from local government is peanuts relative to that resulting from the unquenchable need for tax revenue to support our Albany behemoth.
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2 comments:
I agree that there are far too many governmental entities in Monroe & NYS. However, they are so firmly entrenched & steeped in nostalgia that it will be hard to undo them.
Sheila:
There may be too many governmental entities, but the added tax burden caused thereby is minute compared to the costs of the excesses of our State government.
The reason so many in Albany want to focus on local government consolidation is to distract us from the fact that our State government is out of control.
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