Town budget should be more transparent
I am writing as a private citizen and taxpayer. For several years, I have tried to understand the town of Saugerties budgeting process – a complex and vexing task.
It’s especially frustrating that an average citizen cannot understand town finances from the information supplied by the Town Board. The tentative 2015 budget was on the town website for a few days before it disappeared. I believe the town has an obligation to provide information so taxpayers can oversee its conduct.
Why is this important? Recently, Safety Net and election expenses were removed from the town budget – without explanation. When the bills came due, it impacted town finances in a big way. Taxpayers had to pay $200,000 in overages for the Glasco Mini Park — again, without explanation. The proposed 2015 budget contains large spending increases and unannounced pay raises for several elected officials.
Ulster County issues an executive summary, financial charts, info on debt obligations and capital plans upon its budget release. I believe the town of Saugerties should do the same.
When made public, the tentative budget should contain a short summary from the Supervisor on the factors impacting town finances and point out any important issues (see above). Brief budget summaries from each department head, financial charts, fund balance updates, capital plans and a listing of debt obligations should also be presented and posted on the town website. Financial Information can be updated throughout the year. The town can then adopt a policy to ensure that future Town Boards provide this information for taxpayers.
A random sampling of local municipal websites shows that most towns do not supply this type of information and our Town Board is under no legal obligation to take the actions I suggest. Regardless, I believe it should be a priority. I urge the Saugerties Town Board to seize this opportunity to become a leader in promoting open government by giving taxpayers the tools we need to provide proper oversight of our town government.
Joe Roberti Jr.
Saugerties
Economic development news
There are some very recent developments in the area of localized economic development that are worthy of being reported to the residents of Saugerties. One company is interested in bringing their business to the old Vertis/Treasure Chest/KTB Facility, and another business is interested in bringing their business to the Kings Highway corridor. In addition, there have been some very recent discussions about the potential for large-scale economic development at Winston Farm. And, I myself and some other area politicians have had recent meetings with a company which may win a state contract to develop infrastructure throughout New York State and their proposed plans include the Saugerties area. During my interactions with this company, I was asked if there was any particular project that I thought infrastructural development funds should go towards in the Saugerties area. Without hesitation, I told them that there needs to be infrastructural developments along the Kings Highway corridor in order to bring fiber optic cable; high-speed internet and more hook-ups for natural gas and electric to the area in order attract new businesses and economic development along Kings Highway. I provided them with a synopsis about the history of water and sewer being brought to the area with the promise of “shovel ready” jobs coming to the area… And, I pointed out how the National Guard base looks beautiful, but that it does not bring property tax revenues into Saugerties, and it does not really provide jobs either, as the National Guard service members are fulfilling their obligations of service to the federal government.
As a member of the Ulster County Legislature’s Economic Development Committee, I encouraged a Kings Highway-based business owner to interview for an appointment onto the Ulster County Industrial Development Board (IDA). I knew that having a prominent business owner from the Kings Highway corridor on the IDA Board would illuminate the need for more infrastructural improvements along Kings Highway, and it appears to have worked, as Central Hudson has recently agreed to bring more accessible hook-ups for natural gas and electric along Kings Highway. Ideally, these infrastructural improvements will help facilitate such economic development along Kings Highway and other parts of Saugerties. Unfortunately, having infrastructure in place and clearing through bureaucratic hurdles are the slower moving aspects of economic development. Once these elements of economic development are completed, industry and business moves quickly to complete the construction that is needed in order to set up shop in a particular area. As these developments move along and as they become finalized, more details will become available, and I will report on them as they are made available to the residents of Saugerties and Ulster County. Within the Ulster County Legislature, we are working within the Economic Development Committee to take an active role in the marketing of Ulster County to perspective businesses, and ideally, these efforts will be fruitful in bringing businesses and jobs into Saugerties and Ulster County.
Chris Allen
Ulster County Legislature
Lighthouse auction benefited those in need
The Executive Committee of the Saugerties Area Council of Churches wishes to thank the Saugerties Chamber of Commerce for its gift of over $4,200 toward the Finger Fund. Each year the Chamber of Commerce oversees the production of the lighthouses that adorn the village sidewalks during the summer. An auction is held in September generating income for the artists, as well as not-for-profit organizations in the area. This year, Chamber President Mark Smith and other leaders decided to allocate a third of the proceeds from the lighthouse auction to the Finger Fund. The Finger Fund helps families in need with rent, utility bills, and medical expenses. This year, with the Chamber’s gift, the fund will be able to serve a wider range of needs. We are extremely grateful to all the Chamber members for their generosity towards neighbors in need.
The Executive Committee
Saugerties Area Council of Churches
Is Niagara Bottled Water worthy of UCCC students?
Thanks to Start Up New York, it is very possible that Niagara Bottled Water company will receive the following: No incomes taxes for their employees for 10 years; No sales tax on materials for 10 years; No state corporate taxes for 10 years; No town, county and school property breaks for 10 years; A waiver of various other fees.
Niagara Bottled Water company will also get 1.75 million gallons of water from Kingston’s water supply. Kingston will get 260 trucks a day in and out of the plant that will be in the Town of Ulster. 342,500 gallons of wastewater — the contents of which no one knows — will be dumped into the Esopus Creek each day.
Donald Katt, president of Ulster County Community College, is excited about the deal. Especially since Niagara will provide UCCC students with internships, possibly even jobs.
As a former student of UCCC, a plastic water bottle plant is the last place I’d want to have an internship or work. IBM, sure! Hospice, yes! Ulster Publishing, okay! All of these businesses contribute to a better quality of life for other humans.
People need work that is meaningful and fulfilling. Companies like Niagara prey on people’s bad habits: not drinking excellent tap water, not carrying a reusable bottle of water, not maintaining water fountains. Bottled water creates excessive waste and uses fossil fuels for production and transport. All in the interest of packaging a natural resource that, in most cases, doesn’t need to be packaged!
There are places in the world where tap water is not potable. Most of our country is not such a place. Making bottles of water for people who don’t need it is a waste of human capital.
I wonder how many people would wish this type of job for their own child. The thought of my child working in an environment with melted polyethylene terephthalate makes me shudder.
Donald Katt, you asked how people could be against a proposal that creates jobs. I’m telling you, the people of Ulster County deserve jobs with a future. Jobs that make us proud. Jobs that contribute positively to our environment and community. Working at a plastic water bottle plant is not such a job.
Considering all of the benefits a company in the Start Up New York plan will receive, I beg all of you — Donald Katt, James Quigley, Mayor Gallo, Judy Hansen, Mike Hein — please choose a company that is worthy of our precious, fragile, and amazing region.
Don’t UCCC students deserve better?
Colleen Connors
Kingston
Join the family! 
