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Increase within the property tax cap proposed for Rensselaer County
Posted at: 10/19/2012 4:15 PM
| Updated at: 10/19/2012 5:53 PM
By: Bill Lambdin
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TROY - Once you sort through the unusual mataphors, like Executive Kathy Jimino's analysis of how the state treats places like Rensselaer County, "like providing potato peelings to a starving prisoner that the inmate should be grateful for, the state has, at least, acknowledged that mandate relief should be granted to the counties of New York."
And the complaints about the effect unfunded mandates are having on the county's spending decisions.
"It's easy to see that like a vice, the Property Tax Cap very shortly will have the effect of squeezing out local programs while the state mandated programs continue to grow unchecked."
Kathy Jimino actually had some fairly good news for legislators and taxpayers.
Despite spending pressures primarily from programs the state requires the county to provide without the money needed to pay for them, Jimino says Rensselaer County can operate next year without making any significant cuts in services or employees.
The tax increase she is calling for is two per cent.
"Your county has truly done everything within our limited power to hold the line with no buck passing to anyone," Jimino said before a meeting of county legislators and employees Friday.
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