After reading the editorial "Desperate times in Schenectady," Oct. 17, I wanted to clear up a couple of misconceptions that you may have regarding the proposed priority fee regarding certified records.
First, we are not "trying to outwit state law." Rather, we would have been adopting the Department of Health's sales process at a less expensive rate.
Second, any small increase in revenue or cut in spending may appear as "nickel-and-diming" when looked at alone. Yet, proposals should be considered with other elements of an overall budget, which reflects the final result in an allocation of cost by those who are using specific services, maintaining services in the city and a spending plan that stays well below the 2 percent property tax cap.
Unfunded state mandates combined with the inequitable distribution of state aid leaves local governments with fewer and fewer options when preparing a budget. My proposed budget includes a 0.50 percent cut in overall spending, yet we would still have a small tax increase.
Stop the Tax Shift, a project of the New York State Conference of Mayors that identifies areas in which the state shifts its costs and taxes to local governments estimates cities could receive an additional $100,000 to $600,000 annually (depending upon the number of documents issued) if they were permitted to charge the $30 fee charged by the state for the same documents.
Until that time comes, it is incumbent on us as elected leaders to efficiently deliver services to our residents in the most cost-effective way.
GARY R. MCCARTHY
Mayor
Schenectady