Assessor plan raises questions
In the article ("Four towns seek combined tax unit," Feb. 7), which is a story of how, Beekman, Fishkill, LaGrange and Wappinger are going to combine assessor services, it mentioned that the towns are going to save taxpayer money. Then it notes that $440,000 in state grant money would be used. If New York state has an $8 billion deficit, how will this save money? This is what LaGrange Supervisor Jon Wagner stated, "Everybody wants us to cut the budget. ... Everybody wants us to save money. This is a viable way of doing it." Who is he kidding? He, according to this paper, doubled his salary, while raising taxes 12.08 percent in LaGrange! Here are a few follow-up questions that I would like to get answered:
1. Does it really cost $440,000 to set up some office space to do this?
2. Which towns' general fund will this grant money go into?
3. How many people will be fired, and the cost savings of those fired?
4. How many people will be hired, and the cost?
5. Will Fishkill continue its four-day work week or go to five days to accommodate the residents of three other towns?
I already attempted to ask those questions at the two combined board meetings in Fishkill. But unfortunately, Fishkill Supervisor Joan Pagones first called the meeting "historic" and then threw out the press and the citizens of Fishkill, under the guise of executive session. I hope the Poughkeepsie Journal can do better.
Ozzy Albra
Fishkill
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