Minority Point of View “The County’s Impending Fiscal Crisis.”

by Contributor | June 15, 2008 9:07 pm

By the members of the minority caucus of the Oswego County Legislature

They didn’t listen. They never listen, so it started again. Let me explain:

Several years ago we warned of an impending fiscal crisis, offered suggestions, but the then Republican Majority refused to listen. They spent and spent and used all your reserve funds. Then came what we warned you of: the largest tax increase in Oswego County’s history along with dozens of hidden charges and fees. The Majority would not listen then, and true to form, they’re not listening now. They ignored our conservative plan.

Now here they go again. The Republican Majority Caucus is spending –robbing, really! — your reserve funds, the funds that our former bi-partisan coalition worked so hard to achieve over the last several years. We fought to reduce taxes and build back our reserve funds that were recklessly spent when the Republican Majority had complete control of the Oswego County Legislature. It does no one any good to say this, but we warned you, the taxpayers of Oswego County, that their total, one party control of the county legislature would bring this.

How do the Republicans explain what they’ve done? They blame everyone but themselves and their own actions. Just a few weeks ago they voted for over a million dollars in new highway equipment. We warned that his was not prudent move, that the county simply cannot afford it. As usual with the Republican Majority, they ignored our advice and spent your tax dollars. A reduction in spending would have been a common sense approach to the county budget, especially when we anticipated a downturn in the local, state and national economy. Even with a restoration in state aid from last year’s state budget, we still face a downturn in revenue this year.

Last year, the bi-partisan leadership of the county legislature, which we were a part of, made the tough decisions, reduced spending, downsized county government, built back our reserves and reduced your taxes. That took us several years of hard work. We knew it was unpopular with the “partisan” interests in the county, but we had to what was right for the county’s future. This year the new leadership has started back down the road of the “tax and spend” Republican Caucus that controlled the county government during the record tax increases of a few years ago. They are already warning of at least a 5 percent increase in your taxes. We are sure that increase will likely be even higher.

We need a comprehensive plan which looks at all aspects of the county budget and we need to put the brakes on spending. Oswego County should take the lead from actions like Governor Paterson’s statewide hiring freeze and call for all state agencies to cut spending this year. The Republican Caucus needs to follow the Governor’s fiscal courage and cut spending instead of wasting time trying to place blame.

The Republican Majority doesn’t learn; the Republican Majority doesn’t listen. But there are remedies we can take. When your taxes go up again, remember who did it to you.

Source URL: https://oswegocountytoday.com/news/fulton/minority-point-of-view-the-countys-impending-fiscal-crisis/

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