Updated 10/10/2012 08:00 AM
Controversy in Village of Painted Post over dissolution
Residents in Painted Post are fed up with high property taxes and they're calling on their leaders to dissolve the village. Our Katie Husband tells us about the controversy surrounding the petition, and where things stand now.
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PAINTED POST, N.Y. -- Dozens packed the Village of Painted Post hall to hear what officials had to say about possibly dissolving the village to relieve residents of high property taxes.
"You have information being circulated, not all that factual, I mean, it's factual it's a savings. It's based on outdated data it's just not correct data for today," said Rick Thorne Painted Post Village Trustee.
The data in question was circulated as part of a petition by the Painted Post Tax Relief Organization. Trustees say the numbers are based off of a study that was done using data from 2010.
"We consulted some of the study members and said that we know this is inaccurate what do we do? Well, this is the only basis we had to go by at this time so use these figures because those are the ones that were substantiated in the study," said Phyllis Draper Painted Post Tax Relief Organization co-chair.
The numbers showed that if the village was dissolved in 2010 there would have been a 44 percent property tax reduction. Officials made it clear that in 2012, the savings would only be eight percent, not enough to dissolve the village in their opinion.
"Our departmental expenses have gone up a little bit. Salaries have gone up, health insurance have gone up, retirement benefits have gone up. And the other side of that the village has been able to lower the taxes about 25 percent in the last two years," said Thorne.
But members of the organization argue the best long term solution, is still dissolution.
"And I still believe the savings in the long run by dissolution is going to be more because we have a stagnant property tax base here," said Draper.
Trustees have one month from October 5th if they decide to approve a referendum, and have taxpayers vote.