Revise and extend: Report sees solutions

The lead editorial in today's Buffalo News points with hope to the impending release of the Lundine Report [OK, the New York State Commission on Local Government Efficiency and Competitiveness] as a way of getting the dead weight of multiple layers of local government off the backs of New York taxpayers:

"We just don't need all of these towns and villages, school districts and fire districts, health boards and highway commissioners, keepers of vital records and overseers of weights and measures. But making them go away will take more than uncommon acts of political realism across the state."

The original story about the upcoming report -- a Buffalo News/Tom Precious scoop -- is here. A follow-up quoting local government reform crusader Kevin Gaughan as saying, much more politely than this, "So what else is new?" is here. And a link to the prematurely released -- dare we say "leaked"? -- document itself -- with "Confidential" stamped across every page -- is here. [It's OK to read it. You paid for it.]

The report should soon be available in its final and official version on the commission's own Web site, where there is already a lot of background and supporting material to be had.

The story hasn't gotten much play elsewhere. That's what happens sometimes when it is someone else's find. One exception is Rochester's WHAM TV, which builds on the News's story by getting this good quote from Rochester Mayor Robert Duffy on the plethora of local government layers: "If you want to keep them, then don't complain about taxes. ... Just keep digging in your pockets, your checkbooks, every year, writing a bigger one, a bigger one, a bigger one. Don't complain."

The Herald Community newspapers, meanwhile, take note of a couple of government consolidation spurs that were inserted in, and then removed from, the new state budget. They were actions that would have ended salary and benefits for the commissioners of special districts and merged special sanitation districts into their surrounding towns.

--George Pyle/Editorial Writer 

Comments

[Do the Math]

I simply don't believe that the village govt layers are a bigger problem to this state's economy and tax rates (outide of villages) than are the costly public employee contracts.

Not even close.

It's spin from liberals like George Pyle and Rochester Mayor Robert Duffy.

The following quote from Duffy is total arrogance:

"If you want to keep them, then don't complain about taxes. ... Just keep digging in your pockets, your checkbooks, every year, writing a bigger one, a bigger one, a bigger one. Don't complain."

[JAS-Jaded]

Do The Math -

Are you serious? What do you call the people who work for the local/village government if not PUBLIC EMPLOYEES?

And, are you absolutely sure those same local/village employees are not a part of that same state pension & benefits system?

Please check into these questions and answer honestly. (I believe they all are part & parcel of those same public employee contracts). Because if those local/village employees don't subscribe to the WIFM (What's In It For me) philosophy, then they must be the most altruistic and noble people who perform those duties because it's the right thing to do and has nothing to do with compensation ...

[Don H]

Better add local voters to the list of those who impede merger of govenment and services into less costly operations. The village or towns people do not want to be a part of a larger merger fearing all sorts of things: paying more than less taxes; losing their local police or fire departments to a larger less responsive force; a decrease in general services; less availability to local area political representative, etc. The local voter is the biggest hurdle to merger and more efficient government.

[Al]

The only way to bring about "uncommon acts of political realism" is to stop the money flow. Because of Wall Street and the permanently altered credit markets, that has begun. The Mayor of Trenton, New Jersey was on NBC News with a message that seemed a plea for help. Property taxes are being pressured immensely by foreclosures, as well as other planned "revenues". If these "uncommon acts of political realism" are not done voluntarily, the market forces will inevitably pass on recession's effects, as predicted here three years ago. Read Fortune's review of families taking action on their life-style and budgets.
Politicians should know the law: You can't get blood from a stone.

[Tom Zarek]

One government is all we need. When I am revealed as the final cylon this will be done. So say we all.

[RMS]

Some of the ideas in the proposal are good, but is it really possible to do this overhaul? I think the better way to go is for NY State to adopt ballot initiatives and let the voters strike down the taxes they don't like. Also, ALL tax increases (property, sales, etc...) should go up for approval by referendum and have expiration dates.