[GPRI] Green Mayor cuts taxes

[jeff toste]

(Green) Mayor West Calls for 15% Tax Cut


New Paltz NY village residents will see their property taxes slashed by 
fifteen percent under the 2007-2008 budget proposed by Mayor Jason West. And 
yet, services will continue at their current high level and the village 
infrastructure continue the steady improvement that has marked the last four 
years.

"I have been able to craft a budget that not only continues delivering high 
quality of life, but allows village residents to reduce their tax bill," 
said West. "This is the result of four years of sound fiscal management and 
this budget maintains my commitment to a strong financial foundation the 
village can continue to build upon."

West said the budget allows the village to continue making progress 
improving efficiency and services, use smart planning to alleviate long 
standing infrastructure issues, and move forward with a commitment to 
environmental policies that are steadily moving the village toward a more 
sustainable footing.

With the tax cut, the village of New Paltz is almost unique in the Hudson 
Valley, where town, school and county taxes steadily rise.

The tax cut is part of a series of strong policy and financial initiatives 
undertaken by Mayor West since he took office in 2003. These policies 
include shifting the financing of $2.2 million in water system improvements 
from USDA loans to serial bonds after a drop in interest rates, a move 
predicted to save taxpayers nearly $1.5 million in interest payments alone.

Since elected Mayor West's administration has accomplished:

    * Built the first phase of a reed bed system to turn our sewage into 
compost rather than mix it with toxic chemicals and ship it to landfills. We 
plan to expand our program to deal with almost 90% of our sewage on-site 
with the reeds, at an estimated cost savings of $30,000 per year.

    * Installed a solar panel array on the public works garage which has 
generated 15,333 kW of electricity, saved taxpayers $2,299 and has kept 
16,743 pounds of carbon dioxide from entering the atmosphere.

    * Are looking into building a 500,000 gallon per year biodiesel fuel 
facility which could supply every public works truck, fire truck and school 
bus with a non-toxic, biodegradable fuel with 80% fewer emissions, while 
generating thousands of dollars in revenue each year.

    * Commissioned two studies of wetlands and watercourse in the Village. 
Based on those studies, and the work done in the Town, we have just recently 
finished writing a pair of laws that will protect wetlands and watercourses; 
one law defining what is protected and how, and a second creating an overlay 
district which precisely maps which properties may have wetlands or 
watercourse on them.

    * Fought hard for student, youth, women's and human rights, establishing 
committees to improve landlord-tenant relations, a Youth Commission, 
anti-war actions, support of pro-choice events and performing the only 
same-sex marriages to ever occur in New York State. We continue to engage an 
anti-racist, anti-hate ideology after facing bigoted protests and neo-Nazi 
activity. We continue to work towards social justice and equality as we 
discuss legislation to extend protections to transgendered people facing 
harassment in the community.

    * Presented a budget to the village board that cuts taxes for the second 
year in a row - an 8% cut last year, and a 15% cut this year. When the first 
draft of the budget was finished, it came with a 22% tax cut; a cut both the 
Village Treasurer and myself were uncomfortable with, due to the sometimes 
volatile nature of municipal budgets when unfunded mandates come down from 
the state, or when health care costs skyrocket. The 15% is a conservative 
tax cut, one that leaves us with enough money in reserve to meet unexpected 
costs, while at the same time allowing us money to set aside to leverage 
into more money through aggressive pursuit of grant funding.

Jason is running for reelection May 1, 2007 and you can access his web page 
at: http://www.jasonwest.org

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