UHSLA Posted March 8, 2005 Share Posted March 8, 2005 I moved to the area from the west coast about 5 years ago, and it's been very interesting to see the people's reactions about the budget cuts and the resulting cuts in services. People knew this was going to happen, so why didn't they pressure their legislators to increase the sales tax one penny? I know no one wants to see higher taxes, but wasn't the increase worth saving all the resources? Please don't get mad or angry - not trying to get attacked here. Just please give some respectful answers because I'm really trying to understand this. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Talonz Posted March 8, 2005 Share Posted March 8, 2005 I moved to the area from the west coast about 5 years ago, and it's been very interesting to see the people's reactions about the budget cuts and the resulting cuts in services. People knew this was going to happen, so why didn't they pressure their legislators to increase the sales tax one penny? I know no one wants to see higher taxes, but wasn't the increase worth saving all the resources? Please don't get mad or angry - not trying to get attacked here. Just please give some respectful answers because I'm really trying to understand this. 266515[/snapback] Are you trying to get flamed? Are you kidding me....PRESSURE THEIR LEGISLATORS TO INCREASE THE SALES TAX??? The next time you feel undertaxed, please send a donation to Albany or the City of Buffalo!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KRC Posted March 8, 2005 Share Posted March 8, 2005 I moved to the area from the west coast about 5 years ago, and it's been very interesting to see the people's reactions about the budget cuts and the resulting cuts in services. People knew this was going to happen, so why didn't they pressure their legislators to increase the sales tax one penny? I know no one wants to see higher taxes, but wasn't the increase worth saving all the resources? Please don't get mad or angry - not trying to get attacked here. Just please give some respectful answers because I'm really trying to understand this. 266515[/snapback] You are going to get ripped. You should pressure your legislators to cut spending, not increase taxes. You do not solve problems by increasing taxes. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
obie_wan Posted March 8, 2005 Share Posted March 8, 2005 I moved to the area from the west coast about 5 years ago, and it's been very interesting to see the people's reactions about the budget cuts and the resulting cuts in services. People knew this was going to happen, so why didn't they pressure their legislators to increase the sales tax one penny? I know no one wants to see higher taxes, but wasn't the increase worth saving all the resources? Please don't get mad or angry - not trying to get attacked here. Just please give some respectful answers because I'm really trying to understand this. 266515[/snapback] You must be a democrat. Instead of constantly raising taxes, why not cut out all the inflated governmental expenditures? Start with the dupicative, multiple layers of government including the school systems. why do you 14 Buffalo common council seats, in addition to the County managers when the whole area will under the control of state boards? Erie County employs more workers than Cook County, home of Chicago - a slightly larger city than Buffalo. Cut the fat and politicians, not the beneficial programs Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
UHSLA Posted March 8, 2005 Author Share Posted March 8, 2005 I know taxes are high. Hell, I hate paying them for sure. But every time I think of there being no school nurses in the budget, fewer DAs, longer waits for public services, it's seems like the sales tax increase would have been a good solution at least until we figured out a better long term solution. I have a feeling I'm going to see my property taxes go up now. So, I'm wondering if the argument against the sales tax is that we're over taxed already. If so, I'm down with that. But if I have to pay a little more to make sure our cops stay on the streets or there's a nurse at my kid's school, so be it IMHO. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
UHSLA Posted March 8, 2005 Author Share Posted March 8, 2005 You must be a democrat. Instead of constantly raising taxes, why not cut out all the inflated governmental expenditures? Start with the dupicative, multiple layers of government including the school systems. why do you 14 Buffalo common council seats, in addition to the County managers when the whole area will under the control of state boards? Erie County employs more workers than Cook County, home of Chicago - a slightly larger city than Buffalo. Cut the fat and politicians, not the beneficial programs I'm cool with that - makes total sense to me. Thanks for not flaming me and answering my question constructively. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KRC Posted March 8, 2005 Share Posted March 8, 2005 I know taxes are high. Hell, I hate paying them for sure. But every time I think of there being no school nurses in the budget, fewer DAs, longer waits for public services, it's seems like the sales tax increase would have been a good solution at least until we figured out a better long term solution. I have a feeling I'm going to see my property taxes go up now. So, I'm wondering if the argument against the sales tax is that we're over taxed already. If so, I'm down with that. But if I have to pay a little more to make sure our cops stay on the streets or there's a nurse at my kid's school, so be it IMHO. 266528[/snapback] This is what happens when you have a bloated bureaucracy. They spend money on things like patronage instead of more essential services like cops. Again, raising taxes is not the answer. It solves nothing and all it does is hurt the people. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BillsNYC Posted March 8, 2005 Share Posted March 8, 2005 I know taxes are high. Hell, I hate paying them for sure. But every time I think of there being no school nurses in the budget, fewer DAs, longer waits for public services, it's seems like the sales tax increase would have been a good solution at least until we figured out a better long term solution. I have a feeling I'm going to see my property taxes go up now. So, I'm wondering if the argument against the sales tax is that we're over taxed already. If so, I'm down with that. But if I have to pay a little more to make sure our cops stay on the streets or there's a nurse at my kid's school, so be it IMHO. 266528[/snapback] If you have a severly overweight child whose health is deteriorating because of it, do you: 1) keep feeding him fattening foods to keep him happy, but will ultimately make him fatter and less healthy or 2) do you put him on a diet for his overall well being so he can live a long and happy life, even though it will be painful at first? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KRC Posted March 8, 2005 Share Posted March 8, 2005 If you have a severly overweight child whose health is deteriorating because of it, do you:1) keep feeding him fattening foods to keep him happy, but will ultimately make him fatter and less healthy or 2) do you put him on a diet for his overall well being so he can live a long and happy life, even though it will be painful at first? 266541[/snapback] Nice analogy. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BillsNYC Posted March 8, 2005 Share Posted March 8, 2005 Nice analogy. 266543[/snapback] thanks...just came up with it actually reading the first post. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SDS Posted March 8, 2005 Share Posted March 8, 2005 Let me give you one anecdote from the Baltimore area. The schools claimed they were going bankrupt. They claimed they needed $43M in additional funds to stay open. They had cut everything to the bone.... Well, the Super Attendant of the Baltimore City schools has (maybe it has been eliminated by now) a driver that was paid $110k a year.... Think about that. $110 THOUSAND dollars for a personal driver. Yet, no one running the school system thought that there was anything wrong with this... That is government bureaucracy. NEVER listen to the pig as it wails for more food and threatens to cut things that are important to you - while they secretly hold on to the things that they cherish... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CoachChuckDickerson Posted March 8, 2005 Share Posted March 8, 2005 I moved to the area from the west coast about 5 years ago, and it's been very interesting to see the people's reactions about the budget cuts and the resulting cuts in services. People knew this was going to happen, so why didn't they pressure their legislators to increase the sales tax one penny? I know no one wants to see higher taxes, but wasn't the increase worth saving all the resources? Please don't get mad or angry - not trying to get attacked here. Just please give some respectful answers because I'm really trying to understand this. 266515[/snapback] Your last name would be Giambra would it? Did you move to WNY when your Uncle got you a cushy county job? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
todd Posted March 8, 2005 Share Posted March 8, 2005 We may not agree on Donahoe, but we're in 100% agreement on this one. You must be a democrat. Instead of constantly raising taxes, why not cut out all the inflated governmental expenditures? Start with the dupicative, multiple layers of government including the school systems. why do you 14 Buffalo common council seats, in addition to the County managers when the whole area will under the control of state boards? Erie County employs more workers than Cook County, home of Chicago - a slightly larger city than Buffalo. Cut the fat and politicians, not the beneficial programs 266527[/snapback] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Larry Playfair Posted March 8, 2005 Share Posted March 8, 2005 PERECT EXAMPLE. A FRIEND MOVED BCK TO BUFF AND GOT A JOB 3 YEARS AGO DOING COLLECTIONS FOR THE COUNTY. THE COUNTY PAID ONLY 8% OF HIS SALARY, THE REST WAS FROM FEDERAL SOURCES. HE WAS BRINGING IN CLOSE TO 500K A YEAR IN COLLECTIONS (THE PERSON BEFORE HIM WAS BRINGING IN 100K). HE LOST HIS JOB. HUH???? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MarkyMannn Posted March 8, 2005 Share Posted March 8, 2005 Man I love this topic!!! Nothing gets my blood pressure up more. What I see: 1) time for the county to punish the taxpayers. Parks, when closed, it was still OK to go in. Now they will charge you with tresspassing. Guess that is why we need all those Sheriff Deputies 2) DMV drops Saturday and night hours to inconvenient you more. How about working noon-9 Tuesday-Friday and all day Saturday. Business does it 3) Sheriff Galivan cannot cut his budget at all and do with less. Meanwhile, 1000 deputies and about a third make $100,000+. At the Ralph, how many even get out of their cars? 4) how much county/town tax money is being spent on the Cheektowaga deer lady? A harmless old lady is escorted out of the park by town police the other day for trying to assist an injured deer from a poacher. Her half dozen apples she feeds them a day could hurt their health. With police, DEC, park workers, courts, prison, I bet we spent $500,000 to stop a woman from giving deer apples. Meanwhile, in Amherst, hundreds of deer die annually from cars. It's nuts!!! 5) County labor leader still doesn't get it. Borgalski. Won't budge on any givebacks. These guys work a 7 hour day, and less in the summer. Go to 8 hours and a 10% pay cut. Like it or quit Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eSJayDee Posted March 8, 2005 Share Posted March 8, 2005 I think the problem is that the easiest solution for legislators is to raise taxes. Their next easiest solution is to cut benefits that are not 'mandatory' but that will have the most people complain. Now the question is do the constituency cave & concede the tax hike, or do they push for more difficult spending reform. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DPR4444 Posted March 8, 2005 Share Posted March 8, 2005 It had to happen. In fact, it should have happened a long time ago. A community where government is the biggest employer cannot exist in the long run. These figures were reported Business First: Numbers on the Public Payroll Area Population Employment Ratio Buffalo-Niagara 1,170,111 54,698 21.4 citizens to public employees Chicago (Region) 9.044,316 47,727 189 citizens to public employees Phoenix 3,251,876 17,003 191 citizens to public employees Portland 1,927,881 13,980 138 citizens to publice employees Rochester 1,037,831 11,480 90 citizens to public employees San Diego 2,813,831 21,386 131 citizens to public employees Seattle 3,043,878 21,052 144 citizens to public employees Tampa 2,395,997 26,712 89 citizens to public employees Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sweet baboo Posted March 8, 2005 Share Posted March 8, 2005 Rochester and Buffalo are ridiculous btw DPR4444, how were the numbers for Niagara Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spiderweb Posted March 8, 2005 Share Posted March 8, 2005 You must be a democrat. Instead of constantly raising taxes, why not cut out all the inflated governmental expenditures? Start with the dupicative, multiple layers of government including the school systems. why do you 14 Buffalo common council seats, in addition to the County managers when the whole area will under the control of state boards? Erie County employs more workers than Cook County, home of Chicago - a slightly larger city than Buffalo. Cut the fat and politicians, not the beneficial programs 266527[/snapback] And if that was the process, in that governmental waste was cut FIRST, then we'd have something, but neither party has any desire to reduce THIER numbers, power, or what have you. All we have now is the cutting, not the "fix". Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Live&DieBillsFootball Posted March 8, 2005 Share Posted March 8, 2005 At first the red budget was supposed to just scare us all into accepting the sales tax increase. More and more people started thinking that enough is enough. Let's cut out all of the crap first and then we can look for ways to reopen parks or the things that are important to us. First though, it was necessary to put the county on a diet to cut some fat. It's too bad that whenever budget problems arise, they have to first threaten to cut the services that people care about such as parks and libraries. I'm glad that we didn't give in on this. Yes, it sucks that 1200 people are losing their jobs, but things have gotten way way out of hand. How can you continue to increase the number of workers as the population keeps shrinking? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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