Arkady Renko Posted June 17, 2006 Posted June 17, 2006 Those Census tables don't factor in LOCAL TAXES...which are by FAR the biggest problem for upstate residents. New York's state-only taxes actually are not that out of line, since Albany off-loads a lot of spending on localities via unfunded mandates and under-funded school aid. New York ranks near the top among all states in terms of the share of total school funding paid for by local property taxes...another way the NYC rent control croud gives the shaft to upstate residents. Combined State + Local Taxes is what the Business Council ranking shows. Not much interpretation needed, unfortunately. 709733[/snapback] Crap. I was hoping the picture wasn't as bleak as it apparently is.
theNose76 Posted June 17, 2006 Posted June 17, 2006 I'm 23, grew up in Buffalo, went to college in Rochester, and for a year since graduating have lived in Las Vegas. I have no complaints really. The weather is outstanding almost year round, lots of "things to do", always interesting events/shows/concerts coming to the city, close proximity to Southern California which I think would be amazing to live in if I had money. And I'm working in a job where I would have absolutely no chance to in WNY - finance in a hotel/casino. Sure I could work for the Senecas - hahah yea right. The industry is huge and this is the epicenter for it. The other main reason I like it here besides my job and potential for growth is the weather. Sure it gets hot, but it's not unbearable, and a/c is always on (its on in my apartment as I'm typing). A quick search shows the 10 day forecast in Buffalo is actually a decent one, but chance of rain for half of those days. 10 day forecast here is highs between 103-107 and sunny. The humidity right now is 10% with a temp of 91. It's rained here once in the last 2 months - mostly during the supposed "rainy" season. And of course during the winter it got to 32 only twice I believe, with snow in the very high elevations - 5,000 ft+. Of course I grew up with the snow and the cold, but it didn't mean that I loved being in cold weather for 6-7 months out of the year. I feel like the summer should be almost over, being used to the shortness of them in WNY, but the summer weather will be here for at least 3 more months, then October comes which the weather last October was spectacular - highs in the 80's, sunny every day. I would just feel depressed alot in Buffalo/Rochester, with it always raining/cold/snowy/cloudy. It's the opposite out here. Sure I work in an office, but I love driving to work wearing sunglasses every morning. No gloomy feelings there. I absolutely miss some things - family, Bills/Sabres, food. But I have visited a few times for those things. Alone they were not enough of a reason to keep me in the area where I would be making about the same but paying up the ass in taxes -- Nevada state income tax - 0% - thank you tourists! -- with almost zero room for professional growth in my field. Some of my friends have stayed around, but many have left or are soon leaving for jobs. It's not a bad place to live really, but I had zero desire to live there after graduation. I planned my entire time in college to be living somewhere else. And I'm obviously not alone in that.
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