Several weeks ago I wrote about the County Budget. I noted that the County tax rate had once again been reduced for the 7th consecutive year. Since then I have had conversations with several taxpayers who disputed that claim. While … Continue reading
There are some things that County government does that almost everyone knows about. However, there are some “other things” the County does that aren’t as obvious or well known. Some of those responsibilities were covered at the November 14th session … Continue reading
In 2013 the State imposed a “Tax Cap” on Allegany County (and all other NYS municipalities). At the time Governor Cuomo declared that local governments must learn to “live within their means.’ The Governor’s comments represent extreme hypocrisy. Most local … Continue reading
Some issues get lots of attention, and some issues are ignored. Sometimes the reasons issues get attention, or inattention, are obvious and easy to understand. Sometimes the reasons for the attention, or inattention, are hard to figure out. I want … Continue reading
One of the major goals of the Allegany County Legislature in 2015 has been to encourage economic development. For several years our Board has focused on cutting expenses and reducing taxes. This was reasonable and appropriate. However, it has become … Continue reading
October 6, 2013 Real property assessments, and especially property revaluations, are a hot topic. Unfortunately both topics are largely misunderstood. In this article I will present “facts” to hopefully eliminate some of the confusion. Some readers may be surprised by … Continue reading
Why are real property taxes are so high? That is a complex question with many partially accurate answers. One popular but simplistic answer is that there are too many tax real property tax “exemptions.” Here are some pertinent facts on … Continue reading
