Mount Vernon’s budget is the mayor’s dream, but the taxpayers’ nightmare. The mayor not only raises taxes on his already overtaxed residents, but also depletes the city’s reserves funds. When it comes to making a realistic budget, Mayor Richard Thomas’ priorities are scoring political points with public employees and increasing his bank account. It is […]
New “Fight the Fees” Campaign Will Engage Citizens to End Illegal Fees (Mineola, NY) — On the steps of the county legislature today, Reclaim New York Initiative called on Nassau County legislators to reject all $59 million in illegal fee increases from the County Executive’s proposed budget, and urged the elimination of illegal fees already […]
Cortland County is in a vicious cycle of taxing and spending more each year. It is unaffordable. In 2017, Cortland spent $133 million. Neighboring Chenango County – with almost the same population – spent merely $89 million. Nearby Tioga and Madison Counties have higher populations but spend half as much. Now, Cortland County politicians want […]
Illegal fees are – you guessed it – illegal. And Suffolk County’s proposed 2018 budget relies on millions of dollars in illegal fees to pay for the county’s reckless spending. While the Suffolk County Executive didn’t propose new fee increases for 2018, there are still illegal fees built-in from years of county politicians abusing fees […]
Term limits are a commonsense ethics reform that help prevent politicians from consolidating too much power, and keep government more in touch with the real world by bringing new people to public service. A proposal recently passed by the Utica Common Council weakens term limits to the direct benefit of the members of the common […]