Hudson,
As Fourth Ward Councilmember and Chair of the Finance Committee, I am voting against the City’s 2025 budget for the following reasons:
- The budget proposed has a 1.5% increase for property owners. This increase is about $100K. The BEA is able to increase taxes only 1.5% because $800K in operating expenses will be covered by the City’s Fund Balance (the Fund Balance is similar to a ‘Rainy Day’ fund). The Fund Balance is relatively healthy and still has at least two months of expenses, however, this proposed budget shows that we cannot cover our annual operating costs without dipping into the Fund Balance – significantly. We cannot continue to do this.
- There is no plan to address the fiscal impact of the subsidized housing projects in Hudson. Maybe there is a plan, but I’ve been on the Council (and Finance Committee) for almost a year, and I have not seen it. Currently, there are plans for over 100 additional subsidized housing units at Bliss and another 100 units at the Mill Street/State Street/Rossman project(s). How many additional city services (fire/police/sewers, etc.) do these projects require and who is going to pay for them?Recently, I had the chance to talk briefly to NYS Senator Kirsten Gillibrand and explained to her how Opportunity Zones in Hudson give tax breaks and incentives for investors while increasing the city’s service burden on the middle class. Her response was for Hudson to pursue small, not-for-profit developers for affordable housing.
- The City has over two million dollars of back property taxes owed. Right now, there is no lawyer assigned to back-taxes claims. The City must pursue these funds before we have a cash shortfall, and then must borrow money (with interest) to pay operating costs.
- Over 30% of the youth at the Youth Department are from outside of the City of Hudson, however it is almost entirely funded by City of Hudson taxpayers. There is no plan for the County to contribute more. I told our county supervisors that the city should receive at least $200K/year from the county, a proportional amount to the $800-900K/year the Youth Department costs the City of Hudson taxpayers.
- Let’s not forget: Out of the five supervisors the City of Hudson has representing our interests at the county level, NOT ONE voted against the 11 Warren Street project – a project that takes prime Warren Street real estate off the tax rolls. The County can pitch in more funds for the Youth Department.
- Also, don’t forget: Next year, City of Hudson property owners will be charged a new SIDEWALK FEE.
What needs to be done:
- STOP THE MILL STREET HOUSING PROJECT. This project is a disaster. The developer plans 70 units on Mill Street – on a flood plain – and there has been NO community outreach or fiscal accountability to the taxpayers. We have no idea how much this project will ultimately cost the community.
- All subsidized housing projects and Opportunity Zones must outline the cost of additional services and the ultimate costs to the City of Hudson property owners.
- Appoint an attorney for back property tax claims.
- Our County Supervisors need to lobby the county government for more funds.
- STOP GIVING TAX BREAKS TO MULTI-MILLIONAIRES. We have to stop approving tax breaks to multi-millionaires. They can afford to pay their taxes without asking for city (state and federal) tax breaks. The burden of additional service is ultimately passed onto the middle class.
-Rich Volo
Last week I once again attacked the pile of junk mail that seems to breed at my front door every morning. In addition to the last-minute pleadings from successful and unsuccessful candidates and the relentless advertisements for Medicare Part B plans, there was a notice from the City Treasurer that I owed around $900 for late city taxes from Q1 2003, plus about $150 in interest and penalties. Very embarrassing for someone who always tries, and almost always succeeds, in paying his taxes punctually. I walked over to City Hall and paid the balance as soon as the office was open. But later I wondered why it had taken the City almost two years to notice that I was late. Who knows how much more Hudson might raise if it simply looked at outstanding balances and asked people like me to pay what they owed.
Thanks for laying out your reasoning to vote No as clearly as you did. Not a single point you raised I can argue with.
As far as the “What needs to be done” section is concerned, I think one item should be added to it: Reduce the youth department budget by the exact percentage that represents kids taking advantage of Hudson’s youth programing that do not reside in Hudson. I am saying this as a resident of Greenport. It’s a simple matter of fairness. How the mayor argued against it in the way he did is beyond my comprehension.