Record sales tax receipts and lower than projected spending left Oneida County with an $8.4 million budget surplus for 2012 . . .Nice . . . but Oneida County is also one of the most heavily taxed counties in the NATION when it comes to property taxes as a percentage of property value ...
ADD TO THAT the 8.75% sales tax we pay here -- also one of the highest sales taxes in the country. Anyone who travels to other parts of the country immediately realizes the difference when shopping. We have become too used to being nickled-and-dimed to death.
The County plans to use some of its surplus money for "economic development." The County already has a policy of exempting certain politically connected developers from the sales tax . . . meaning that (1) YOU are subsidizing the profits of these developers and (2) the sales tax revenue could be even higher.
The county is in the process of obtaining the necessary state permission to extend its 1 percent and 0.75 percent sales taxes. The county’s 3 percent sales tax is permanent and does not have to be renewed every two like the other two levies.The 8.75% sales tax -- originally implemented to close a financial gap in OC providing mandated medical care -- is a blot on the county's reputation, a disincentive for both people and businesses to do business here.
Now is the time for NYS to DENY Oneida County the permission to extend at least the 0.75% tax. Leaving a little money in our pockets will help ALL local businesses instead of just the politically connected ones.
9 comments:
Absolutely and definitely agree!! If past "economic development" performance is any indication of what we can expect - it's better to simply flush the money down a toilet and let it float on the canal to Albany with the rest of the sewage. Just recently we couldn't even bribe a fruit processing plant to come here with 20 yrs + tax free.
I am so desperate to move out of here but am trapped due to family that can't move. If I can't get out I am making sure I can get my kids out. There is no help coming and we have suffered enough.
I don't know how these politicians and political bosses can sleep at night for what they have done to this whole area.
Let's not forget the 4.75% Oneida County gasoline tax is added to the New York State 50.6 cent/ gal. Gives us the highest county gasoline tax in New York State added to the highest state tax in the country.And we always blame big oil for our "higher than the national average" price at the pump. The county gas tax is twice as much as the oil companies make on a gallon.
And Brindisi wants an investigation as to why gas taxes are so high in Dogpatch County? Take a good look at the thieves who are running county government is all that is needed.
This situation of over taxation goes on year after year. The county executive and the OD hail it as a positive. What a joke. We pay more under the overtaxation and the county spends more. Property taxes go up every year while the sales tax remains high. Yet no media type even asks the county executive to explain. Why? Are they too dumb or are we?
Your taxes are going up because the county can do anything they want. Mt past experience with all forms of property taxes is usually when answer is "if you can't afford them sell your property". Its the same thing with sales taxes and all others. To use the money for economic development in our area is a joke. Three more years I will be out of here, sooner if I can. Not because I want to, its because I don't want to pay or have to afford the taxes in my retirement. Fortunately for me I can afford to leave and pay cheaper taxes in other states. I will come back and visit.
We need to get control of this situation for those who are left behind and all those people who will come after us when Economic Development creates all those new jobs. (lol)
The county can do anything it wants due to a lack of bona fide reporting and a very passive, uninterested and dumbed down electorate. Add the amount of patronage, contracts and taxpayer supported groups and you have one of the most stagnant areas in the country. Those who can leave would best do so.
You're correct Anon 5/07. The OD is more concerned with nonsense such as front page stories like this beauty that ran a couple years ago, "The Gardens of Herthum Heights". Front page headline, mind you. While the county burns, we get treated to features about suburban gardens. Wonderful.
Only one legislator, Frank Tallarino, voted against Picente's plan for the use of the surplus funds.
Check out the following article which to me seems to have a glaring math error.
http://www.uticaod.com/latestnews/x179156441/Picente-responds-to-questions-on-budget-surplus
$23 million dollars?! If the sales tax dropped from 8.75% to 8%. These are the minds that are trying to attract a Nanotech business?!
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