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   DIR Return to: Town Taxes & Village Dissolution
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       #Post#: 1039--------------------------------------------------
       What do you like the LEAST about Erie Canal Village Life - Take
       our Poll
   DIR By: Doug K
       Date: April 2, 2020, 2:11 pm
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       The ECNA is conducting a few polls, for members & guests,
       regarding what people like most about living in older Villages
       along the Erie Canal.
       It's hopefully going to start a new conversation in our area
       about the "value" we are getting for the high cost of having
       this lowest level of New York State government still operating.
       Even though NYS Lawmakers have already stated that Village
       Government is a burden to taxpayers, and an unnecessary level of
       legislation that can be consolidated or dissolved. They have
       sited the excessive VILLAGE government as one of the reasons why
       New York is the HIGHEST taxed state in America
       Lawmakers said all this in 2010 when they passed the New York
       State Government Reorganization And Citizen Empowerment Act, or
       GRACE
       You can read about that here:
  HTML https://ecna.us/nys-govt-reduction-act-village-dissolution/
       [attachimg=1]
       
       If own a home and you live in any Village within New York State,
       you are "blessed with having to pay an "extra" Property Tax
       every year. It's used to support local Village Government, it's
       called the Village Tax, and the majority of it pays for a
       redundant layer of government, though salaries, health care &
       pensions.
       The rest of the Town only pays School & County Tax bills, which
       also found the Town your Village is a part of.
       The Villagers pay this third tax simply because they are a
       "captive" audience, there homes lie within something called an
       Incorporated Village Boundary. Inside the line you are forced to
       pay on average about $17,000 per DAY to have a Village
       Government make decisions for the 2 square miles of land your
       home resides in. Some villages, with less "fluff" may pay around
       $4000, some Villages are costing these select taxpayers as much
       as $30,000 per day to run.
       If you are across the street from the Village Line, you pay
       nothing, even though you most likely use the same Village as
       much as your neighbor.
       And all of this EXTRA TAX is not required according to the GRACE
       changes & NYS Lawmakers. Because the TOWN already is providing
       the same type of service, to many more residents all around the
       Village, usually for a better value for all.
       In fact the Lawmakers are so certain that the Town & Village
       residents will be MUCH better off if they consolidate the
       Village into the Town (or Dissolve it Outright) that they are
       willing to PAY for the Government Reorganization Study & Plan
       and also offer any Towns that have a village dissolve additional
       State Funding to pay for more work that the Town may have
       inherited with the change.
       The ECNA is advocating for Village Leadership to accept the
       GRACE findings and ask the State of NY to help Village Taxpayers
       get some much needed relief.  We are simply asking Village
       Leadership to order the Government Reorganization Plan
       themselves, from the state, and serve their constituents to the
       best of their ability by accepting that local government can be
       more efficient with less layers, less bureaucracy and
       elimination of Village Taxes
       Please take the time to answer the Poll, let your voice be
       heard.
       You can check on your own Village Reorganization efforts here:
  HTML https://ecna.us/grace/
       Or Scan the QR Code with your Smartphone Camera
       [attachimg=2]
       #Post#: 1106--------------------------------------------------
       Re: What do you like the LEAST about Erie Canal Village Life -
       Take our Poll
   DIR By: Doug K
       Date: May 21, 2020, 8:22 am
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       Look up Apathy in the Dictionary... It's the same as 50+ people
       looking at an Online Poll and only 5 people taking the time to
       add their thoughts.
       Everyone seems to have opinions on Barge Canal Embankment
       Safety, Re-imagining a new Canal, and even how Village Taxes can
       be reigned in.
       But few people, if any, actually care enough to get involved and
       try to initiate changes that will help increase the public's
       safety or their put money back in their wallets.
       APATHY... right along with IGNORANCE these two seem to be the
       mantra for many folks today... "I don't know, and I don't care"
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