To the Editor:

How utterly disappointing the St. Lawrence County Board of Legislature public hearing was. For more than two hours “the audience” was subjected to a well orchestrated parade of public employees each pleading their case for their continued employment.

Which begs the question, when was all this so well planned? Was it on the tax dollar or after work? The time of the meeting, 5 p.m., just past quitting time for county employees, but right when the average worker is still at work and/or has to return home to prepare a meal for a family. Coincidences?

More likely a deliberate tactic to over shadow opposition to the override, leading me to the conclusion that this was less a public forum and was more of a platform to create the headline “Majority At Public Forum Support the Override of the 2% Tax Cap.”

It seemed like county employees, for the override, spoke beyond the allotted three minutes…or at least it felt that way.

Maybe it’s because it was the same broken record about not cutting their program, or their pension/benefits.

But when an opposing opinion that was loaded with pointed issues with the budget increases was presented that speaker was given a verbal indication of time constraint.

As I stated in under three minutes, assessments are not fair and equitable and the legislature should be sending a message to Albany that it’s a problem that needs to be addressed.

Yet the legislature has readily decided to use assessments to generate tax income to perpetuate the problem and in fact exacerbate it by raising assessments.

There was obvious inspiration to find legal recourse to override the 2% tax cap.

Why not apply that same resourcefulness to saving the tax payers money. They’ve no problem saying to Albany, “hey, we’re going to ignore your 2% cap and do our own thing.”

Then it should follow that they can do the same thing with all the unfunded and/or funded mandates the state keeps handing down.

Step up and say we have developed our own system to generate taxes that are far more equitable than assessments.

If in fact the proposed budget reflected a “corporate policy” with regard to budgeting we would no longer spend more than we take in, nor increase budgets by 32% a year.

The time for continually providing for those who are able but unwilling to contribute to the vigor of our economy would be done.

The time for hiring without forethought to health care and pensions for employees would be done. The time for maintaining excessive pensions and health care would be done. The bottom line, that’s how a successful corporation functions.

As well, if the county had a corporate attitude the directive would be to work towards getting the county down, not up.

Reason dictates that a healthy budget with an attitude of improving efficiencies would be far more attractive to potential businesses.

And by the way Ms. St. Hillaire, if I heard your comment correctly, I have no need for a carton of cigarettes, so I would prefer to keep my $79 dollars until you become less frivolous with taxpayer money. It’s obvious that you feel that the override is a done deal. Ever heard of the flat tax?

If this 2% override does in fact become a reality every homeowner in the county should be ready and more than willing to grieve their assessment.

Town of Potsdam Taxpayers Association will be offering information on how to grieve your assessment.

Tracey E. Haggett-Sloan

President of TOPTA