To the Editor:

Like many residents, I love Ogdensburg and want to see our city thrive. Four years ago, after being away for 40 years, I returned home to a community with tremendous potential but also significant challenges that demand thoughtful leadership, decisive action, and a renewed commitment to its future.

My concern is the proposed 2.3% tax increase in Ogdensburg’s 2027 city budget. Ogdensburg reportedly ranks seventh highest in New York State for full-value property tax rates per $1,000 of taxable value. Our struggling local economy, limited economic base, and substantial amount of tax-exempt property all contribute to this challenge. Uncertainty surrounding Claxton-Hepburn Medical Center adds to our concerns. My spouse and I have already had to seek ongoing medical care in Potsdam, a 45-minute drive from home.

The effects of these challenges are evident throughout our community. Businesses and prospective residents may be discouraged from investing here, some current residents are considering leaving, homes go unrepaired, and homelessness is increasingly visible. Residents also find themselves traveling outside the city to access essential services. Although these problems have many causes, high property taxes place an additional burden on homeowners, families, and businesses already struggling to make ends meet.

Equally troubling is the disconnect between what residents pay and the services they receive. Despite our high tax rates, residents lack certain municipal services that other communities take for granted, including citywide trash collection and sidewalk replacement. Asking taxpayers to pay more while essential services remain limited and neighborhood conditions deteriorate is not a sustainable path forward.

Before imposing another tax increase, our city leaders must take a hard look at how we can change this pattern. Many residents simply cannot afford to pay more. For years, increased taxation has been used to address the city’s financial challenges, yet the underlying problems remain. We cannot keep placing a greater burden on the same residents and businesses whose continued presence and investment are essential to Ogdensburg’s recovery.

I urge Mayor Michael Tooley and the City Council to explore new approaches, including a thorough review of spending, a reassessment of priorities, opportunities to improve efficiency, and more aggressive efforts to attract businesses and private investment. Difficult decisions may be necessary, but so is the willingness to reconsider longstanding practices and pursue solutions that strengthen our financial future without continually asking taxpayers for more.

Ogdensburg has a proud history, a distinctive character, and a community worth fighting for. But affection for our city alone will not secure its future. We need a clear plan, responsible financial decisions, improved services, and leadership willing to confront difficult realities with creativity and courage.

I encourage our mayor and council members to view this budget as an opportunity to change direction—not simply another exercise in balancing the books. Work with residents, businesses, and community organizations to identify practical solutions that restore public confidence and make Ogdensburg a place where people want to live, work, invest, and raise their families.

Our residents deserve more than another tax increase. They deserve a vision for the future and a realistic plan to achieve it. We need a city that offers residents a reason to stay, businesses a reason to invest, and future generations a reason to be proud to call Ogdensburg home.

The challenges are real, but they are not a reason to give up on our city. They are a reason to work harder, think differently, and demand better solutions. I hope our elected leaders will seize this opportunity and demonstrate that Ogdensburg’s future is worth the effort.

Valerie J. Patterson
Ogdensburg