The Time Is Now For Making Hard Choices
Moving into 2012, the City of Oneida is faced with one of its most difficult fiscal crisis in a generation. Increasing expenditures in the face of decreasing revenues is making the 2012 a year where it will become increasingly difficult to still provide the high quality services that our City residents have rightly come to expect.
In 2012, I will do the following:
1- Propose no new taxes. Increasing property taxes to solve our financial challenges at this is unacceptable. Our City's medium family income is $45,242 and 20% of our City are senior citizens; both of these facts point out that our residents cannot afford any additional tax increase.
2- Cut expenditures. Expenses will be cut in 2012, to bring next year's spending plan into balance with its revenues. In anticipation of this, In 2011, I initiated a temporary wage freeze. Presently, for 2012, we are looking at a number of cost saving initiatives that include reducing over time, not filling positions through attrition, and looking at a less expensive employee health insurance plan.
3- Market our City. We have a very good school system, an excellent Hospital and Health Care system, an active YMCA, a number of active community groups, beautiful Victorian homes as well as many modern homes, all of which we plan on highlighting in an effort to attract families to Oneida. With Gov. Cuomo's recent announcement of 850 jobs coming to our area; with a good marketing strategy and pride in our City, we should be able to take advantage of this initiative.
4- Public Safety. We are a very safe community and have an excellent fire and police force. Presently, we have two unfilled positions in each of these departments due to attrition. My plan is to stay at that level until our revenues once again build up. Like the other departments in our City, this means that these two departments will need to continue to be effective, but with less resources.
5- Compete for more grants. In spite of tough competition, last year the City brought in more then a million dollars in CDBG and housing grants. Presently, the Fire Department has applied for a home security grant. One of my main golas for 2012, is to win a NYS Main Street grant that we can intermingle with private dollars and possibly renovate Hotel Oneida. This was done with the old Rome Hotel. The renovations could include a floor for culture and the arts, a local museum high lighting our City, upscale apartments, and renovating the restaurant.
Presently, we are facing hard times along with every other City in our Country. I know, however, that we can get through these times as long as we work together. In my past six years as Mayor, I have learned many things; but the one thing in particular is that the City must be responsive to its taxpayers. I ask that I be kept in office and allowed to get the job done.
