Question: Whether by consolidating services, eliminating layers of bureaucracy or an outright merger, people tell us that local government needs to be streamlined and the county executive needs to lead the way. Do you believe consolidation is necessary? What will you propose to make government more efficient?

 

Answer: It is difficult to look at all of the layers of government in our community today and not believe there has to be some economy and efficiency achieved by collaboration. One suggestion would be to comprehensively look at all of the services being performed by government today and selecting the body of government that can deliver that service most effectively .An example is in the area of Economic Development.  For the city and the county to staff two separate offices to serve virtually the same clientele, can be both redundant and confusing. Another model that is already working is in the town of Salina.  Salina does not have its’ own police force, which is a huge line item expense in other towns.  We also know, providing public safety is a core service that constituents demand.  Instead of duplicating the county sheriff, the town has arranged for a county sheriff sub station in the town, to provide an onsite police presence The town contracts for some additional sheriff patrols at the times and places they need it.  The savings to taxpayers is enormous. I believe this is a model that could work in other towns as well.  From a practical perspective however, I believe mergers, consolidations, collaborations—whatever you choose to call them, work best when they come from the bottom up.  Villages and towns need to arrive at a consensus with the county and the state to decide which level can deliver the service most efficiently.  Some services, codes and zoning are examples, are best administered locally.  Others, like public health, are most efficient at the county level.

 

Question:  We hear it all over -- our property taxes are too high. Granted, the average county property tax rate fell 7.2 percent in the 2007 budget, but the tax levy collected by the county -- the amount raised through property taxes -- rose by nearly 1 percent. Where do you stand on taxes? Are we paying enough? Too much? Why should we entrust you to be a steward of our money?

 

Answer: Interesting question---has anyone ever suggested we may not be paying enough?  Taxes are a huge concern in all of NY State and demand vigilance on every level to keep them under control.

We have heard before that almost 50% of our property tax bill goes directly to Medicaid.  This is a program that has grown out of control over the last several years.  It is also one, we as county legislators, have virtually no control over.  Were we to remove Medicaid from the property tax bill—as almost every other state in the nation does—we would see that not only our property tax levy had declined but actual spending had gone down as well.  In 2001 the county raised just under $98 million dollars in property tax-- not including Medicaid.  In 2007 the amount (without Medicaid.) was $93million.  This was accomplished in spite of inflation, mandated cost of living raises, soaring health and pension benefits as well as unprecedented energy costs.  As a member of Ways and Means, I  feel very proud of that record.  We truly are doing more with less.  While our taxes are declining, our commitment to investment in our county infrastructure and to technology has remained strong.  My fiscal philosophy has always been to analyze all spending from a “return on investment” perspective.  This is a philosophy that has served me well not just in government but in business and my family life as well.

 

 

Onondaga County Legislator

Kathy Rapp