County sales tax money grab
Joe Spector has an excellent article in today’s D&C about the looming showdown between the county and the towns (including the city of Rochester) over the Brooks plan to take sales tax revenue that normally goes to the towns and stick it in the county’s coffers. The plan would have a disastrous effect on the finances of the city of Rochester, in particular.
Someone once explained to me the politics of this scheme, but I don’t remember it. Obviously, grabbing tens of millions of dollars (the city of Rochester will lose $54 million the county under this plan) for the county will help the county budget, but there’s got to be more to this. We’ll try to cover the hidden angles of this story later this week when we have a little more time.
Why are you suing me, County Executive Brooks?
Isn’t it enough that you’ve wasted my money on perks for the authorities, like the whole Stanwix fiasco?
Isn’t it enough that you’ve given sweetheart deals– like the parking lot at the airport– to your contributors?
Isn’t it enough that your frequent surprise at things like the library make it clear you’re not really paying attention to your job?
You’re my county executive? Why are you suing me?
Did anyone else notice something fishy about the towns joining the city in the suit? The towns are “Henrietta, Mendon, Rush, Brighton and Irondequoit.” It’s apparent that Minarik and the County GOP have whipped all the republican controlled towns, with the exception of Henrietta, into not taking part in this debacle. What a sad testimony that is to the leadership of all the other towns. Their leaders give more credence to that gas bag Minarik than they do their own constituents. One other interesting item to take note of is the fact that the Henrietta Supervisor (a republican) is being challenged in a primary this year. I wonder if this suit has anything to do with it?
While I was running for the Parma Board I asked the Town Supervisor if Parma had a plan in case the intercept is implemented. He stated they did not. Now that’s leadership! The great thing is that it was a Town Board meeting, so my inquiry is forever recorded in the minutes. Although the clerk made a mistake and thought I asked what would happen if the intercept doesn’t go through, not if it does. Anyway, feel free to read the minutes here: http://www.parmany.org/pdf/minutes/2006/8-15-06-TB.pdf
The relevant portion is on page 9.
[...] been getting comments and emails from readers who know a lot more than I do about how the Brooks-Minarik plan to steal sales tax revenue from the towns.ÂÂ First, there’s this from a reader in Parma: Did anyone else notice [...]
[...] more than I do about how the Brooks-Minarik plan to steal sales tax revenue from the towns. First, there’s this from a reader in Parma: Did anyone else notice something fishy about the towns joining the city in [...]