Fairport officials unhappy with Minarik-Brooks tax intercept plan
We’ve written a little before about the Minarik-Brooks plan to strip the towns and villages of Monroe County of millions of dollars in sales tax revenue. It’s always seemed like a ham-fisted attempt to grab more money for the county.
Not surprisingly, this plan is not going over well with town and village officials. Here’s what two of the trustees of the village of Fairport had to say in Tuesday’s Messenger Post:
Monroe County Executive Maggie Brooks’ proposal to end the long-standing agreement to share sales tax revenue with local municipalities to fund skyrocketing Medicaid costs will have a disastrous impact on village property owners.
The village of Fairport receives approximately $1.2 million sales tax revenue each year, based upon formulas using population and assessed valuation figures. If we were to lose that important revenue source, there is the potential for village property taxes to rise by as much as 40 percent to maintain the quality services that residents enjoy today. That means the average annual village tax bill of $600 could rise to more than $840.
It’s worth noting that the village trustees who signed this letter are both Republicans. And that the (Republican) Fairport Village Board unanimously voted against Maggie’s Tax Intercept Act at its Monday meeting
This seems to be one area where Democrats and Republicans agree: two candidates endorsed by the Democratic party in Fairport wrote a similar letter to the Messenger Post last week.
It’s no secret that the county has major budgetary problems. But it’s the height of irresponsibility to try to “solve” these problems by passing the buck off to towns and villages. If Minarik and Brooks can’t get the county’s finances in order without resorting to these kinds of shenanigans, then maybe they should look for another line of work.
What a powerful issue that could have been raised by a strong Democratic County Executive candidate.
There’s no need for Brooks/Minarik to look for a new line of work when they are not even challeged.
Just saw Brooks on WXXI tonight discussing the intercept plan. Anyone else see it?
Because no Democrat is running to challenge Brooks, I think attention should be given to Andrew Stainton.
It’s the beginning of the end when they start eating their own. Kudos to Fairport for having the courage to STAND UP.
Bill Carpenter (Pittsford Sup.) is pretty ticked off, too. He’s more the type to wrok behind the scenes, though.
Did Chairman Morrelli vote for the intercept plan? I mean this did come from Albany…..the intercept plan