Comments on: Maggie’s survey farce http://rochesterturning.com/2008/04/29/maggies-survey-farce/ turning the tide upstate Sat, 30 Aug 2008 01:02:05 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5.1 By: rochesterturning.com: turning the tide upstate http://rochesterturning.com/2008/04/29/maggies-survey-farce/#comment-141444 rochesterturning.com: turning the tide upstate Mon, 12 May 2008 21:03:09 +0000 http://rochesterturning.com/2008/04/29/maggies-survey-farce/#comment-141444 [...] has discussed this survey before. I believe it’s just a heavy-handed attempt to make people to buy into a sales tax increase, [...] [...] has discussed this survey before. I believe it’s just a heavy-handed attempt to make people to buy into a sales tax increase, [...]

]]> By: dennis o'brien http://rochesterturning.com/2008/04/29/maggies-survey-farce/#comment-138854 dennis o'brien Wed, 30 Apr 2008 15:44:04 +0000 http://rochesterturning.com/2008/04/29/maggies-survey-farce/#comment-138854 we should organize a rally outside the county office building and make signs for each of the ideas (or just a popular few since there is certainly a theme) we came up with here. then maybe the media would pick up on some ideas not on the survey and maybe we can create a voice that way. we should organize a rally outside the county office building and make signs for each of the ideas (or just a popular few since there is certainly a theme) we came up with here. then maybe the media would pick up on some ideas not on the survey and maybe we can create a voice that way.

]]> By: Local Observer http://rochesterturning.com/2008/04/29/maggies-survey-farce/#comment-138850 Local Observer Wed, 30 Apr 2008 15:01:17 +0000 http://rochesterturning.com/2008/04/29/maggies-survey-farce/#comment-138850 Here's what I submitted: How about leveling the playing field on sales tax distribution. Homes in the Eastern Suburbs get higher amounts a sales tax returned based on higher home assessments. The problem is that many of these people spend their taxable dollars in and around Eastview Mall that's outside of Monroe County. So we give them more money from the sales tax pool even though they don't contibute to it in the first place when the shop in Ontario County. another comment: How can you consider not funding the Libraries at the same time that you subsizing the Red Wings even though they are clearly running in the black? I have nothing against baseball but lets get real here. Here’s what I submitted:
How about leveling the playing field on sales tax distribution. Homes in the Eastern Suburbs get higher amounts a sales tax returned based on higher home assessments. The problem is that many of these people spend their taxable dollars in and around Eastview Mall that’s outside of Monroe County.
So we give them more money from the sales tax pool even though they don’t contibute to it in the first place when the shop in Ontario County.

another comment:
How can you consider not funding the Libraries at the same time that you subsizing the Red Wings even though they are clearly running in the black? I have nothing against baseball but lets get real here.

]]> By: Bloggie http://rochesterturning.com/2008/04/29/maggies-survey-farce/#comment-138596 Bloggie Tue, 29 Apr 2008 22:38:41 +0000 http://rochesterturning.com/2008/04/29/maggies-survey-farce/#comment-138596 What a horrible, biased survey! She doesn't suggest her pet projects but rather stuff that she wants to see cut. Then she can say, "This is what the people want. I'm just doing as I'm told." Sneaky! What a horrible, biased survey! She doesn’t suggest her pet projects but rather stuff that she wants to see cut. Then she can say, “This is what the people want. I’m just doing as I’m told.” Sneaky!

]]> By: Exile on Ericsson St. http://rochesterturning.com/2008/04/29/maggies-survey-farce/#comment-138591 Exile on Ericsson St. Tue, 29 Apr 2008 21:59:08 +0000 http://rochesterturning.com/2008/04/29/maggies-survey-farce/#comment-138591 I like the COMIDA suggestion especially. Good to hear from you again, Lee. I like the COMIDA suggestion especially.

Good to hear from you again, Lee.

]]> By: Lee http://rochesterturning.com/2008/04/29/maggies-survey-farce/#comment-138590 Lee Tue, 29 Apr 2008 21:57:53 +0000 http://rochesterturning.com/2008/04/29/maggies-survey-farce/#comment-138590 I revised it a little (and submitted it again): Eliminate the Ren. Square project. Consolidate more services with Rochester and the Towns. Freeze salaries of department heads and elected officials. Require companies that do not come close to meeting COMIDA goals to repay the money. Tax all “adult” items and stores. Require all elected officials and ALL county employees not currently doing so to pay a portion of any health care benefits they choose to use. Increase penalties for DWI - and include court costs. I revised it a little (and submitted it again):

Eliminate the Ren. Square project.

Consolidate more services with Rochester and the Towns.

Freeze salaries of department heads and elected officials.

Require companies that do not come close to meeting COMIDA goals to repay the money.

Tax all “adult” items and stores.

Require all elected officials and ALL county employees not currently doing so to pay a portion of any health care benefits they choose to use.

Increase penalties for DWI - and include court costs.

]]> By: Lee http://rochesterturning.com/2008/04/29/maggies-survey-farce/#comment-138584 Lee Tue, 29 Apr 2008 21:36:16 +0000 http://rochesterturning.com/2008/04/29/maggies-survey-farce/#comment-138584 Here's mine (posted at county site): Eliminate the Ren. Square project. Consolidate more services with Rochester and the Towns. Freeze department head salaries. Tax all "adult" items and stores. Require all elected officials to pay a portion of any health care benefits they choose to use. Here’s mine (posted at county site):

Eliminate the Ren. Square project.

Consolidate more services with Rochester and the Towns.

Freeze department head salaries.

Tax all “adult” items and stores.

Require all elected officials to pay a portion of any health care benefits they choose to use.

]]> By: dennis o'brien http://rochesterturning.com/2008/04/29/maggies-survey-farce/#comment-138549 dennis o'brien Tue, 29 Apr 2008 18:22:59 +0000 http://rochesterturning.com/2008/04/29/maggies-survey-farce/#comment-138549 haha! that would probably work quite well. haha! that would probably work quite well.

]]> By: Mike Williams http://rochesterturning.com/2008/04/29/maggies-survey-farce/#comment-138540 Mike Williams Tue, 29 Apr 2008 17:16:11 +0000 http://rochesterturning.com/2008/04/29/maggies-survey-farce/#comment-138540 I followed your suggestion, went to the "survey" and added this: Institute a "sin tax" on people at the library who use the internet connection for viewing pornography. If it's such a big problem, we should be able to raise lots of money. I followed your suggestion, went to the “survey” and added this:

Institute a “sin tax” on people at the library who use the internet connection for viewing pornography. If it’s such a big problem, we should be able to raise lots of money.

]]> By: dennis o'brien http://rochesterturning.com/2008/04/29/maggies-survey-farce/#comment-138523 dennis o'brien Tue, 29 Apr 2008 16:01:03 +0000 http://rochesterturning.com/2008/04/29/maggies-survey-farce/#comment-138523 i mentioned stopping discriminatory lawsuits, ending tax breaks to companies that don't create jobs and dissolving the water authority. i mentioned stopping discriminatory lawsuits, ending tax breaks to companies that don’t create jobs and dissolving the water authority.

]]> By: dennis o'brien http://rochesterturning.com/2008/04/29/maggies-survey-farce/#comment-138520 dennis o'brien Tue, 29 Apr 2008 15:54:18 +0000 http://rochesterturning.com/2008/04/29/maggies-survey-farce/#comment-138520 i believe you are correct to point out that it is mandated services and not necessarily mandated spending. and let us not forget that county government was put into place as an act of the nys legislature. so maggie herself is a form of mandated spending. i believe you are correct to point out that it is mandated services and not necessarily mandated spending. and let us not forget that county government was put into place as an act of the nys legislature. so maggie herself is a form of mandated spending.

]]> By: Exile on Ericsson St. http://rochesterturning.com/2008/04/29/maggies-survey-farce/#comment-138519 Exile on Ericsson St. Tue, 29 Apr 2008 15:53:52 +0000 http://rochesterturning.com/2008/04/29/maggies-survey-farce/#comment-138519 Good question. Hopefully someone around here will find the answer. Good question. Hopefully someone around here will find the answer.

]]> By: BurbProgressive http://rochesterturning.com/2008/04/29/maggies-survey-farce/#comment-138513 BurbProgressive Tue, 29 Apr 2008 15:11:43 +0000 http://rochesterturning.com/2008/04/29/maggies-survey-farce/#comment-138513 Does anyone else question the claim that 71% of budget is mandated spending? Where does the line cross between mandated provision of a service and mandated spending to provide that service? Maybe some portion of that 71% is mandated <i>spending</i> and cannot be reduced, but I think there's probably a lot of room to more efficiently provide mandated <i>services</i>. I've always suspected the claim that only 29% of the budget is under local control is misleading. If anyone knows more about this mandated/non-mandated split, I'd love to hear it. Does anyone else question the claim that 71% of budget is mandated spending? Where does the line cross between mandated provision of a service and mandated spending to provide that service?

Maybe some portion of that 71% is mandated spending and cannot be reduced, but I think there’s probably a lot of room to more efficiently provide mandated services. I’ve always suspected the claim that only 29% of the budget is under local control is misleading.

If anyone knows more about this mandated/non-mandated split, I’d love to hear it.

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