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On The Issues:
Response to Democrat & Chronicle:
Q:
What should be done to bridge the county
budget gap?
We need to
take a look at putting a spending cap on non-emergency line items.
Also establish a debt reserve fund. This fund would be strictly
used only to pay down on the outstanding budget debt. The future
sale of any county assets would be just one example of funds
received and put in this reserve.
Q:
Would you support merging
some services among the towns and between the towns and county? If
so, which ones? If not, why not?
Yes. I
suggest Inter municipal cooperation be used by all municipalities
in the county. Together
they would standardize, as much as possible, the materials and
equipment commonly used. The sharing and purchasing of these
supplies and equipment would then be bought in group purchases
instead of individually. This concept would cut overall expenses
for each municipality.
Q:
Should the county and city water authorities be merged? Why? Why
not?
Yes. Recent
State Comptroller audits have revealed serious accountability
flaws at MCWA. Without needing public approval, the currently run
independent MCWA board doesn’t have to answer on how they use
and allocate revenues taken in from the public. Merging these entities
under the county legislature will ensure better accountability and
oversight.
Q:
Are you concerned about the county’s contracting with private
agencies to perform government services?
Yes. You are using taxpayer’s
money to outsource services that supposedly can’t be done in
house. These ‘local development corporations’ being formed by
county administration are allowed to operate outside of the county
legislature’s oversight and control, thus allowing them to
operate free from public scrutiny.
Q:
Do you think Renaissance Square should be built in phases, with
the theater held up until the funding is in place?
Everyone agrees there needs to
be a worthwhile project that will revitalize downtown Rochester.
But with a county budget deficit that is not getting taken care of
and the county’s low credit rating, careful consideration should
be taken as to how much more the taxpayer and the county can be
burdened with on a major project such as the Renaissance Square.
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