| Subject: What to do???? |
Author:
Ned Depew
| [ Next Thread |
Previous Thread |
Next Message |
Previous Message
]
Date Posted: 20:02:21 11/26/05 Sat
Many whine and complain about the political situation, but few propose ideas for what needs to be done about things. One recent issue has been rising taxes (in spite of a declining "tax-rate") for most people, due to the uncontrolled "discretionary," (this must be meant ironically!) off-budget spending by the current administration.
The "solution" to runaway spending is to impose fiscal discipline. Hudson's income is strong and getting stronger, between increases in the tax base due to the restoration and upgrading of so much of the commercial and residential property and strong sales tax revenues based on a strong retail sector.
We simply need to "live within our means" - something Mayor Scalera has never been willing to do, as he uses City (taxpayer) money to try to score points with the voters and various special interests he believes can further his political aspirations.
Why, for instance, does a city with only 2.8 square miles, most of it typical urban landscape, need a $40,000+ (by the time it is equipped, painted, etc) SUV for the police department??? It is ridiculously expensive to maintain and run (less than 12 miles to the gallon around town!). Because of its behemoth size it is hard to manouver in Hudson's narrow streets and alleys and the "features" it has - like four-wheel-drive- are hardly needed in this urban landscape.
We (the taxpayers) already have a fine fleet of emergency vehicles between the Sherrif's Dept, the State Police, the Fire Department and the Rescue Squads. Why does Hudson need to have its own SUV for the very limited use it will get here?
And please don't tell me it was bought with a "grant" from the State or with State or Federal money. If you don't know already that that money comes out of the same pocket that our local taxes do, you need to go back and study public economics 101. Whatever money we "get from the state" is money we will have to make up in other areas. It all comes from us, one way or another.
This kind of spending - not to mention the squandering of our City's assets and the back-room deals that are good for some of the parties but generally leave the City holding the bag - is what has driven taxes up in spite of enhanced income.
The solution is simple - keep a tight rein on the public purse. Adoppt the old New England attitude of "Use It Up, Wear It Out, Make Do" Don't spend money to buy expensive and unneeded toys just to curry favors with particular sectors of the electorate or hand lucrative deals and contracts to cronies.
The other half of this equation is to stop wasting the tax dollrs spent on HDC and make that agency responsive to the economic needs of the City. When is the last time that agency did anything to create a single job or bring a single business to Hudson? When was the last time they offered any kind of real support to new and existing businesses to try to encourage prosperity?
The Antiques business seems to be going through a mini-recession right now. Where is the HDC and the City GOvernment to support these bussinesses who have given so much to Hudson? Do they have a plan in place to help exploit and develop the efforts already made by others at no cost to the City, that have revitalized the downtown area? The answer would be "NO."
Without economic development, the City will stagnate, yet the current administration has no clue - much less any plan - about playing a role in creating (rather than simply taking credit for) upward economic movement.
Hopefully Dick Tracy and the newly elected City Leaders will follow the lead of the policies they've already put in place by trimming the bloated budget item for the Mayor's office. With careful oversight by Kevin Walsh and determined and sensible spending restraint by the council and the Mayor's office as well a accountable, hard work by our well-paid economic developement agencies, Hudson can get on a sound financial footing once again.
[
Next Thread |
Previous Thread |
Next Message |
Previous Message
] |
|
Feedback: 