Candidates running on the “Taxpayers First” ballot line recently outlined their three-point Financial Accountability and Accuracy to bring better fiscal controls and stability to Village of Owego Government.
The Taxpayers First candidates are Steve May for Mayor (currently a Trustee); Earl Hartman for Trustee (running for re-election); Mike Phelps for Trustee (running for re-election); and Ed Morton for Trustee (first-time candidate).
“Village residents deserve better controls, tighter oversight and compliance with reporting deadlines,” said Steve May. “We can’t afford more of the same status quo in the future.”
The Taxpayers First Team developed their Financial Accountability and Accuracy Plan in response to fiscal issues that have plagued the Village in recent years, including scathing reports from the State Comptroller and unfiled Audit Reports. The three-point plan includes:
1. File Mandatory Audit Report On-Time. No excuses, no exceptions.
Did you know that the Village received a report from the State Comptroller showing that the current Mayor and Clerk/Treasurer failed to submit mandatory audits for several years? The Village could have faced stiff penalties if corrective action didn’t occur. See for yourself on the Comptroller’s website at www.osc.state.ny.us/localgov/audits/villages/2015/owego.htm.
The Taxpayers First Team, led by Steve May, took the lead and crafted the language and documentation that satisfied the Comptroller’s Office. Owego’s taxpayers can’t afford to let this kind of careless mistakes happen again.
2. Stay On Budget with Capital Projects.
Did you know that the bids for Owego’s Sewer Plant Upgrade came in at twice the projected cost? Owego’s Taxpayers couldn’t have afforded the price tag at that level.
The Taxpayers First Team worked with the engineers to get the budget back on track, and get the project moving.
3. Provide Taxpayers with More Information.
Do you know how much the Village of Owego’s total budget is? Do you know how the State-mandated Tax Cap affects how the Mayor and Trustees can alter the budget and your property taxes?
For too long, residents of the Village have been kept in the dark about Village business. It’s 2016 and you can find information on just about any topic online. But you can’t find the Village of Owego’s budget because it’s not publicly available on the Village website.
The Taxpayers First Team will share more information with residents by posting the Village Budget online and regularly sharing more financial information with the public, including simplified summaries of how the Village Budget works, what various departmental expenses are, and how your tax dollars are being spent.
“We developed this plan to get the Village’s finances back on the right track, so we’re not getting scolded by the State for non-compliance and other errors,” said Earl Hartman.
“We will create sustainable solutions to assure that residents receive essential services, like Fire, Emergency Services and Police protection, at the same or better levels that we’ve been receiving at the same or lower costs to taxpayers,” said Mike Phelps.
“Village residents deserve transparency from their elected representatives. It’s just common sense to provide them with the information they need to make educated decisions,” said Ed Morton.
May, Phelps, Hartman and Morton encourage Village residents to contact them with any questions or comments about their Financial Plan or any other issue leading up to the March 15 election. All Village residents are eligible to vote if they are registered with the Tioga County Board of Elections.
