Open letter to the governor on shared services

Dear Editor,

The following is a letter I sent to Governor Cuomo. I would like to share it here for your readership. The letter is as follows.

Honorable Governor Andrew Cuomo and Staff,

First, please allow an introduction. My name is Jim Tornatore from the Village of Newark Valley in Tioga County. I am, and have been our Village Mayor since 2004. NYS Assembly 124th and Senate 52nd District is our home. Our Village population at most recent analysis is nine hundred sixty-five (965) residents. 

The purpose of this correspondence is to personalize the Executive proposal for sharing of services and municipal aid impact. We in the Village agree sharing of services is an efficient tool to stabilize costs benefiting all involved. Our Village Government has inter-municipal agreements with our County and shares service with the Towns of Barton, Berkshire, Owego and Richford plus the Villages of Candor and Owego. Just a bit of history; so I may better explain.

Our Village Government operates a municipal water system, solid waste collection, and a general budget for seasonal snow removal, CHIPS approved road repair, historic site library building, historic site municipal building, municipal parks, bike and skate board park, code enforcement and many other necessities as determined by our community master plan and public.  

We do aggressively advocate sharing services with the Town of Newark Valley; however, that is not a priority for that Town Government. At a later time, if you wish, I will share our discussions, newspaper articles, and e-mails concerning this thought process. Our Village government is proactive and our public appreciates that activity.  

We effectively seek and receive funding for infrastructure requirements thru USDA Rural Water, NYS Parks, NYS Historic Preservation, Private Foundations, Empire State Development and the NYS DOT/Federal Highway Program.  Our funding has reached $2.6 million over the last nine years. The Village’s 2016 recent NYS Comptroller audit is available and complimentary to our total process. We closely monitor our municipal financial stability and stress levels.

The Town of Newark Valley has an interesting method of tax rate budgeting not utilized anywhere else in our County and possibly in all of NYS. Essentially for the most recent eleven years or so the Town levies a very similar tax rate to both Village and Town taxpayers.  

One year recently landowners in the Village were charged a higher Town tax rate then taxpayers outside the Village. Budgeting in other Towns separates the expenses borne by the Town landowners and the expenses borne by Village taxpayers. Comptrollers allow wide latitude in budgeting so the Town of Newark Valley allocations method is ‘legal’, although not ‘fair’. Our Town is using the Village residents as a cash cow. Over these years Villagers have experienced multiple years of very high percentage increases in the Town tax rate while the Town landowners see minimal or no increase in tax or tax rate.

If the Town of Newark Valley chooses to charge the Village of Newark Valley a very similar tax rate; we request the Town of Newark Valley sand / salt / plow our Village streets. Obviously, the Village Government will right size our staff and budget for this accommodation. The Town of Newark Valley Government continues to refuse that request. They continue to collect full tax rate by Village taxpayers without the services. The Town of Newark Valley actually plows some portions of roads in the Towns of Candor and Owego as a shared service; however, refuses to perform that service to their own taxpayers in the Village of Newark Valley. This is a strain on our Village residents’ wallets and pocketbooks.

Our Village residents do not suggest consolidation. I periodically comment in print; however, that is not their desire.

We believe many local governments are efficient, work together and maintain a lower cost than possible by regional type municipalities. I do suggest the municipalities like the Town of Newark Valley do not operate with an efficient framework in mind. The Town of Newark Valley recent Comptroller audit stated lack of Public Works oversight by the Town Supervisor and Councilmen. I believe these are the kind of activities that influence our Governor and his belief that sharing of services do not work. The Town of Newark Valley is not a good example of most municipal actions. I do wish to supply the back up and communication between our Village and Town. Maybe, this can be an illustration why municipalities must work together.

The Governor’s Office may utilize this type of Town of Newark Valley operation as a reason for the shared services initiative. Your office may contact me at your convenience.

Sincerely,

Jim Tornatore 

Village of Newark Valley Mayor

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