If the taxpayers want the opportunity to stop paying for this losing proposition, now is the time

Dear Editor,

The Village of Owego has two local laws up for vote on Aug. 1 that will affect how the Village will function in two departments. Local law 3-2017 is a vote to abolish the Village Justice Court. The court functions would then be absorbed into the Town of Owego Court system.  

The second law up for vote, local law 4-2017, is a vote to change the Clerk-Treasurer position from an elected position to an appointed position. The board of trustees would then appoint Clerk-Treasurer. The benefits and reasoning behind putting these laws forward needs to be understood along with what the next steps are.  

The abolishment of the Village Justice Court is needed to avoid further financial drain on the village finances. As of the recent revenue report (July 17, 2017) from the Clerk’s office of the Village Justice Court, the court has brought in $26,469 in revenue with costs currently at $72,585. This is through 11.5 months of the fiscal year for a loss of over $46,000 in one year so far. 

Recent losses in this department for two years prior are $21,628 and $44,030. This $111,658 loss over the last three years negatively impacts the village finances, property tax rates and the viability of other village departments.  

A major concern is that a March 2018 election of the Village Justice will mean another four years of a potential future loss of $148,876 from this department with no recourse for the taxpayers but to suffer (based on projections at a $37,219 average loss over the last three years).  

This is a conservative estimate given that the Village Police department (the police department is a separate department where the Village Court receives most of their cases from) staffing levels are not as high as they were three years ago nor do we anticipate them returning to those levels before or after any change with the Village Court.  A number of $148,876 is our lowest anticipated projection with potential for up to $200,000 over those four years, with no “escape plan” for the village to avoid this.  

The Board’s concern is that by holding onto a money losing department may force more staff cutbacks in other departments, whose budgets are already stressed. Or, raise property taxes even higher to make up the loss under the Village Justice Court budget.  

If the taxpayers want the opportunity to stop paying for this losing proposition, now is the time. Another factor to consider is the recent award of a $100,000 grant to pay for costs to abolish the Village Court. This change will also not take effect until March 2018, so no one’s employment in this department would be affected immediately.  

Counsel has advised the Village Board; the Town of Owego is obligated by law to provide Court services and is already planning for this consolidation. There is also a mandate currently by New York State government for localities to consolidate services. If this law does pass, all court services can and will be taken care of by the Town of Owego Court system.  

Local law 4-2017 is a proposed law to change the Village Clerk-Treasurer from an elected to appointed position. This would allow the Village Board to eventually appoint a Clerk and a qualified Certified CPA as Treasurer.  

This is a change that is needed if we are to have a chance at correcting the ongoing financial management problems. Currently, as an elected position, the only qualification to be Clerk-Treasurer is to be at least 18 years old, a resident of the Village of Owego and a U.S. citizen. No experience, training, education or specific skills in bookkeeping, accounting, governmental accounting or a related field is currently required for this position.  

The Clerk’s office is assisting in finishing multiple past due audits but have struggled to provide the data required by mandated outside independent CPA’s and auditors. The board feels that the Clerk’s office personnel could use a Treasurer with an accounting background to oversee and manage them. This position would be open to a larger pool of candidates and also attract candidates with skills in government, governmental accounting, and general accounting. 

The success of this referendum would allow the Board to appoint a trained, qualified, and certified Treasurer in March 2018 at the end of the current term for Clerk-Treasurer. No positions are eliminated with the passage of this law. If this measure fails to pass, we, the Village will continue to have its financial management system, potentially with the same inherent problems in place, remain as it is.

Your Board fully supports and trusts you will pass both referendums, as we believe it will serve you well in the long run. Without passage, we will have to make some incredibly tough choices even harder. The mayor and all trustees made a promise to all voters we would manage the Village with fiscally responsible and long-term sustainable choices. Now we need the Village voters to come out again to accomplish this.  

Please get out and VOTE “YES” for passage of both laws on Aug. 1. Voting will take place from noon to 9 p.m. at the Central Fire Station located at 87 North Ave. in Owego.  

Sincerely,

Village of Owego Mayor May and Village Trustees