“We emphasize that change must happen, it’s not optional at this point,” Tax Relief Task Force member Karen LoBracco told members of the Brockport Village Board June 26, after members of the Task Force presented their report and recommendations to village leaders during a workshop meeting of the village board.
The four-page report advises a three-pronged approach to reducing the tax burden and encouraging businesses and families to take up residence in the village. The approach involves increasing income, reducing expenses and agitating for changes in state requirements.
“All of the Task Force members identify as persons who love our village,” the report states, “yet are concerned about its long term health. In some ways we felt a heavy responsibility to carefully examine this issue, knowing that growth in the tax burden was unsustainable.”
To increase income, the report recommends more attention to economic development, including increased attention to industrial sites and industries; a thorough examination of rental housing assessments in partnership with the Town of Sweden assessor; and prioritizing spending including seeking grant funding for cultural projects.
The numerous recommendations for reducing expenses include hiring an independent negotiator for labor union contract negotiations; an immediate freeze on hiring and no automatic filling of positions; a sliding scale for health care premiums; making employees responsible for paying their own deductibles; and reevaluation of pay for the Department of Public Works.
“We feel compelled to speak up about practices and agreements that are out of line with community norms and practices in the private sector,” the report states regarding benefits received by village employees who are union members. The Task Force recommends renegotiating contracts with the Brockport Police Department.
“The benefits that they are receiving are one of the highest costs the Village is facing,” the report states.
Finally, agitating for change at a state level includes vigorously advocating for the state legislature to pass the SUNY Impact Assistance Act for grants to offset the costs of The College at Brockport in the Village, and a change in unfunded mandates which apply to how retirement benefits are calculated.
“Benefits that must be offered to retirees, etc., impose a significant and long lasting drag on village finances,” the Task Force reported.
Task Force members said they realize the recommendations are painful but for the greater good of the community, changes have to be made.
“We would hate to see dissolution of the village and loss of the police department, but that is the direction things are heading if our situation does not improve quickly,” the report states in conclusion.
Mayor Margaret Blackman praised the report, noting it contains very good ideas. “You obviously did your homework,” she told Task Force members.
Trustee Kathy Kristansen said the village can immediately begin work on some of the recommendations in the report including working with the Sweden Town Assessor on the assessment issue.
Additionally, Mayor Blackman asked Karen LoBracco for assistance in organizing a letter writing campaign to state leaders. LoBracco offered her help to the village working for changes at the state level.
LoBracco said it is important that village employees understand, “we wanted to care for them. We were concerned they would feel this was an attack … that is not at all the case; we are concerned about their long-term future here.”
Kevin McCarthy, another Task Force member, said cuts are necessary, however. “Retirement costs are killing us,” he said, “we felt it was like the old union days of GM, there’s got to be some serious changes.”
Trustee Kathy Kristansen said the village is working towards making union employees pay more for health care and deductibles. “The DPW at least is paying a part of their healthcare cost. They know with the next contract they are going to have to pay more,” she said.
Mayor Blackman said the Task Force report document will go into negotiations with labor unions and Trustee Kristansen suggested each member of both unions should get a copy of the report prior to contract negotiations.
Trustee John La Pierre, a member of the Task Force, noted village department heads were very open to providing information to Task Force members as they worked over the past year. “We are very thankful,” La Pierre said. “We had a tremendous Task Force that worked very hard on this … we are very, very appreciative of your time and effort.”
