The Latest from Supervisor Langley

East Greenbush taxes don't go up
Supervisor says cuts in spending, not in services
By Kenneth C. Crowe II
Times Union
Published 9:58 pm, Thursday, October 2, 2014

"This year I am proposing a zero percent tax increase on the residents of East Greenbush," Langley said. "This is being accomplished through conservative estimates on several revenue sources and tighter controls on spending."

The proposed $17,333,504 budget cuts spending by 3.8 percent. A reduction of $693,933 from the current budget of $18,027,437. The proposed budget does not reduce staffing or programs.

"It will not affect any town services or day-to-day operations," Langley said.

"A zero percent tax increase in these continued economic times is responsible and has the town performing a similar belt-tightening as the individuals and families we serve," Langley said.

The general fund tax rate will remain at $2.78 per $1,000 of assessed valuation.

The town's comprehensive budget also includes the highway fund, sewer, water, fire and ambulance taxes.

"The residents of East Greenbush (should) know we're in much better shape than we think," Councilwoman Mary Ann Matters said.

She had praise for there being no tax increase in the budget.

Matters, however, expressed concern that the Town Board still has not received a report on the audit of the town's finances.

Langley said the town's financial records were in such a mess that it is taking time to straighten them out in order to complete a comprehensive report.

He referred to the state comptroller's 2012 audit of the town's financial management that reported the municipality's "accounting records were not accurate."

Matters questioned the length of time it was taking to complete the audit.

"In short, most of us at this table have nothing, certainly not in the way of number or reports, on which to base a decision regarding this budget in the millions of dollars despite repeated requests from the residents, board meeting after board meeting, for this information," Matters said.

She also questioned why the town payroll has not been certified by the Rensselaer County Civil Service Commission since Jan. 2013. Langley said Town Attorney David Gruenberg is working on this issue"

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Will Langley be able to hold the line ?    Highly doubt it .    So long as Chris Defruscio has anything whatsoever to do with the operations of East Greenbush,  most of what Langley has predicted  is nothing but political fodder, rife with rhetoric and grand dreams.