OK, let’s get this off our chests. When Bill Johnson ran for
county executive last year, he told the truth: The county would have to raise
property taxes. Maggie Brooks insisted that she wouldn’t do that.
ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย Bill
Johnson lost the election. Maggie Brooks won.
ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย Taxes
certainly weren’t the only issue in the campaign; the Republicans’
scare-tactics over “metro” probably guaranteed that Maggie would win. But now,
safely in office for the next three years, Maggie’s doing what she insisted she
wouldn’t do. The budget she proposed last week would increase property taxes.
ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย This had to
happen. The county has a serious financial problem: Costs have been
skyrocketing, and the county hasn’t been taking in enough money to pay for
them.
ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย Much of the
increase is beyond the county’s control. State leaders continue to make
counties bear the burden of Medicaid funding, for instance. But the county has
made matters worse with its flat-tax policy.
ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย Property
values in some parts of Monroe County have been rising. If the county had kept
the tax rate the same, you’d have paid a little more taxes if your property
value increased. And the county would have taken in more money.
ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย When Jack
Doyle was county executive, though, he kept cutting the tax rate. He kept the
tax levy — the amount of money the
county took in — flat, despite the increase in property values.
ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย I
understand the appeal of flat taxes. This is a high-tax state. But Doyle’s
policy was a terrible mistake. It’s not just me saying that. Local business
leaders have said so. Even some brave Republican county legislators have said
so.
ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย Doyle’s
policy was expensive: Thanks to the county’s poor fiscal condition, its bond
rating dropped — and the county had to pay more to borrow money.
ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย Now,
Maggie’s doing the right thing. I wish she were doing it the right way. She
insisted last week that she has not changed her policy. She has, of course. She
said clearly during the campaign that she would not raise either the tax rate
or the tax levy. Last Thursday, WXXI radio aired a tape of her saying just
that.
ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย The
Democrats are furious. At a press conference on Wednesday, party chair Molly
Clifford focused on Brooks’ flip-flop. Thursday afternoon, legislature minority
leader Stephanie Aldersley told me that the Democrats were starting to review
the enormous budget document, so she couldn’t yet comment on the budget
specifics. But, she said, “I’ll be honest. It’s ironic to me that Maggie has
done exactly what the mayor said he would do. It galls me. He was honest, and
it cost him the election. That really sticks in my craw.”
ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย Sure it
does. And it galls me that a lot of voters fell for that line. But now what?
ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย Will the Democrats do the right thing, and
embrace Brooks’ move to let property taxes go up on some properties? Or will
they keep focusing on Brooks’ flip flop and try to turn it into some kind of
political gain?
ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย County
legislators will vote on the budget next month. They’ll hold a public hearing
on November 4. Between now and then the media, legislators, and community
activists will be reviewing the expense parts of the budget, and there’ll be
plenty to talk about besides the tax rate.
ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย But the tax
rate is important. And the Democrats and the public have a choice: either rage
against the flip flop, or agree that Maggie has done the right thing, and move
forward.
ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย “Maggie has
the charisma to be able to call the community together,” Aldersley said when I
talked with her last week. Indeed she does. So, in fact, do a number of
Democrats — in the county legislature and in City Hall. The man Maggie
defeated last November, Rochester Mayor Bill Johnson, has already done the
statesmanlike thing, focusing on the need to let the tax levy increase.
ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย Democrats
in the legislature need to do the same. Yes, they need to keep pressing the
county on the issue of importing Canadian drugs. That’ll save money for county
taxpayers. But I don’t think Democrats will be able to find enough savings and
“waste” in Maggie’s budget to keep taxes flat. And there’s every indication
that the county’s fiscal problems will continue after this year.
ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย It’s
crucial that the county move toward financial stability. Republicans, after
years of fiscal mismanagement, have taken the first step. It’s time for
Democrats to congratulate them — and join them.
This article appears in Oct 20-26, 2004.
