The Enterprise opinion pages are an open forum for our community. We encourage readers to express their thoughts about issues that appear in this newspaper or affect the community. Letters should be brief (with an outside limit of 1,000 words) and must include the writer's address, name, and phone number for verification. The editor may reject letters that have been printed elsewhere. Letters concerning elections will be cut off one issue before the election at the editor's discretion. No unsigned letters will be published. The deadline for letters is Tuesday at noon.
To the Editor:
I would like to report to the town of Berne residents regarding my decision, as to rejecting the 2013 town budget.
First of all, the 4-percent pay increases were much higher for some town officials and appointments, which entails the 4-percent goes a long way for a low percentage.
Our supervisor now gets $18,300; the town clerk receives $38,380; the three assessors get a total of $31,384; and we have a new job duty of a senior account that will earn $47,320. That’s a few of the increases in payroll.
As a board member, I feel that, in this day and age, our tax money should be placed elsewhere. For example: Youth and seniors services in our town are not receiving increases. In fact, over the years, they have seen decreases.
Putting the budget together can be a tedious process, but I feel it’s a no-brainer to say “nay” to pay increases.
Take a look at our town; we as Americans and New York State residents are hurting. Our future is uncertain with families moving out, houses not selling, new businesses not venturing, and always looking for another grant application.
So why say “yay” to the pay? “Nay” is my way!
Bonnie Conklin
Berne Councilwoman
Editor’s note: A memorandum of understanding between the Hilltown Senior Citizens and the town of Berne was signed during the term of previous supervisor, George Gebe. It allows for incremental decreases in budget allocations for seniors, starting in 2010, while the town agrees to maintain the senior center.
For the full story on Berne’s tentative budget, go online to www.AltamontEnterprise.com and look under Archives, Back Issues, 10-18-12, page 8; for a further story on the budget, look at the 11-15-12 issue on page 12.
See related story on page 9.