nehemiah
June 28th, 2006, 5:35:53 PM
Standing in front of her home on Argonne Drive in Kenmore, Lisa Noonan considered the question: How did she feel about the fact that her village government had taken in 44 percent more in property tax dollars from 2002 to the current fiscal year?
"You have to pay for quality services," Noonan replied. "If we have to lose our Police Department or other services for taxes to stay the same, it's not worth it."
It's not an uncommon answer. For all the griping area residents do about taxes in general, it's rare to find any who would argue that services in their corner of the world should be cut in order to lower taxes.
For the nearly 90,000 people who live in the 15 villages wholly located in Erie County, a review of property tax levies between fiscal years 2002-03 and 2006-07 shows that the smallest form of local government is costing millions of dollars more today than just a few years ago.
In one village, the average homeowner is paying $100 more a year in village taxes today than he or she paid five years ago. In Erie County, school taxes make up the largest chunk of a property tax bill. County taxes get the most notoriety. And town taxes, contained in town budgets that are approved near election time, tend to get more attention from elected leaders.
Village taxes? Hardly anyone complains about them.
http://www.buffalonews.com/editorial/20060628/1053357.asp
"You have to pay for quality services," Noonan replied. "If we have to lose our Police Department or other services for taxes to stay the same, it's not worth it."
It's not an uncommon answer. For all the griping area residents do about taxes in general, it's rare to find any who would argue that services in their corner of the world should be cut in order to lower taxes.
For the nearly 90,000 people who live in the 15 villages wholly located in Erie County, a review of property tax levies between fiscal years 2002-03 and 2006-07 shows that the smallest form of local government is costing millions of dollars more today than just a few years ago.
In one village, the average homeowner is paying $100 more a year in village taxes today than he or she paid five years ago. In Erie County, school taxes make up the largest chunk of a property tax bill. County taxes get the most notoriety. And town taxes, contained in town budgets that are approved near election time, tend to get more attention from elected leaders.
Village taxes? Hardly anyone complains about them.
http://www.buffalonews.com/editorial/20060628/1053357.asp