New parking and sewer fees: Getting around the property tax cap

Anya Tikka
Posted 8/21/12

PORT JERVIS, NY — New sewer and parking fees came up again and again at the October 28 council meeting in Port Jervis. Residents got up to speak during the public comment sections at the beginning …

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New parking and sewer fees: Getting around the property tax cap

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PORT JERVIS, NY — New sewer and parking fees came up again and again at the October 28 council meeting in Port Jervis. Residents got up to speak during the public comment sections at the beginning and end of the meeting to protest that they simply couldn’t afford to pay more fees, and many said they were looking to move out of town. The council passed a law to allow for sewer-use fees in order to pay for state-mandated repair of the ancient system, to the tune of $38 million. The fees have not put into place yet, but are being considered for next year’s budget. Due to the state-mandated 2% property tax cap, the money won’t be raised from taxes.

City resident Joe MalFatone said, “I’m baffled about this whole sewer fee thing. You’re going to charge us a sewer-use fee; it’s going to pay for the repairs. But that same sewer is going through my backyard, and I’m already paying for it through my taxes. Now you’re going to charge me twice. I’m a little uptight. The town is changing and some say it’s for the better, but people who live here or have businesses are asked to pay for this and that, and I see what’s coming, but how are we going to do this? [And a] parking lot, now we’re going to be charged a fee for that?”

MalFatone added he’s a working, taxpaying resident with a wife and four kids who felt they were being forced out of the city, and instead, people living on welfare were going to move in.

Councilmember and senior advisor Stanley Siegel, who’s also the housing committee liaison, asked for people to come to meetings to share their views, saying that at a recent public hearing only one couple showed up. “Things can be changed,” he said, adding the town invites and welcomes people’s input, and that it’s hard to know what residents are thinking unless they voice their opinions.

Resident Lorraine Marquez commented, “I understand we’re under a tax cap, and can’t raise our taxes. There seems to be an awful lot of confusion over this, so I ask you to put in writing what the tax cap is, what the sewer services are. As a citizen, we need to have a lot more communication coming from you.”

Mayor Kelly Decker responded saying, “I’m making every effort to put out communication as much as I can—whether it’s Facebook, our website, newsletter, [or a] video that’s now on the Internet so people can stream it.”

Regarding the parking fees, Decker said the council would consider some special arrangements for residents.

Siegel said, “Nobody’s out to harm anyone; we’re trying to make the city better. We have to come up with $38 million that can’t come out of taxes. If anyone can come up with a different way, let us know.”

In other business, Decker shared the good news that Department of Motor Vehicles offices are going to stay in Port Jervis.

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