Editorial: Meeting the mandate

Thursday, 12 November 2009 01:00

Lower taxes.

The public made it clear that is the mandate for the Republican candidates by electing them to all three open Town Board seats by a large margin after running almost entirely on the tax issue.

But how will the Republicans deliver on their pledge?

Town Board members have already spent months cutting expenses from all areas of the budget, with little, if anything, left to trim. And creating a significant increase in revenue is highly unlikely, as the Republican ideas of pool cabanas and lifetime pool passes will do little to offset the large deficit.

Also, the task will become even more difficult if the Republicans continue to push for larger government than is currently proposed for 2010. During the campaign, the Republicans stated that they were against the furloughs that Town Supervisor Edward Brancati proposed for next year. And last week, Republican members of the Town Board fought for other town employees as well, this time pushing the board to reinstate the part-time positions that Mr. Brancati had slated to cut. Yet even if these positions generate some revenue, it will not be enough to offset the savings in eliminating them, and adding these work hours and salaries would inflate expenses in the 2010 budget proposal that already includes a 29% tax increase to balance the books.

Town employees were undoubtedly pleased to see the Republicans elected because they believe the new majority will eliminate the Democratic furloughs and cuts. But, unfortunately, if the Republicans have any chance to deliver lower taxes, the opposite will be required. The salaries and hours of more than just part-time town workers would have to be slashed even deeper, as all other viable alternatives appear to be exhausted. And remember, the public mandate was against new taxes going forward, meaning the Republicans will have to reverse any tax increase the Democrats institute in their budget for 2010 — a flat budget or slight decrease for 2011 built on top of next year’s expected significant tax hike will not cut it.

Voters made good choices in electing Charles Duffy, Peter DeLucia, and Frank Kelly — all are bright and appear to have the public’s best intentions in mind. But they will have to make extremely difficult and at times unpopular decisions to deliver on their campaign promise and public mandate for lower taxes in these historically tough times.