State aid cut for schools (Hauppauge, Mineola: apartments, renters, home)

[zulu400]

This is the start. We are now entering a process of adjustment to the new standards of education on Long Island.

Sachem's State Aid Cut by $16 Million - Sachem, NY Patch

Obviously the clear message I gathered watching the limited TV coverage was that both school officials and parents were agreeing that teachers are going to be cut and the students are going to suffer from this.

[dman72]

It's either time to cut spending or see your taxes go up like crazy..they might go up any way even with the cuts, just not as much. We are in a financial mess that's it's going to be difficult to get out of.

[scottzilla]

The best part is when schools fight back by punishing the complaining taxpayers (parents) by holding back supplies, threatening sports programs, "Adjusting" bus stops so kids have to walk 3 miles and my favorite: Split sessions. This way, your kids are guaranteed to arrive home (or leave for school) from an empty house.
Awesome.

[FrmlyBklyn]

Since Sachem is such a large district encompassing many towns - just what would be the exact impact to each family if taxes were raised? Yes, $16.2 million is a large number, but since taxes are usually allocated to both businesses and residents and there is a rather large commercial presence in that district - why not increase taxes on commercial and the airport to pick up a large part of the reduction in aid?

[FrmlyBklyn]

Sounds like the "party" is over.

[Yzette]

Originally Posted by FrmlyBklyn

Since Sachem is such a large district encompassing many towns - just what would be the exact impact to each family if taxes were raised? Yes, $16.2 million is a large number, but since taxes are usually allocated to both businesses and residents and there is a rather large commercial presence in that district - why not increase taxes on commercial and the airport to pick up a large part of the reduction in aid?

Am I reading this correctly? Or maybe you're not as fiscally conservative as I thought, my friend.

I'm in the Sachem school district. There are a fair number of industrial parks in the area, probably because of the proximity of MacArthur airport for shipping. Thing is, a lot of these businesses are family-owned and aren't that big. Taxing them too much may hurt more than it helps. The burden is still going to come back to the little guy, who works in a plant and loses his benefits or job when the family-owned company he works for has to divert funds from salary and benefits to paying taxes.

I've always thought it wise for a small to mid-sized business to set up shop in this area. It's not congested like Nassau, or even like Hauppauge; there's easy access to not only an airport, but also the LIRR, LIE, and Sunrise Highway; and the way these industrial parks were designed, there's room to grow within the parks.

Don't get me wrong. I don't want to see it become another Nassau. One afternoon of dealing with Mineola/Carle Place yesterday makes me very glad I don't live or work there. Nassau does seem to be morphing into the next Queens. Just that if you have a small to mid-sized operation, out here is a good place to be because it's reasonable for all the area offers.

[FrmlyBklyn]

Originally Posted by Yzette

Am I reading this correctly? Or maybe you're not as fiscally conservative as I thought, my friend.

I'm in the Sachem school district. There are a fair number of industrial parks in the area, probably because of the proximity of MacArthur airport for shipping. Thing is, a lot of these businesses are family-owned and aren't that big. Taxing them too much may hurt more than it helps. The burden is still going to come back to the little guy, who works in a plant and loses his benefits or job when the family-owned company he works for has to divert funds from salary and benefits to paying taxes.

I've always thought it wise for a small to mid-sized business to set up shop in this area. It's not congested like Nassau, or even like Hauppauge; there's easy access to not only an airport, but also the LIRR, LIE, and Sunrise Highway; and the way these industrial parks were designed, there's room to grow within the parks.

Don't get me wrong. I don't want to see it become another Nassau. One afternoon of dealing with Mineola/Carle Place yesterday makes me very glad I don't live or work there. Nassau does seem to be morphing into the next Queens. Just that if you have a small to mid-sized operation, out here is a good place to be because it's reasonable for all the area offers.

It's an option - all should share in the success and burdens of a town - there should be no "one is a winner". The question is where will a business go if taxes do go up a little? - not China and not Nassau and probably not India, either. Those multi-family complexes - how are those taxed as opposed to single family residential? You could have 3 kids in a rental and if the rental is not taxed at an equal to higher rate than single family, then the town loses.
Rentals typically make money for the landlord - well, Robin Hood says it's always good to pay your fair share. What are the owners going to do?

Maybe I should take a job as your tax assessor?

[dman72]

Drive through any of the industrial parks on LI? They're already half empty, everything is "available".

At some point the answer to everything can't be "just raise taxes more".

Think about what we aren't allowed to talk about here anymore and how this relates. We are going to keep raising taxes on businesses to maintain salary commitments to municipal workers. Who is going to pay the taxes eventually?

[FrmlyBklyn]

Originally Posted by dman72

Drive through any of the industrial parks on LI? They're already half empty, everything is "available".

At some point the answer to everything can't be "just raise taxes more".

Think about what we aren't allowed to talk about here anymore and how this relates. We are going to keep raising taxes on businesses to maintain salary commitments to municipal workers. Who is going to pay the taxes eventually?

So much for the "economic recovery"


The other option is to consolidate classes - that means increased class sizes, less teachers.
You can reduce aides or paraprofessionals, but the real fat will come from the hides of those most well compensated. That means superintendents, principals and again teachers. Teachers make up the bulk of the costs - they either need to accept a pay freeze, pay cut or the nuclear option - fire them.

[Yzette]

Originally Posted by FrmlyBklyn

It's an option - all should share in the success and burdens of a town - there should be no "one is a winner". The question is where will a business go if taxes do go up a little? - not China and not Nassau and probably not India, either. Those multi-family complexes - how are those taxed as opposed to single family residential? You could have 3 kids in a rental and if the rental is not taxed at an equal to higher rate than single family, then the town loses.
Rentals typically make money for the landlord - well, Robin Hood says it's always good to pay your fair share. What are the owners going to do?

Maybe I should take a job as your tax assessor?

Property taxes are factored into rent, so renters do pay, albeit indirectly. When property taxes go up, so does rent. The larger property management companies will even spell that out in their leases.

I don't know what you mean by multi-family rental. You mean apartments? Sorry, but no, someone living in a 750 sq. ft. apartment should not be subjected to property tax on the level of someone living in a stand-alone home that they own on land that they own. Homeowners get plenty of tax write-offs and tax benefits from home ownership that renters do not get, so as far as I'm concerned, the proportions are right.

And actually, although I don't know what business taxes are in Hauppauge, yes, some there have moved their manufacturing to China.