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Page 2 Tupper Lake Free Press Wednesday, September 28, 2005 New property tax relief group to meet in Tupper Lake continued from page 1 „«• J TI.- .- . afford. I his practice owners a tax burden they can t would spread the burden Some said their soon wouldn't be able to pay Propertyf taxes are pricing\ underminess the stability of our afford. among the majorityn of state assessments were increases their property taxes and would people offtheirpropert.es ! he communities and the ability of \2) Revise the New York residents, rather than merely at such a rate thev feared they have to sell their lake properties. told those in the audience that parents to raise their families State Homestead Act. In its among the property owners continued from page 1 \Property taxes are pricing people of their properties! he told those in the audience that evening. Another committee organizer, Margaret Campion, echoed that sentiment, saying for some property owners in the area, their assessments have \doubled and tripled\ in past years. To its list of priorities, the \Families for Lower Property Taxes\ mis month added a call for a county-wide assessment system- designed to eliminate gross inequities in assessment between the various towns in any given county. In Franklin County, where there are 19 towns, there are 19 different town assessors. Explaining the problem, committee member Frank Karl of Onchiota stated that the property owners in the southern five towns of Franklin County pay \60 percent of all county taxes. There are tremendous inequities of assessments between here versus up north!\ One or two county assessors to set property assessments in all the county towns would be \better trained, better qualified'\ to set the various assessments, he contends. Accurate assessments speak to fairness, he noted. \Increasing assessments in a community doesn't give the local governments more money to spend, it just reconfigures who pays what share of the tax burden, Mr. Karl added. He noted that the state comptroller's office currently has a program to help counties move to a county-wide assessing system. Mr. Karl said their group should push legislators lo investigate what the state agency has to offer. At one point he read a letter from Saranac Lake resident Joseph Mercurio, who complained that assessments and taxes adversely affecting many property owners, particularly those on fixed incomes. \Five years ago our property taxes represented 12% of our incomes. This year taxes represfini 19% of bur total mcoflrte*he*aidtWding that if trends continue he and his wife will soon be forced to move. \Properly taxes were never amended to penalize property owners to the point of forcing them oul of their homes,\ Mr. Mercurio wrote. Trustee Mickey Desmarais has attend several of the group's meetings in Saranac Lake (his summer and in August afford. This practice undermines the stability of our communitie and the ability of parents to raise their families in New York; \Therefore we the undersigned do call on our elected officials in New York to take all possible action to curtail the unlimited growth of property assessments and the resulting property taxes in New York State. \Specifically we request you to act on all of the following: \1) Abolish the use of 'The Welcome Stranger' rule of assessing in New York State. This practice drives up the assessed value of surrounding properties when a neighboring property is sold at a much higher price, thus causing many long time property owners a tax burden they can't afford. 2) Revise the New York State Homestead Act. In its present form the current Homestead Act (when enacted by the local jurisdiction) shifts the tax burden from private homeowners to businesses, thus discouraging business growth. The Homestead Act should be revised to alleviate the tax burden on permanent residents by instituting a tax increase cap of three percent per year on all primary residences, as has proved effective in Florida. \3) Create an alternative source for education funding. The burden of education with its many unfunded state and federal mandates, is breaking the backs of many property owners. A state income tax would spread the burden among the majority of state residents, rather tha merely among the property owners, and ensure people are being taxed on their ability to pay.\ Harrietstown Town Supervisor Larry Miller said that he and bis board have investigated the \Homestead Act\ where seasonal residents often pay more in taxes than year rouad residents. \You cant do it in New York State, because it effects businesses!\ The September meeting in Saranac Lake attracted what appeared to be over 30 residents of Upper Saranac Lake, where assessments have skyrocketed in recent years. Many of them applauded the work of the new grass roots organization. State H&eafae MIDNIGHT SHOW FRIDAY NIGHT! FRI. 7PM. 9PM SAT. 2:00.7.00,9:15 SUN . 2:00.7:00 MON.-THU. AT 7:00 4 FRI. AT 4:30.7:00. 9:00 SAT. 2:00,4:30,7.9:00 SUN. 2:00,4:30, 7:O0 MON-THURS. 4:30,7:00 THE EXORCISM .1—for EMILY ROSEJLTX Jaa JL •t «JODiE FOSTER LEJRJGHTPLAN EVERY DAY AT 4:30 ONLY! ( LAST WEEK! f Mnttwmk: ^ I WMIMEAWMSMMIT: } ig Heawii Two glorious weeks in Scotland of Ihalr 25 yam of marriage Tuppar Lafca'a Donna and Randy Jonas alvas to a two-waak trip to Scouand. InJjha photo ownn waaklyy thatt accompaniedd thornn dunug-aa atm off tha hooMtow waakl tha accompanie thor duftugl stroll of Edlnburah'* \Royal •Ma.\ Donna and Randy alao enjoyad an aight-day island bus tour which hit tha Highlands, tha Orfcnaya and tha graatar HabrMaa, whara thay actualy cstebratad thair auVar anniversary. CorisMtrabteUme was spent too •njoytng a fairy ride on tha North Seas. During «» of thalr hiking Irips In lha Highlands of Scotland thay i tha castla whara tha iiwvla \IMuhtander\, which i SaanConnary, was lamed. Donna also got to touch tha fabric of Uam Nalaon'a Mlt (although Llam wasnt waartng It at Mia tana). X St. Jude Children's Research Hospital Workout Against Cancer Saturday, October 15th 8 a.m. - 12 noon Fitness Express 94 Demurs Blvd., Tupper Lake Open to all WOMEN age 14 & older Members AND Non-Members Stop by & pick up your sponsor sheet before Wednesday, October 12 Collect Pledges based on: - Length of workout - Number of circuits completed - Number of classes attended - -flat rate donation Alt fHints cottected must be turned in by 6p.m. Mm*ty. October 17, 200S r*expl ai ^cZ^l!agc officials RCSCUG IBSIlOlldS fOUT tlftieS about the group's new petition. It details some of the improvements needed, if working people are to survive in northern New York, according to the \Families for Lower Taxes\ drafters. The following is a copy of the group's petition: \Whereas we. the undersigned property owners in New York State are dismayed by the constant increase in our property assessments and accompanying taxes. Many of us have already experienced significant property tax increases in recent years, and are now once again being faced with considerable property tax increases; \Whereas each year more and more New York State properly owners are being forced to consider selling their properties due lo property lax burdens they can no longer The Tupper Lake Volunteer Rescue Squad responded lo four calls for the week, three of which traveled to the Saranac Lake Hospital. On Monday, Sept. 19ai9 p.m. Ester Collins was transported from 35 Second Street to AMC in Saranac Lake. Squad members responded to a call at 7:09 a.m. Canvassing here continued from paga 1 Fee and Officer Jason Amcl) lo attend October 16. at S75 each andSgL EricProulx and Officer Troy Griffin lo attend October l7.atS75each. -granted permission for Sgt. Eric Proulx and Officer Wesley Hoyi lo attend NYSPIN Advisory Committee meeting in Albany, November 3 and 4. ffflgnci v^r^Wi.iurTsae; on Tuesday, Sept. 20, loa home on Little Wolf Lake where Arthur Houghton had passed away. Mr. Houghton's obituary can be found on this page. On Wednesday, Sept. 21. at 4:43 p.m. Betty Lcvit was transported from Mercy Healthcare Center lo the Saranac Lake Hospital. On Friday, Sept. 23, at 4:03 a.m. Rebecca LaDue was transported from 13 Emma Street lo the Adirondack Medical Center in Saranac Lake. Planning Bd. to meet The Town of Tupper Lake Village of Tupper Lake Planning Board will hold a meeting tonight (Wednesday, Sepi. 28) at 7 p.m. in the courtroom at the town hall on Denials Blvd. Park Smokehouse A WnttDSMEtrS TAVEKN 320 Park St, Tupper Lake - 359-7556 • Fax: 359-9588 Open 4 pain, for Dinner SundayCtosed Monday Coming Soonl Oktoberfest Menu Oct. 10-23 'Friday\ Fish Fry small parties & special functions far luncheons & dinners Call for more information Come en/ay our hospffaf/fy- Eat, Drink 6 Be Merry! u *±<***x«<t*^ •Joseph M. Poissant (Ret.) •Joseph P. Nichols •Thomas A. Grue •Stephen A. Vanier •Kevin F. Nichols POISSANT NICHOLS &GRUE EST. !87J PERSONAL INJURY AND GENERAL PRACTICE INCLUDING: •Automobile & Motorcycle Accidents •Accidents Caused by Tractor Trailers •Bum Injury •Birth Defects •Criminal •Divorce •Wrongful Death •Construction Injuries •Medical Malpractice •Product Defects •Family Law PRACTICING LAW IN FRANKLIN, ESSEX, ST. LAWRENCE AND CLINTON COUNTIES SINCE 1875 1-800-924-3529 *367 WEST MAIN STREET, MALONE, NY*
