July 11, 2006

LETTER FROM CHAIRPERSON PUBLISHED IN D&C

Dear Editor:

The Gates Town administration continues to blame everyone but themselves for the Town’s current financial woes. In coping with Kodak’s 2000 departure from Gates, the Town lowered property taxes in 2001 and 2002! Then they raised their salaries for the next 5 years until it became an election issue in 2005. They incurred a huge financial obligation by building the expensive Public Safety Building in 2003. They used illegal fund transfers and fiscal gimmicks to cover budget shortfalls, resulting in a $1.7 million surplus becoming a $2.8 million deficit.

The Town Supervisor continues to blame the departure of Kodak in 2000 for Gates’ financial problems. That was 6 years ago! Neither the Gates Chili School District nor the Spencerport School District has the financial problems that Gates has! They did not raise taxes rates 44% in 2003-2006 as the Town has done, making Gates residents pay the 2nd highest property tax rate in Monroe County. In fact, Gates town tax increases more than offset the revenue loss from Kodak. Please stop blaming Kodak! Better planning like the school districts did would have prevented this fiasco!

When three independent organizations examine the Town’s financial situation and draw similar conclusions about Gates town finances and practices, obviously there is something wrong. Audit analysis of the Town’s finances, whether it comes from the NYS Comptroller’s office, Moody’s Investment Services or the Town’s own independent auditors are made by professional accountants of various party affiliations. All these financial analysts issued cautionary statements about Gates town financial controls. The NYS Comptroller’s audit cited the lack of Town Board oversight along with the Town Supervisor’s lack of planning and adherence to properly established financial practices and state laws.

So let’s place the blame squarely where it belongs! On the Gates Town Board and Supervisor!

Sincerely
Susan Swanton