Opinion piece submitted by Andrew Harris-
Town of Wellsville Taxpayer:
While you have elected representatives and staff doing the daily business and labor of keeping your town running, in the end you are the owner/shareholder/custodian of Town of Wellsville. You are responsible for the town’s governance, and ultimately for the recent headline, “A Day of Reckoning.” You are about to experience an increase in property tax, a decrease in property value, and a loss of services. This is my attempt to motivate you.
As Supervisor Shad Alsworth noted, “None of us are happy about this,” referring to his announcement of austerity measures, including tax hikes and layoffs, in fiscal 2020. Town Highway head and Republican political leader Dean Arnold acknowledged that these challenges are only beginning. “I know the Town Board has a huge burden to address now and in the coming years,” he said.
The Town of Wellsville is out of money, the tax base is melting like an iceberg, and the only response from the town’s owners are Facebook posts.
The only real solution is for property owners to do their job and participate in solving this very complicated dilemma. Our town board can’t be expected to conduct business, police town employees, and find the best way to restructure. The ideas, experiences, and efforts of the town’s owners are going to be a key element in turning austerity into efficiency.
Ponder the circumstances and look for a way you can help. Many households and businesses in this community have plenty of experience in digging out of a financial hole. Those who worked in town operations or past governments likely have ideas and thoughts about how to correct our position. The real future of our town is in Wellsville High School and Alfred State College: Let’s get them involved and interested in participating in an effort they will inherit.
The Town of Wellsville has the opportunity to seize the day, pull itself up by its bootstraps, and begin a recovery that leads to future stability and growth, where the headline can be, “Wellsville NY: From tax massacre to model of efficiency.”
Step one is for taxpayers to be involved. Contact any town official and ask how you can be part of the solution.
ELECTED TOWN BOARD
Shad Alsworth, Supervisor sealsworth@gutchess.com
Mike Miller, Council Member mikemiller.wlsv@gmail.com
Patty Graves, Council Member pdnny@hotmail.com
Bill Fish
william_f82@yahoo.com
Jesse Case
jessecase1@yahoo.com
TOWN PLANNING BOARD
Lee Gridley
leeg@localnet.com
Brian Brandes
brandesb70@yahoo.com
Andrew Harris
sunsetsolarfarm@yahoo.com
Darwin Fanton
darwinwlsv@yahoo.com
George Goetschius george.goetschius@gmail.com
