Comments for Political and Economic Commentary on Amsterdam NY and Beyond

Comment on Anything But Great News by Tim Becker

Tim Becker — Tue, 07 Sep 2010 13:23:57 +0000

Bob Dole doesn't care what anyone says, Bob Dole thinks that $600,000 is… a lot of money!

Comment on Oy Vey by Tim Becker

Tim Becker — Tue, 07 Sep 2010 13:22:42 +0000

Hey, don't be blaming me : )

Comment on What Could Have Been by Billaway

Billaway — Sat, 04 Sep 2010 22:12:59 +0000

Amsterdam – Not happy unless we're miserable!

Comment on Anything But Great News by flippin

flippin — Sat, 04 Sep 2010 00:56:47 +0000

ROFL — don't forget Norm MacDonald as Bob Dole …

Comment on Anything But Great News by Tim Becker

Tim Becker — Thu, 02 Sep 2010 15:01:12 +0000

This editorial reminded me of Norm MacDonald parodying Larry King on Saturday Night Live.

Comment on Capital Idea by wildthane

wildthane — Sat, 28 Aug 2010 15:27:42 +0000

Unlike the previous administration, we have budgeted every year for the purchase of police cars.

Comment on Capital Idea by flippin

flippin — Sat, 28 Aug 2010 15:27:14 +0000

I understand the same– bond funding not subject to tax cap. Naturally this allows bonds then to fund things that should not be bonded such as demolition. What intrigues me is why we bond for demolition yet bond no projects with any construction or growth. What is the last initiative funded by the council that involves any type of growth scenario? I can't think of one. Meanwhile Schenectady is funding a major renovation to their library while here, at the first mention of the budget figures, our local library funding immediately finds itself on the chopping block. Shouldn't we bonding with some strategy to drive growth versus using it as a way to offset expenses resulting from non-growth and intentional anti-growth policies?

Comment on Capital Idea by bethanyschumann

bethanyschumann — Sat, 28 Aug 2010 01:39:10 +0000

Flippin',
**It is my understanding that:
Bonding doesn't count against the self-imposed tax cap that the common council has to live with.
Remember, we have a self-imposed cap on taxes–no more than 1% of assessed value, here in the city. But, that doesn't include (a) fees for water, sewer, garbage, or (b) monies paid on bonds (I clearly don't have a copy of the charter or profess to be an expert, but it is my understanding that if the council bonds out something, that bond payments aren't included in the tax cap so it's another way to make the peeps pay while technically staying under the tax cap.)
The common council bonds for everything they can't afford to pay for….even little stuff like police cars….

Comment on WTF by flippin

flippin — Wed, 18 Aug 2010 18:16:09 +0000

I'll look forward to that

Comment on WTF by Charlie Kraebel

Charlie Kraebel — Wed, 18 Aug 2010 12:31:02 +0000

You beat me to the punch, Flip. I think it's time for one of "those" columns.