Dear Hurley Residents, On Monday November 19, 2007 Supervisor Shultis made a motion to adopt the 2008 Town Budget which gave a modest 0.2% property tax decrease to Hurley Taxpayers. After a lengthy debate this motion was voted down by a 3-1 vote with John Gill, Barbara Zell and Janet Briggs voting against Supervisor Shultis' budget. John Gill then introduced a motion, seconded by Barbara Zell to adopt Supervisor Shultis' 2008 budget WITH the following changes which resulted in a 12.4% Property Tax Increase!: Voting FOR this 12.4% increase: John Gill, Barbara Zell & Janet Briggs COUNCILMAN GILL STATED DURING THE PUBLIC MEETING THAT HIS CHANGES WOULD RESULT IN A 2.2% TAX INCREASE. . SUPERVISOR SHULTIS WAS THE DISSENTING VOTE AGAINST THIS EGREGIOUS ERROR !!! Increase GENERAL FUND Budget Lines, 1. A1220.4 Supervisor Contractual from $12,000 to $42,000 = $30,000 increase 2. A5182.4 Town Street Lighting Contractual from $6400 to $6700 = $300 increase 3. A9060.8 Medical Insurance-Employee Benefit from $62,400 to $73,400 = $11,000 increase Increase HIGHWAY FUND Budget Lines, 1. DA5112.2 Permanent Improvements-Capital Outlay from $175,000 to $300,000 = $125,000 increase 2. DA5142.4 Snow Removal-Personal Services from $186,600 to $210,000 = $23,400 increase 3. DA5142.4 Snow Removal-Contractual from $130,000 to $150,000 = $20,000 increase 4. DA9950.9 Interfund Transfers-Capital Projects from $0 to $10,000 = $10,000 increase The General Fund increase, to be raised by property taxes, is up $41,300 or 6.7% from $628,800 to $671,100 The Highway Fund increase, to be raised by property taxes, is up $178,400 or 15.5% from 1,152,900 to $1,331,300 THIS 12.4% Property Tax INCREASE comes when Hurley will end 2007 with a surplus of OVER $500,000 ! ! ! IF THIS STIRS YOU TO ACTION PLEASE ATTEND MONDAY NOVEMBER 26TH TOWN BOARD MEETING AT TOWN HALL 7 PM AND SPEAK UP AND BE HEARD!!!

What we worry about -- New report on Mid-Hudson public opinion

If you are interested in public opinion, how it changes over time, and/or life in the Mid-Hudson, take a look at this report just issued by the Dyson Foundation and the Marist Institute for Public Opinion. Many Voices, One Valley 2007 provides a county-by-county and interest group-by-group picture of how we've changed since 2002. You can also attend a public forum discussing the study - Nov. 16th, 8:30 - 11 am, at Marist College. They're serving a light breakfast so RSVP info@dyson.org

Many Voices One Valley: "Many Voices One Valley 2007 reports the results of a survey conducted by the Marist College Institute for Public Opinion and funded by the Dyson Foundation about what people in New York's Mid-Hudson Valley think of living in the region. The counties included in the study are Columbia, Dutchess, Greene, Orange, Putnam, Sullivan, and Ulster. The results provide a road map to residents' perceptions of the region and expectations for the future."