Town of Wawayanda Democratic Committee - WayDems.org

Why Do We Tolerate This? 

            The Town of Wawayanda has made the news three times in a little over a week. On Friday, August 15^th a story about our town appeared on Cable 6 news. On Thursday, August 21^st and again on August 23^rd articles appeared in The Times Herald Record concerning our town. Both stories should be of interest to all town residents as they point out the failure of our elected officials to serve their constituents.

            The Cable 6 news story and the Record story of August 23^rd deal with a dispute between a town resident and Mrs. Cathy Cole, our elected Tax Collector. The resident’s mortgage company called Mrs. Cole to find the amount owed by their client. Mrs. Cole, only using the last name and not checking the section, lot and block number, gave them information on the wrong parcel. The mortgage company paid the amount and in doing so, used the correct first and last name, as well as the correct section, block and lot number. Mrs. Cole apparently did not read the name or the section, block and lot number on the payment and credited the wrong account. Was this mistake made due to carelessness on Mrs. Cole’s part?  No payment should be credited without checking all information. Also, why wasn’t this picked up, as two payments should have been credited to the same account? This mistake and failure to correct it in a timely manner could result in this resident losing her home. The story reported that the resident is currently paying $500 a month more in escrow until the matter is cleared up.

            The story that appeared in The Times Herald Record on Thursday, August 21^st dealt with the proposed power plant to be located in our town on Rt. 6. It seems that the power plant is looking to negotiate lower taxes with the county and town. These negotiations are taking place four years before the projected opening of the plant. It seems the jobs they claim will be created should be traded for lower taxes. The article goes on to say that two existing power plants have sued to reduce their assessed value, thus reducing their taxes dramatically. Subsequent articles have reported that the lower taxes for the power plants have sparked an over 30% school tax hike in the area. The amount of increase for the local taxes has yet to be determined.

            Both stories point out what this website has been reporting for months. Our town officials do not do what is best for those they represent. The first story points to the incompetence and/or arrogance of our elected Tax Collector. At the least, a series of mistakes were made on her part.  At the most, she was incompetent in processing tax payments. In either case, we suggest she admit the mistake and rectify it. Why does a town resident have to go the media in order to get the matter addressed and resolved? Why does a resident have to get in touch with the local assemblyperson and state officials (as reported by Cable 6) to get the matter resolved? The town must consider terminating the position of Tax Collector and replacing it with a Collector of Taxes. This position would be a paid, not elected position. This would allow the town to terminate the services of someone who makes such obvious mistakes. Unfortunately for us and the individual affected, elected officials cannot be fired. Unfortunately for us, if Mrs. Cole is sued, WE the taxpayers of the town will pay for the settlement.

            The story concerning the proposed power plant also points out what this website has regularly been reporting. Proposed projects for our town will never pay their fair share of taxes and will not be “good rateables.” This power plant wants to negotiate lower taxes a full 4 years before opening. Once the reduced rate is established, how long  will it be before they sue to get it reduced and shift the tax burden to individual taxpayers? They claim the project will bring 30 full time jobs to our town. Are they willing to guarantee this in writing? Are they willing to give up those tax breaks if the number of jobs generated is less than 30? Are they willing to guarantee wages for these new positions that will allow the workers to live in our town?

            Once again, our elected officials have failed to do the right thing for the town residents! Our tax collector, Mrs. Cole, did not read the correct name nor the correct section, block and lot number for a tax payment. Why was nothing done? Could it be that her fellow Republicans, including her husband Councilman Dave Cole, hoped this whole issue would go away? When the matter was not rectified, why did the resident have to go to the media? Why would the current administration not step in prior to the media attention?

            Our town officials are looking to negotiate lower taxes for a proposed power plant. What kind of a good rateable will this plant be? If it is such a desirable rateable why does it need tax abatements? Why would our elected officials allow a potentially environmentally unfriendly project, possibly producing less tax per square foot than you do on your home?

            One story points to the incompetence of an elected official. The other points out how special interests get what they want and need regardless of your wants and needs. With our current economic situation, “rateables” that will cost us, not benefit us, are not needed!

            Call, email, write or visit our elected officials and demand that they change from an elected Tax Collector, who cannot be held liable for her mistakes, to a Collector of Taxes who can be held to a higher standard! Demand that all projects in our town pay full taxes bases on assessed value! Demand rateables that will pay and help defray our taxes not increase them! Demand accountability on all levels of town government!