Milan’s Town Board majority – Barrett, Egan, and Byrne -- displayed outlandish arrogance on the 2010 budget.  On Nov. 18, they approved a 2010 budget with a tax increase of 17.5%.  Much of the increase was for highway improvements which could have been reduced by responsible bonding.  An amendment I offered would have reduced the preliminary budget tax increase of 14% to less than 6%. 

 

Most outrageous, however, was a proposal the day before the meeting that raised the budget another 3%.  The majority voted, over the strong objections of Diane May and me, to prepay retirement for 2010 ($30,000) from 2009 funds, money that could have been used to offset 2010 expenditures, and then added $47,000 to prepay the 2011 retirement in 2010.  So Milan citizens are paying for two years of retirement payments this year, and will be taxed a higher than necessary amount for next year. I am sure the newly elected town officials – particularly Jack Campisi -- played a guiding role in these financial high jinx.  Of course, next year they will have the discretion not to pay until 2011, but they will have citizens’ money.  They padded the 2010 budget at the expense of Milan taxpayers.   A tax increase to 17.5% during a time of financial hardship for many . . .  Outrageous!

After voting against these amendments to the final budget, it was somehow not enough to vote no on the overall budget – I simply left the meeting. 

 

Ross Williams
Milan Town Board Member
11/19/09