The Village of Dryden tree-lighting will be tonight at 7:00pm, at the Village Green between the Methodist and Presbyterian churches near the intersection of Routes 13 and 38. Santa and Mrs. Claus will be coming in their usual fire truck. There will be music and refreshments, and several local businesses (plus the Dryden Town Historical Society will be having open houses from 3:00pm.
It looks like December is going to start with a bang, as a line of squalls passes through late this afternoon and the temperature plunges.
On the opinion page, Dryden County Legislator Mike Hattery argues that the real problem with local taxes is lack of fiscal discipline, and has little to do with state or federal government demanding more while providing the same or less. Right.... well, right-wing, anyway.
Caroline Supervisor Don Barber takes a broader view that includes unfunded mandates, one that helps explain why, for example, pretty much every county in upstate has faced higher taxes, not just those unfortunate enough to lack discipline. (Remember, Tompkins County residents pay lower per-capita taxes than Cortland County, and about the same as notoriously tight-fisted Chemung.)
In a third opinion on the subject, Allen Lambert skewers the Ithaca schools as seems to be his habit, and cheers on property taxes as a great way to raise money.
Posted by simon at December 1, 2006 8:32 AM in Ithaca Journal , Village of Dryden , politics (local) , public finance