Archive: Opinions

Letters Dear Editor,
 
Both Candidates in the race for County Legislator in Lansing say they are fiscal conservatives so I decided to compare.

While Mike Sigler has been on the county legislature, the property tax rate for the county has gone down from $7.18 per thousand dollars of assessed value in 2005 to $5.93 this year, a decrease of $1.25 or 17 percent.  That saves a homeowner whose home is worth $200,000 $250.

While Pat Pryor was on the Ithaca City Council, the tax rate went up from $9.30 in 1999 (the year before she took office) to $12.77 per thousand dollars of assessed value in 2004, the last budget she voted on. That's an increase of $3.46 or 37 percent meaning the same $200,000 homeowner would have seen an increase of almost $700 on their tax bill.

Pat Pryor has already said she's open to increasing taxes and it's clear she will, seeing as that's what she did on the Ithaca City Council.
  
There's no question who will be more careful with the taxpayer's money and that's why I'll be voting for Mike Sigler on Nov. 3rd.

Kevin Hicks
Lansing