Talk of taxes dominated the meeting of the Poughkeepsie Common Council on Monday, Oct. 15. Whether it was taxpayer angst over a proposed hike in taxes, taxpayer complaints over improperly assessed taxes, or the comparatively noble idea of giving tax exemptions to honorably discharged military veterans of crucial moments in American history, it was taxes, taxes, taxes – with a few problems on the city’s streets to iron out, too.
“On Friday I submitted the 2008 budget to the mayor, which included a proposed tax increase on property owners of 7.4 percent,” Council Chairman Brian Doyle told the gathering at the outset of the meeting. “Over the last few days we’ve heard from a variety of citizens, expressing their concern about more tax increases. I have faith that this council can work with the mayor closely, going through the budget with a fine-tooth comb, finding ways that the proposed increase can be reduced.”
Yet whatever the Council decides in the coming days, it seems that the future of tax rates in Poughkeepsie will be heavily influenced by the outcome of the November elections, in which taxes are a big issue.
In the meantime, there were some tax discrepancies to iron out.
Two Poughkeepsie businesses, operated by Jeffrey Fishwick and Homestead Housing, were granted refunds of taxes by a unanimous vote on account of the fact that their original assessments had been in error; in the case of Fishwick, the parking lot adjacent to his business had been inaccurately assessed as a separate property, and he had in effect been taxed twice. Although there was no dispute as to what had happened, there was some discussion over why.
“I know that mistakes happen, but have any steps been taken to prevent such mistakes in the future?” asked Doyle.
“The law is quite specific in generally ruling out such refunds, except in very limited circumstances,” said City Assessor Gene DeMarco, who had investigated and presented the cases to the council. “Clerical errors, errors in essential facts, or instances of unlawful entry by city officials. It’s been my philosophy, if we really find an error, to address it.”
Toward the end of the meeting, DeMarco showed that it is also part of his philosophy to appreciate the services of military veterans.
De Marco presented to the council a communication regarding a proposed property tax exemption for military veterans honorably discharged between the end of the Second World War and the end of the Gulf War, in effect covering the Cold War period.
The new exemption would assist an estimated 100 veterans living in the city, who would be added to a list of about 10,000 veterans already receiving other exemptions based on national service throughout Dutchess County. The council, which has until Nov. 30 to adopt this measure, voted unanimously to consider it and vote on the proposal at their next meeting.
Parking questions
Earlier in the session that council voted unanimously to accept an amendment that would speed efforts to replace the Hoffman Street Bridge, which is in a dangerous condition. There was also an extended discussion of whether to permit metered parking on Garfield Place, which centered on the testimony of Suzanne Gilbert, who owns a massage therapy business there and strongly backs the proposal.
Gilbert affirmed that parking on that street by employees of the Eden Park retirement and therapy institution was “a real problem,” one that disrupted the lives of residents and other business owners. She cited instances of people not being able to park near their homes, not being able to leave their driveways because cars were blocking them or of recovering patients who were her clients having to walk great distances because they could not park in front of her business.
“With four acres of land, it’s possible for Eden Park to accommodate their employees without inconveniencing Poughkeepsie residents.”
The council voted to take up the proposal at their next meeting, after further dialogue had been arranged between the Eden Park management and the affected residents and business owners.