|
False Financial Divisions Made in Philipstown Town Budget
Dear Editor:
I am confused and hoping that there has been some mistake in the reporting of last week's Philipstown Town Budget Meeting.
I think I understand correctly that we in Garrison, despite having our very own Desmond Fish Library and never having been informed before the vote of the 120% increase in funding for the Butterfield Library which we do not use, will nevertheless be paying a full and equal share along with the residents of the villages of Cold Spring and Nelsonville for this mammoth tax subsidy? OK, I go along with that, despite the total lack of accountability, in the spirit of support for libraries generally and support and inclusion in the community of Philipstown.
But do I further understand that, in stark contrast, the cost of the deputy assigned to assist with traffic enforcement on Routes 9 and 9D is to be assigned exclusively to those outside the villages on the basis that, to quote Mr. Mazzuca, " You cannot charge villages for services they don't get."?
Does that mean that, henceforth, villagers will not be venturing outside town boundaries at all to East, South, or North and will never again use Routes 9 or 9D? (Incidentally, I avoid 9 and 9D very successfully every day by using Philipse Brook Road and then the Old Albany Post Road - does that mean I can be excused this portion of the tax, too?)
I think maybe we outsiders should set up toll booths at the exits to the villages to recoup the extra tax we are paying. I never was in favor of Garrison seceding from Philipstown. I really believe that we should be a whole community. But this divide and rule approach is making the whole Garrison village idea look extremely attractive to me now. I do not appreciate at all this false financial division made by whoever composed this budget, in favor of the villages and against the rest of us.
Carol Marquand
Garrison
| 
