My Opinion - Kingston's Budget Woes are VERY SERIOUS - 3 SOLUTIONS

The City of Kingston Budget problems are VERY SERIOUS, way beyond looking for savings in limiting garbage pick-up for non-for-profits.  Kingston is in a downward spiral of decreasing population, decreasing wealth, increasing taxes, and decreased services.  Where will this all end?  It sounds like it will end with the City of Kingston collecting exhorbitant taxes from a small population who will receive very few services.

I suggest the mayor and common council chose 1 of the 3 following solutions to help remedy this very serious problem to stop the bleeding of this glorious city located in a spectacular location.

1)  MUNICIPAL BANKRUPTCY - All contracts including union contracts are canceled.  The city would be able to start with a fresh, blank slate.  The city could start using ZERO-BASED BUDGETING, which allows the mayor and council telling department heads to start from ZERO each year, justifying the inclusion of every budget line item every year with no carry-over from year to year.

2)  CLOSE 1 or 2 of the 3 PAID FIRE STATIONS, coverting them to VOLUNTEER fire stations and begin a serious volunteer fireman recruiting campaign which includes financial rewards such as health benefits and includes a strong emphasis on building a cooperative volunteer spirit as is done in the Town of Ulster Fire Department.  This would allow the reduction of the paid fire department via attrition.

3)  OPEN THE 3 UNION CONTRACTS and Negotiate $1 Million budget reductions over the present 2009 budget for Police, Fire and DPW budgets, saving $3 Million, using the bargaining chips of  PRIVATIZATION and BANKRUPTCY as leverage.

I am looking for other suggestions which could help to repair Kingston's taxation problems for this year and setting the stage for future growth.  We need to STOP increasing taxes and SPEND CITY MONEY WISELY so we can attract the next generation to LIVE AND STAY HERE.

Mark Down 1 More No Tax Increase Candidate & 1 More No Pledge Candidate

One more candidate who has pledged to "not to vote for any tax increases over the next 2 years" is


Marvin Schildhorn for District 6 (City of Kingston) Ulster County Legislature.
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One more candidate for Kingston Common Council has said he CANNOT pledge to


"not vote for any budget or bill that increases taxes for the next 2 years".

That candidate is:

Robert Senor for 8th Ward alderman in the City of Kingston.  HOWEVER, Robert Senor pledges to not
vote for any budget which does not include at least $1 Million of union give backs (wages and/or health benefits) from each of the 3 major city unions (Police, Fire, DPW).

Mark Down 2 More No Tax Increase Candidates

Two more candidates who have pledged to "not to vote for any tax increases over the next 2 years" are


Todd Langon for 8th Ward alderman in the City of Kingston, and

Mark Ingoglio for District 12 (City of Kingston) Ulster County Legislature.

Let's contact your local candidates and add their names to this list.

Mark Down Two More Candidates who do NOT pledge zero tax increases

Two more candidates for Ulster County Legislature have said they CANNOT pledge to
"not vote for any budget or bill that increases taxes for the next 2 years".

Those 2 candidates are:

Mike Madsen for District 6 (City of Kingston) Ulster County Legislature,

Peter Loughran for District 12 (City of Kingston) Ulster County Legislature,


Maybe we can convince them to change their minds?

Mark Down Three Candidates who do NOT pledge zero tax increases

I now have 3 Ulster County candidates who have said that they cannot pledge to
"not vote for any budget that increases taxes for the next 2 years".
Those 3 candidates are:

Jennette Provenzano for District 6 (City of Kingston) Ulster County Legislature,
Alan Lomita for District 7 (Rosendale) Ulster County Legislature, and
Gary Bischoff for District 4 (Saugerties) Ulster County Legislature.

Maybe we can convince them to change their minds?