In most years the 2.5 percent increase in property taxes proposed for 2010 in Oneida County would not be that bad of an increase. However, when you combine the 2.5 percent property tax increase with the proposed vehicle registration of $10 in our current economic condition, I believe we are getting hosed again by our county politicians.

Let’s look at the facts. A few years ago when Oneida County had a sales tax increase up to 9.75 percent (tied for the highest in the United States at that time), we were told they had to increase the sales tax to keep our property taxes from going up 48 percent at the time. I guess that didn’t work because as a Daily Sentinel article stated a few weeks ago, Oneida County has the 20th highest property taxes in the United States. Now with our Oneida County sales tax of 8.75 percent we are tied with Erie County for the highest in New York State. If the idea was by raising our taxes we would keep our property taxes down, how come we are privileged to have the 20th highest property taxes in the U.S. combined with the highest New York State sales tax?

County Executive Anthony Picente has proposed a 4.3 percent spending increase in next year’s county budget. Why, when the COLA, Cost of Living Adjustment, which is linked to the inflation rate, was negative last year? In fact, people on Social Security will see no increase in their checks next year because of the decrease in the inflation rate. Since there was no increase in the inflation rate last year then there should be no increase in the county budget for 2010.

If the average person in today’s economy has cut back on his spending then the county should also, not add a proposed 4.3 percent increase. I believe it is high time the county bite the bullet like the rest of us and stop all these increases in property taxes, proposed fees and their increased budget. I think if the county politicians really decided to discipline themselves they could cut some of the fat out of the county budget. There is fraud run rampant in the social services programs. If the county officials can’t control the county budget like we citizens have to control our budgets, then we should vote them all out of office the next time they are up for reelection.

— Gordon Potter, 9952 Beckwith Road,

Westernville