Bee Editorial
Board accepts challenge to stabilize taxes
No tax increases for two years? Is it possible? The Amherst Town Board hasn't completely dismissed the idea. In fact, members seem ready for the challenge.

While freezing a $115 million budget, which has to include mandated increases, may seem impossible, the board is willing to try.

Supervisor Satish Mohan announced the goal during his State of the Town address on Jan. 25. On Monday, members of the board discussed their initial response.

Council Member Dan Ward questioned layoffs. Council Member Deborah Bruch Bucki pointed out that there would be no surplus to offset spending increases. While it is too early to know any real numbers, the board agreed to start working now on the 2009 budget.

In the past, when cuts have been suggested, the response was, "It can't be done."

But what if that's just an urban legend? What if something, somewhere can be eliminated? The question is - is there fat to be cut? Mohan said he is investigating the issue.

Neither residents nor the media are allowed to sit in on union negotiations so we don't know exactly what occurs, but history has shown that unions fight for the benefits they believe they are entitled to. And, yes, they can be costly.

When discussions about reducing town holidays took place, it was said, "It can't be done." But why not? If the majority of the nation can work on those days, why can't government employees? Well, the truth is, they physically can. They don't want to. Just because it has always "been that way," doesn't mean it has to stay that way forever.

It's no secret that when you get a group of people around a table discussing professions that some are considered "cushier" than others. In the private sector, the word "pension" is becoming nonexistent.

At the State of the Town address, Mohan asked private businesses to send him their wage and benefits schedule so he can persuade unions to match the private sector and thus cooperate in cost control.

We don't really see any businesses doing that - but apples to apples would be an interesting comparison.

Was Monday's work session a peek into the future? We hope so, especially if taxes would actually be frozen for two years.

"I challenge the business leaders and Amherst citizens to take back their government and tell their elected officials what their needs are and for what they elected them," Mohan said in his address.

So do it. The contact information for all board members is available at www.amherst.ny.us.