GEDDES -- Unless something changes, the Town of Geddes comptroller estimates that town taxes on a home worth $100,000 could go from $519 a year to $1037 in just three years - an almost 100% jump. Mike Bajish says it will be impossible for many people to handle that - and he thinks the town should look at consolidation.
"I'm open to it because I think a lot of things overlap - so if they overlap anyway why not consolidate?"
Geddes Supervisor Manny Falcone was devastated by last week's Onondaga County Legislature vote that cut the share of sales tax revenue going to towns. Geddes is the only town in Onondaga County that took that money in cash rather than as a county tax credit. The 2.9 million dollars Geddes will lose is money that was paying for everything from police to roads. Now Falcone and the town government are working round the clock to fill the gap.
"I think everything is on the table. I didn't want to say that in the beginning of my term," said Falcone. "But you know what? The numbers are the numbers and the constituents are our concern."
One department that could see change is the Geddes police force. Falcone won't rule out the possibility of a merger with the Onondaga County Sheriffs but he'd rather see Geddes work out a solution with neighboring towns.
"Camillus is a town, they have a very good sized police department, very well managed like ours is," said Falcone on Thursday. "I have had some conversations with Mrs. Coogan over there about sitting down and having a conversation about everything in general."
Supervisor Falcone added that the town will be sure to inform and involve the public in any decisions that would affect the community.
