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| Chautauqua County Chamber of Commerce |
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Chamber Corner for July 25th  |
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CHANGE STARTS IN OUR BACK YARD
Written by Todd Tranum, President/CEO Chautauqua County Chamber of Commerce and Executive Director of the Manufacturers Association of the Southern Tier
Do these statistics look familiar?
New York State has 10,521 Governments
Source: NYS Attorney General’s Office
Chautauqua County has 27 towns, 15 villages, 2 cities and 18 school districts serving approximately 140,000 people.
Source: NYS Attorney General’s Office
New York State has the highest local property burden in the country. $73.00 per every $1,000 of personal income is paid by individuals for local taxes. That is $30.00 over the national average. Source: NYS Attorney General’s Office
New York State has the worst ranking in these categories compared to other States:
- Highest in state and local taxes per capita at $6,405.
- Highest in local taxes per capita and state taxes per capita at $3,432.
- Highest in state and local income tax at $2,000.
The Public Policy Institute (PPI) Analysis of Census Bureau State and Local Government Finances ranked New York State:
They should look familiar if you read these articles. If you are saying to yourself ‘how many times is the Chautauqua County Chamber of Commerce and the Manufacturers Association going to print these statistics?’ the answer is until there is positive change that makes our communities more cost competitive with other regions and the rest of the world.
Until taxpayers come to realize that if we do not demand change of our elected leaders we will continue to get what we currently have with the same results. Our competitiveness is undermined by our taxes. To reduce taxes we need to allocate our resource more efficiently. One way to do that is to eliminate layers of government and duplicative services. Our failure as taxpayers to demand the necessary change and engage in the process to eliminate layers of government and improve efficiency will result in a continued stagnation in population growth and our children will continue to seek other more economically robust regions in which to work and raise a family. So, we can blame government all we want, but if we do not demand anything different the reality is not going to change. Let me make clear, this is not to suggest that all aspects of Government are bad, as that is not the case, what is bad are some of the systems the processes and the inefficiencies. More pointedly the layers of government we have put into place over the many years.
We have to accept that the change needs to begin right in our back yard. How many times have we seen situations where people complain about their taxes but when it comes to consolidating their school district, merging their Village or selecting new political leaders, we hear ‘well the problem is not in my community or it’s not my elected official that is the issue’. I confess I have been guilty of thinking this way at certain times. Change is difficult. Change combined with sacrifice is even more difficult. Yet, it is not impossible to forge the type of change that will lay the foundation for a stronger economy.
I like to reflect on my grandparents who lived through utter poverty during the Great Depression and my grandfathers who fought in WWII. They lived through an almost impossible situation presented by the depression and they fought a War that some thought was impossible to win and they won. Ok, so I will take it easy on the dramatics. But there is a parallel here. We have been working through, by many accounts, the worst economic period in our Country’s history since the Great Depression. States, Counties and localities are in the midst of financial disaster. Yet, in all of this we have not made the change and sacrifice necessary to help ourselves and future generations. Is there opportunity? There certainly is. Get involved. Talk and communicate with your elected officials. Carry petitions and share the facts with your neighbors. Demand change, accept it and support it, even if it is happening in your back yard.
CONCERT AT VILLAGE GREEN PARK
MAYVILLE NY – JULY 29TH
The Mayville Chamber of Commerce concert series continues on Thursday, July 29th with a performance by Randy Graham. The concert will be held from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. at the Village Green Park in Mayville, NY. If it rains, concert will be at the Mayville Fire Hall. This event is coordinated and sponsored by the Mayville/Chautauqua Community Chamber of Commerce.
FEDERAL CONGRESSIONAL LUNCH – AUGUST 25TH
The Chautauqua County Chamber’s Federal Congressional Lunch will be held at Roberto’s At the Ironstone. The event begins at 12 p.m. Cost to attend is $15 for members and $20 for non-members. To register, visit chautauquachamber.org or call 716-366-6200 or 716-484-1101. This event is sponsored by Advanced Manufacturing Technology, Chautauqua Institution, Clever Method, Dunkirk Metal Products/Alternative Fuel Boilers, Lake Erie Regional Health System, NRG Dunkirk Power, OBSERVER, Star Media Group, The Post Journal, UBS Financial Services and WCA Hospital.
ANNUAL GOLF TOURNAMENT – SEPTEMBER 10TH
The Chamber’s Annual Golf Tournament will be held at Chautauqua Golf Club, Hill Course. Registration begins at 9:30 a.m. with a shotgun start and four person scramble at 11:00 a.m. Cocktail hour starts at 5:00 p.m. with dinner and banquet following at 6:00 p.m. Cost to participate is $150 for Chamber Members and $175 for Non-Members. To register, visit chautauquachamber.org or call 716-366-6200 or 716-484-1101. This event is sponsored by CCIDA, Cliffstar, DFT/Netsync, Fredonia Place, Jamestown Mattress, Lakeshore Savings Bank, Lawley Tradition Agency, NRG, The OBSERVER, The Post Journal, Petri, Star Media Group and Strearns & Wheler GHD.
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