Village Budget Battle: Mayor’s Office takes off gloves, swings at LPD

The Mayor’s office put out a press release yesterday concerning the Village budget. Below is the release in full:

Mayor Richard Winters announced today a bleak outlook for the Village of Liberty’s 2011 budget. With revenue down statewide and expenses rising, Liberty joins the other municipalities in the region that have to find new ways to streamline local government while holding the line on property taxes. Faced with double digit increases in health insurance and pension contributions, the Mayor and the Village board will have some very difficult choices to make to fill the gap. One area that concerns the Mayor is the proposed Village Police budget that came in one quarter of a million dollars higher than last year. “With 90 properties in the Village going up for tax foreclosure, there is no way we can pass on a quarter of a million dollars tax increase to the taxpayers”, said Winters. The Village Police Department accounted for approximately 63 percent of the total Village budget last year, with the average police officer making $62,000 without overtime. “Public safety is extremely important”, said the Mayor. “But we have to strike a balance without crushing the taxpayers and bankrupting the village”. The Village fiscal year begins June 1st.

From what we’ve heard this release was put out from the Mayor’s office without consulting the entire board first.

We all know a Police presence in Liberty is essential – especially after the large drug bust last week on Emma Ave. And with lower incomes, more unemployment, and more foreclosures on these properties crime will rise. How should the Mayor handle this double edged sword? Post your comments below.

UPDATE: Keep the village court or not

UPDATE: We’re bumping this discussion post back to the top as it’s a hot button topic this election cycle. There is also a Village Board meeting this Monday (2/14) at 7pm. Happy Valentines!

Village of Liberty Referendum: “Shall the position of Village Justice be abolished at the end of the current term of the Village Justice?”

By now you should know that the Village Board voted to dissolve the municipal court pending a vote by the people on March 15th. What do you think – do we need the village court or not? Go!

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Village of Liberty Residents: NOW IS YOUR TIME

A major reason why the Liberty Independent was founded was to bring what goes on in Liberty government to the people in a format that’s easy to get to. Both the Village and the Town have time for Public comment during their meetings, but let’s face it there’s kids, work, and so much more that goes on in our daily lives. When does the average resident have time to voice their opinion.

Over the next month we’ll lay out the issues on the Indy. We’ll dissect all of the issues and let you have your say. We invite all of the candidates to come on the Indy and NOT hiding behind an anonymous user name – flush out the issues with you the reader.

Tell your friends, family, and strangers on the street to join us here. If you know somebody that doesn’t have access to a computer let them know they can go to the Library to access the Indy.

Everyone is invited to join conversation. Have your say right here. Uncensored.

So lets go – what is important to you this election?

I do fully disclose that I am running for Village of Liberty Trustee, but I’ll reserve my personal opinions on issues to the comments.

Help the Indy Evolve

We’re looking for some input on what you would like to see on here. We’re always looking to add new features.

We’ll be upgrading our yard sale listing system before the spring but let us know something you’d like to see on the indy!

Hey Bethel Woods We Want

 It’s 2011 and the 2011 Bethel Woods concert series is getting close. We know the organizers are working on acts now – so lets give them a hand and suggest a few acts we’d like to see. I for one would like to see some more 90′s alternative bands – I heard Dave Matthews may be touring with PEARL JAM, come on Bethel Woods pretty please?

Change one thing about Liberty

 What’s one thing you’d change about the Town of Liberty? Go ahead – put anything out there. Anything at all. 

Photo Credit: Liberty Indy

Shopping wish list

 The Liberty Mall still doesn’t have any commitments… But where can you buy underwear in Liberty, um… The DOLLAR STORE! ha! But seriously, what kind of shopping would you like to see?

Wal Mart Showdown – Monticello vs Honesdale

 As much as we all preach ‘shop local’ in Liberty, we can all admit that we have to make that trek to Wal Mart every once in a while. So the question arises – deal with the stress of Monticello Wal Mart or make the 45 min/hour drive to Wal Mart in Honesdale, PA.

Why am I even bringing this up? Well because I have to say that I REALLY ENJOYED shopping at the Honesdale Wal Mart. I’ve been there a few times recently, on busy and slow days. Everything is always stocked, the store in never a mess, there’s never some nasty smell when you walk in, and the employees seem to actually take their jobs seriously. I even noticed that they don’t put their video game selection behind keyed security glass.

I’ve been shopping at the Monticello Wal Mart forever. In fact I thnk we went there on opening day. You can’t avoid it, and except for one positive black friday experience I have never enjoyed shopping there. Now I can’t fault our local Wal Mart totally – this is a problem with our area in general (I accidently bumped into a gentleman in ShopRite the other day and he looked like he was going to shoot me), but there has to be some way to rise above the laziness of Sullivan County.

I just think it’s pretty bad that locals have to go so far when the goods (depending if they actually stock the shelves) are right here in Sullivan County. Where do you go? The Middletown Wal-Mart is not much better… I LOVE the Trading Post, but you still find yourself at Wal-Mart sometime. Share your experience and give your recomendation…

Inappropriate or Not – Nookie at the School Play

Hey Liberty HS students! Thanks for rockin’ 90′s music while people walked into the play last weekend! But how did you get away with this one?

How do you feel about "I did it all for the nookie… the nookie… so you can take that cookie And stick it up your…"? Well thats some of the lyrics from the song Nookie by Limp Bizkit. The song was one of 8 songs played while the audience entered the high school auditorium for the school play. Now, kids should be able to express themselves – especially through music and the arts, but – somebody was asleep at the wheel on this one.

Youth are exposed to a lot with the internet and the extremes of popular media. But should the school be a place to play songs like this, especially at a public performance?

How do you feel about this song selection?

Village Residents – Complain Here

Do you remember the Liberty wish list series we did a while back? Well – lets take it further today. We want to hear EVERYTHING that compels you to complain about Liberty. Taxes, streets, things to do, garbage, water, clouds, you name it!

Just post your complaint / concern in the comments of this post.