tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-54675492011-04-21T16:06:07.402-07:00<img src="http://hivelocityworld.blogspot.com/court house.jpg">The County of Onondaga and the City of Syracuse have a relationship that worked in the past two centuries when Syracuse was growing and its economy was healthy. The surrounding towns were then largely rural and separate local governmental functions made sense. This is no longer he case.Vince O'Neilhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09812684855803461781noreply@blogger.comBlogger101100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5467549.post-1114367679833350432005-04-24T11:32:00.000-07:002005-04-27T07:17:52.166-07:00

IS STRIVING FOR GOVERNMENTAL CONSOLIDATION WORTH THE EFFORT? This past week Kent Gardner, director of economic analysis for the Center of Governmental Research,Inc., addressed the Thursday Morning Roundtable. His talk centered on the advisability of consolidating local governmental entities. He urged great caution before undertaking the merger of counties, cities, villages and towns. Gardner

Vince O'Neilhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09812684855803461781noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5467549.post-1106750762433215532005-01-26T06:44:00.000-08:002005-01-26T07:20:00.250-08:00

County and City In Conflict About Downtown Hotel --- More Talk of Governmental Consolidation In County Executive Nick Pirro's piece in the Post Standard (1/23/2005), he faults Mayor Matt Driscoll for refusing to grant 25 years of real estate tax forgiveness to the developer of the proposed new hotel that is planned to service the Oncenter . Matt, on the other hand, wants the County or the

Vince O'Neilhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09812684855803461781noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5467549.post-1084027751720519142004-05-08T07:49:00.000-07:002004-05-19T15:34:06.293-07:00

GOVERNMENTAL CONSOLIDATION --- MAKING THE LEAP FROM RHETORIC TO REALITY It was a little more than a month ago that County Executive Nick Pirro and Mayor Matt Driscoll were touting the virtues of consolidating County and City governmental services. Matt was setting up a series of meetings with representatives of all municipalities in Onondaga County. It was hoped these elected officials would

Vince O'Neilhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09812684855803461781noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5467549.post-1079357661374504502004-03-15T05:34:00.000-08:002004-03-24T06:28:58.623-08:00

An Innovative Message from the Office of the County Executive --- But does his Proposal Fairly Address the Financial Problems of the City, towns and villages? The March 1, 2004 message from Onondaga County Executive Nick Pirro to the Legislature contains a number of proposals which purport to improve the economic viability of Onondaga County and the entire Central New York region. (It can be

Vince O'Neilhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09812684855803461781noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5467549.post-106937034340504902003-11-20T15:19:00.000-08:002004-01-07T04:28:13.513-08:00

Geographical imbalance continues to be the rule in County law enforcement Onondaga County will install a Sheriff's substation in a new town hall to be constructed in the Town of Onondaga (Syracuse Post Standard-11/19/2003). No substation is being planned for the City of Syracuse where most of the violent crimes are being committed. One reason for this strange order of priorities is the

Vince O'Neilhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09812684855803461781noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5467549.post-1064086524515661022003-09-20T12:35:00.000-07:002003-09-20T12:35:24.163-07:00

Alternative to increase in County real property tax In Onondaga County Executive Nick Pirro's message accompanying the proposed 2004 County budget, he alludes to mandated expenses imposed by New York State that require him to recommend to the legislature a raise of 9.5% in the real estate tax. It is estimated that this increase will bring in the $21 million needed to cover the State-mandated

Vince O'Neilhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09812684855803461781noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5467549.post-1059591131199595652003-07-30T11:52:00.000-07:002004-06-14T16:11:22.680-07:00

The City Abstract Is A One-Sided Document And Should Be Revised or Abolished All real property owners in the County, whether they live within or outside the City, pay to the County of Onondaga a tax based on the value of their property. They also pay a real property tax to support the government of the City of Syracuse. Furthermore, each City landowner pays approximately $300 in addition to

Vince O'Neilhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09812684855803461781noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5467549.post-1059097869349896552003-07-24T18:51:00.000-07:002003-07-28T16:56:50.933-07:00

SOME THOUGHTS ON THE LACK OF COMPETITION FOR THE OFFICE OF COUNTY EXECUTIVE Incumbent Onondaga County Executive Nick Pirro will run unopposed for reelection this year. This is unfortunate because, whether you are or are not a supporter of Mr. Pirro, the voters are entitled to a choice. It seems no one wishes to take on the job of challenging such a well established incumbent who is blessed

Vince O'Neilhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09812684855803461781noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5467549.post-1055817354684389752003-06-16T19:35:00.000-07:002003-06-16T19:35:54.686-07:00

RESTRUCTURING OUTDATED LOCAL GOVERNMENT In this piece I shall enlarge upon my view that the County of Onondaga can and should play a more significant role in improving the financial affairs of the City of Syracuse. A dispassionate public discussion airing the pros and cons of the present City/County relationship would be in the public interest. This is not about who is to blame for past

Vince O'Neilhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09812684855803461781noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5467549.post-1055262403647465902003-06-10T09:26:00.000-07:002003-06-10T09:36:50.616-07:00

THE COUNTY OF ONONDAGA CAN DO MORE TO HELP SYRACUSE A record breaking twenty five homicides occurred last year in Syracuse. Based on the number of shootings to date, it can be anticipated that the murder rate will continue unabated in 2003. Sadly, some victims are innocent bystanders and others are unemployed young men who die because they are identified as a member of a gang which is at war

Vince O'Neilhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09812684855803461781noreply@blogger.com0