Comments about ‘Syracuse seeks input on budget, taxes’

Now that retail sales taxes and impact fees that traditionally subsidise suburbia are in the toilet, suburbanites now face the frightening prospect of having to pay taxes that reflect the costs of the services they use.

The city has lived on one time far too long. You cannot achieve the services that people want on up and down sales tax revenue and building permit fees. The city needs ongoing revenue to support the growth it has experienced over the last ten years. Moreover, the condition of the streets need significant maintenance and repavement. The city cannot cut expenses to find $600k, people that believe this are "sticking their head" in the sand ignoring the bigger issue that has now come to light with a bad economy. Syracuse didn't get into this in a single budget year, but several years, and it will take a few years to get out of this budget crunch.

The city is resposible for public safety, roads etc - cut out all non essential programs and events for the rest of the year. No fireworks in July no other holiday events - The city needs to think like a family and budget like a family. I have to take a paycut and two one week furloughs with out pay so our company can avoid further layoffs - there will be no family vacation fo far off places this year. As a family we will still have food on the table, gas in the cars and meet our bills - Thank Goodness - Syracuse focus on the basics