Better
**Date:** 11-28-23
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A 10.3% tax hike…
This was a serious proposal made by the daily stewards of our city’s finances to the members of our City Council. To the relief of many in the community, it was rejected in favor of a more modest increase that’s in line with the state’s “tax cap.”
But it’s important to understand the concerns that generated such consideration, and the compelling rationale for the discussion. (See All4Oneonta.com for a clarifying narrative.)
The City is operating with fewer staff, aging equipment, and less capacity than it should be. However, even with those spending constraints, the 2024 budget projects a 1.8-million-dollar deficit.
With little more than 53% of assessed property values being taxable, there are clear limits to the amount of funding that can derived from taxation.
As Mayor, I have been personally pursuing initiatives and conversations that may yet lead to some small relief, but it won’t be all that’s needed. Some help may be on the way, but we cannot wait for the cavalry.
We are the cavalry.
Working shoulder-to-shoulder, we can provide for our own rescue and ensure Oneonta’s fiscal health and prosperity.
There’s a plan, and its goal is to increase the economic vitality of the city.
By doing so, we will generate more income for our businesses and more jobs for a growing population, all of which will produce more revenue for the city.
By adding to retail, residential, and industrial development we will create more demand and a larger constituency for billable services. It’s also likely that we will increase our tax base, potentially reducing the individual percentage of our shared costs.
So, what is the plan?
To put it simply, we need to increase pedestrian traffic – especially in our downtown. To succeed, it’s imperative that Oneonta becomes a compelling destination for locals and visitors.
Oneonta has been here before.
We have a storied history, and many of us are confident it can be replicated. Not exactly as was, but with an equivalent level of vitality.
The dynamics of retail have changed since Oneonta’s heyday. Downtowns across the country lost their competition with malls and suburban shopping centers, but those, in turn, have struggled for relevance in the face of on-line shopping.
Successful downtowns have become “charm-forward” experiential destinations. They have capitalized on their quaint and historic infrastructure and on the unique offerings of small businesses whose inventory is often a reflection of the tastes and passions of their proprietors.
Restaurants, cafes, breweries, coffee shops, and other gathering places, maker spaces, craft and artisanal collaboratives, farmers markets, arcades, galleries, museums, and entertainment venues…
These and more are the ingredients in a vibrant downtown, and Oneonta already possesses many. But the transformative addition – the spark that ignites – is energy. Oneonta’s downtown must energize its small footprint with the vibrancy of art, entertainment, and connectivity, to engage those visiting at any time of the day, and any day of the week. Oneonta must be a place one wants to visit for the experience.
Accomplishing that, we will increase pedestrian connection, and make a compelling case for entrepreneurs and developers. We will fill our empty store fronts. We’ll provide a convincing rationale for the retention of our younger generations. We will add further density (and more foot traffic) with new housing development. And we will expand our workforce and make ourselves increasingly attractive to industry.
All of this will come, as we agree on the goal and work together to accomplish it.
We have the capacity, a burgeoning artistic community, and all that is needed to succeed.
In a few weeks, we’ll unveil the strategy.
