George Mango's blog

Good Work Camillus!

I would like to commend the Village of Camillus residents for taking the issue of government modernization to the voters. I would especially like to recognize the Village Mayor and Village Board of Trustees for looking at the issue from a logical point of view instead of with emotion of protecting the status quo. As a resident in the Town of Camillus and a local Realtor who is a member of the Government Modernization Task Force with Center State Chamber of Commerce, the village’s decision to take up this issue shows vision beyond just doing things as they’ve always been done.

As a Realtor, I can attest that this will make the Village a more popular place to buy a home. A
house assessed at $100,000 will see a minimum $450 reduction in taxes when you take into account the Citizen Empowerment tax credit and the proposed increases in the village tax rate. These savings are significant, and would assist many citizens to better meet their obligations. This combined with the fact that the citizens will see no reduction in services allows the homeowners in the village to still maintain the same great services they now enjoy while also reducing their taxes.

The Village of Camillus has roughly 50% rental property in part due to the tax burden created by multiple layers of government. Reducing taxes will assist homebuyers to qualify for homeownership. This action will provide incentive for homeownership in the village. Speaking from experience in Real Estate, home ownership is essential to building and maintaining the character of a place like Camillus. As a resident of Camillus and as a local Realtor who deals with properties in the area, I support this action by the Village and encourage them to move forward with modernizing their local government. For further information about Camillus visit my website at www.MangoSellsHomes.com.

SHOUT OUT For Education!

The necessity of Educating our citizens and youth should be paramount in our governmental budgeting.  The current attack on school budgets focus on cutting programs and degrading teacher unions and tenure.  The critics claim that our education is inferior to foreign educational systems. While I once served on a Board of Education, and ran on a republican ticket while living in Connecticut. I am not at all convinced the critics have it right.

Today, I am no longer a registered Republican, The party’s views are too conservative and the party shows no respect towards our president, In fact they show no respect towards our American Educational system.  Our teachers deserve our support and tax payer dollars. Yes, our current budget problems are real. Yes we could be better at spending tax payer dollars. It is not our educational system, nor is it the Unions representing our teachers, nor is it our President that is creating the difficult times. When one looks at our educational results we compare the results to other foreign educational systems.  Note that the higher rated systems do not have a public education program.  They do not provide a free education for all citizens.  They do not integrate the disabled and slower students with the mainstreamed classes. They do cherry pick. We are not looking at comparing apples with apples. Our expectations and goals are not realistic.  The testing process is false and not a reliable indicator of success. 

Teachers are challenged and demonstrate enormous creativity and patients by providing a setting in the classroom that builds a child’s confidence and ability to learn under trying conditions. All our children are scholars.  They all live to learn and can be good at it. Our teachers recognize this fact, however the general public is unaware of the challenges our teachers face. Our lack of support casts a shadow on our youth. It undermines the effect of building self esteem and it undermined the educational gifts our teachers each day give to our children. Who created an equal education for all, who integrated students from all walks of life into our classrooms, and who is the most critical voice of our Educational programs?  It is each of us, in our vote, and it is time that we take stock in what we are saying and voting for.

Our schools need the financial supports that our communities can provide.  Our government both Local, State and Federal  should spend less time on posturing and sensationalizing issues and more time in finding the funds to provide the fine education we afford our youth. Find less intrusive budget areas to eliminate rather than cut education.  Tax the wealthy appropriately, and have a special tax on Politicians who appear to be sheltered while they spend monies on TV ads, Military obsolescence, self- promotion.  A fine first gesture would be for our elected officials to give up their governmental pensions and health insurance benefits.  Take fewer trips at the “taxpayers” expense. Subscribe to finite term limits.

Let’s right the wrongs we have created. The answer is not in the narrow thinking conservative view of CUT, CUT, and CUT some more. That is the simplistic approach to problem solving, and short term thinking.  Unfortunately our political system is based on sound bites and short term resolution of problems.  It is totally incorrectly focused on the next election without doing the public’s business. As one citizen, I will do my best to support our educational system and the fine professionals we have working in it.