Legislator Fitzak says county government adapting to serve community, while constrained by state mandates

Editor:

In today’s world, local government is the most important. While the Federal Government is “shut down,” locally, our government is producing!

We at the County level manage not only NY State-mandated services and programs that are typically unfunded, resulting in higher taxes to our residents, but we also balance quality-of-life desires that are funded through our sales tax revenues, various grants, and other creative funding streams.

To suggest that Orleans County is a “business as usual” organization is misleading. While I have been a County Legislator, primarily representing the residents of the 4th District of Carlton, Kendall, Murray, the Village of Holley, as well as the rest of the County, I have entrenched myself into being a quite vocal voice to see my home county prosper.

As a retired Correction Officer, while simultaneously operating a successful business and developing a new tourist destination on the banks of the Erie Canal, I believe in leading by example. I believe that community growth starts with economic growth. That is why I not only sit on the Orleans County EDA Board of Directors as the Treasurer, I am also the current Vice-Chairman of the Genesee/Finger Lakes Regional Planning Council, so that I can bring back to this County, ideas and insights that may help us prosper.

In the past four years, I have also represented my district by regularly attending monthly board meetings, providing input to County activities, and also receiving feedback to help with more local concerns.

I’ve participated in the Lake Ontario State Parkway Study, the Kendall, Yates, Carlton Local Waterfront Revitalization Plan (LWRP), the Orleans County Erie Canal LWRP, and am currently on the Carlton Master Plan Steering Committee.

In order to maintain meaningful dialogue with the other leaders of the county, I am also the Co-Chairman of the Orleans County Association of Municipalities. As the current Chairman of the Administration and Finance Committee for the Legislature, which not only details internal department operations, we are also responsible for developing the County Budget.

Again, due to the unfunded state mandates that are placed upon us, our ability to generate the necessary revenue through property taxes, which are capped at 2% annually without penalty, and sales taxes that are not a set figure, we have transformed from an organization that “was used to doing things because that’s the way it’s always been done” to one that does things because it’s in the best interest of the community.

While I’m sure that there are things that may not appear that way, I, along with the other six Legislators, have always been approachable to explain our decisions. Thank you to the voters of my District and to the rest of the County residents for the faith you have placed in me, and I hope to continue to earn your vote this election cycle.

Respectfully,

John M. Fitzak

Carlton