STATE OF THE TOWN MESSAGE 2009
January 14, 2009
Good evening ladies and gentlemen:
Before delivering my State of the Town Message, please take a look at my hometown. I love my hometown, I was born and raised in Ramapo and I am dedicated to protecting her future, as I am dedicated to enhancing the value of your homes.
These are tough economic times as we move from a financial panic to a financial crisis, fueled originally by a thirty to one leveraging in the financial market, and prolonged by strapped consumers and increasing job losses.
I assure you tonight that the capital structure of the Town is strong. In 2007 our capital assets grew from 89 million dollars net of depreciation to 133 million dollars, in 2008 we had a comparable increase in capital asset structure.
Tonight I have the honor of delivering my 9th State of the Town Message. This is a particularly gratifying opportunity to share with you some of our accomplishments and our vision for the future. The Town Board will continue to embrace the pro-active, and progressive philosophy of Teddy Roosevelt, which is best reflected in one of his most famous quotations:
Rhetoric is a poor substitute for action, if we are really to be a great nation, we must not merely talk we must ACT.
Over the past several years the Ramapo Town Board has ACTED DECISIVELY in three areas which are the cornerstone of all communities - namely Finance, Public Safety, and the Protection of the Environment.
We started early in 2001 to transform our finances from a deficit to a surplus. We didn’t wait for the recession to be concerned about fiscal discipline and prudent budgeting. We have displayed fiscal discipline throughout this administration. We have worked both sides of the balance sheet cutting expenditures and raising revenues other than the property tax. We have expanded our surplus and will continue to do so in the future.
Our prudent budgeting and keen eye to expenditures has garnered for Ramapo the highest Bond Rating in the County, higher than the County itself. Our solid financial base has given us the ability to provide services while stabilizing taxes.
Our tax relief budget in 2009 has a Zero Increase while maintaining services, without raising taxes.
Over the past several years, our tax base has grown from 5 billion dollars to over 14 billion dollars.
The following are excerpts from a recently completed Moody’s Report on Ramapo’s Finances. Moody’s Investors Service is the world’s most respected and widely used service for credit ratings by municipalities and businesses.
Moody’s has assigned an Aa3 Bond Rating for the Town of Ramapo, citing the Town’s sizable tax base, healthy fund balances and fiscal discipline.
The Town’s tax base has grown by 11.9% annually over the past five years, compared to the 5.1% State and 9.1% national growth rates over the same period.
Moody’s expects the Town’s financial operations to remain healthy due to its use of prudent budgeting and fiscal discipline.
Moody’s also cites the Town’s rapid amortization of debt payment 65% retired within ten years. We have used only 11.54% of our constitutional debt limit.
The Town’s 12.9 million dollar surplus and reduced reliance on revenue from sales and mortgage taxes are seen as protections during economic downturns.
This endorsement from an independent Wall Street Rating Agency not only means lower interest costs to the Town, but this is the seal of approval verifying that Ramapo has a solid economic foundation and a strong fiscal future. When you have a great Bond Rating you pay less interest for your Bonds, which saves money for our taxpayers now and in the future.
The Second Key Area in which the Town Board has taken decisive action is in the area of Public Safety.
A national study recently named the Town of Ramapo the Safest Community in the U.S. The Annual City Crime Rankings 2008-2009 published by the CQ Press looked at 397 municipal areas having populations of at least 75,000 residents. Crime rate rankings were calculated using FBI statistics in six categories: murder, rape, robbery, aggravated assault, burglary and motor vehicle crime theft. Ramapo earned the lowest city crime rate ranking with only 688 incidents of reported crime in 2007. Joining Ramapo among the safest places to live are Mission Viejo, Lake Forest, Chino Hills and Thousand Oaks, California and Newton, Massachusetts.
Ramapo has truly become an Award Winning Community, over the past several years we have won:
Safest Community in the U.S. Award - CQ Press
2nd Best Town to Live In on the East Coast - Money Magazine
49th Best Town To Live In in America - Money Magazine
Joseph T. St. Lawrence Community, Health & Sports Center - Best Athletic Facility in New York State
New York State Governor’s Quality Communities Award
National Preserve America Award from the White House
Sierra Club Cool Cities Award
These awards enhance the reputation of our community, safeguard property values, and stimulate economic growth.
Our Safest Community In America Designation reflects the Town Board’s Investment in Law Enforcement Training, our Police Department’s accreditation, the dedicated professionalism of our Police Force, the mutual respect our diverse group of residents have for each other, and our Community Policing Policy which encourages our residents to call the Police – over 60,000 calls were received in 2008. The investment in public safety in our budget, is paying tremendous dividends to our community.
The Third Cornerstone of our thriving community is the Protection of the Environment - once again in this area the Town Board has acted decisively, balancing open space and development.
On Election Day, Barack Obama and open space were the Big Winners. Almost unnoticed on Election Day, however, was the resounding positive vote across the country for open space preservation. Despite being in the midst of a financial crisis, voters nationally approved 62 of the 87 referendums to acquire or protect open space. California and Florida approved more than 700 million dollars in new spending or open space and in Minnesota, voters increased the sales tax by three-eighths of a cent to generate 5.5 billion dollars over the next 25 years for land preservation. New Jersey voters meanwhile approved 14 of 22 county and municipal referendums to increase or extend property taxes dedicated to acquiring and preserving open space.
Open space has been a Ramapo Town Board priority since 2003. We are buying properties that are paying for themselves. We have invested over 35 million dollars in open space, parkland and historic preservation of parcels throughout the Town in many Villages and Hamlets. In doing so, Ramapo has safeguarded our region’s water supply, wetlands, water quality, historic sites and more than 2,000 acres of green space. The residents of Ramapo deserve to be commended for their steadfast support of our endeavors. Ramapo is one of the Visionary Communities in the country that have come to the realization that the only effective method of preserving open space in perpetuity is through public ownership.
Ramapo’s Open Space purchases are generating revenue, which allows us to continue saving green space and enhances our recreation amenities without relying on the property tax.
Our Open Space Program is truly unique because it has four major parts:
1. Historic Preservation. This year we purchased the Henry Varnum Poor House securing a $500,000 State Grant Funding, added to Jacob Sloat House with $300,000 State Funding, acquired the Smith Family Farm and Mobray-Clarke House, and the soon to be restored 1791 House on newly acquired Sythe Energy power plant site, with a Grant of $200,000 from the Ford Motor Company.
2. Parkland - Over 50% of Ramapo’s land area is parkland. In 2009 we will be using $946,000 in Park Embellishment Funds to improve our parks, without using taxpayer monies.
3. Green Space Preservation such as the Mitch Miller property in Wesley Hills.
4. Income Producing Properties which are paying for the debt service:
The Ramapo Tennis & Swim Facility which currently had over 400 members in fiscal year 2007. On-site Tennis Clinics and programs generated over $250,000 in revenue.
The Ramapo Cultural Arts Center which serves as the home of the Spring Valley NAACP, Ramapo Haitian Task Force and soon to be the home of the new Ramapo Music Program and Job Training Program. The Ramapo Cultural Arts Center was booked for use by community groups every weekend in 2007, and was booked in advance for every weekend in 2008. It is also used by a local dance group three times a week and periodically by the East Ramapo Central School District.
The Joseph T. St. Lawrence Community, Health & Sports Center which generated approximately $475,000 in revenue 2007. Currently the facility has 2,380 members. In addition, both the on-site Dome and Turf Field Facilities are booked solid throughout the year. The Saint Center also offers a plethora of multi-generational activities, birthday parties, tennis classes, senior citizen defensive driving classes, family nights, open gym nights, basketball and volleyball tournaments, dance classes. In 2009, we will also continue our Get Healthy Ramapo Program.
Camp Scuffy in Airmont which has been filled with over 600 campers ever since it was purchased by the Town several years ago. This private-like camp which is available at a reasonable price generates over $750,000 in revenue for our six week program.
Renovation of the Ramapo Equestrian Center’s ninety stalls is now complete, at no cost to the taxpayers, and the renovated third aisle is now open for full service boarders. Construction on an additional outdoor riding ring will soon be completed, and it is anticipated that the facility will have 100% occupancy by early next spring. I encourage you to visit this unique facility.
The Town Board has engaged in several historic environmental initiatives over the past several years:
Opposition to a proposed Wal-Mart SuperCenter. Wal-Mart withdrew its proposal to construct a 215,000 sq. ft. superstore on the Monsey Drive-In property. The Town takes pride in being a business friendly municipality, however, as I stated months ago, a Wal-Mart Superstore should be located on a major highway, and not on a narrow, two-lane road. Since I became Supervisor in 2001, the Town of Ramapo has successfully dissuaded two multi-national power plant corporations and the world’s largest box store retailer from locating in Unincorporated Ramapo, while also maintaining the presence of the world’s largest cosmetic company Avon in our community - very few communities nationally have faced such ominous challenges in the span of less than eight years.
Preservation of the Torne Valley. Stopping the Power Plants was the beginning of our efforts to safeguard the entire Torne Valley - not the end. Last week, Ramapo acquired the Waste Management building. Soon, we will close on the Braen Stone property utilizing 2.5 million dollars in State Parks Funding and the Ramapo Hamlet property, which will generate $200,000 in revenue annually. The HTI building located in Torne Valley will soon have a new tenant, which will generate $140,000 in revenue. Never again will this belt of green space be scarred by industrial abuse.
Last but not least, one of the largest infrastructure investment projects in the history of Rockland County - the 125 million dollar Western Ramapo Wastewater Treatment Plant will become operational protecting the Ramapo River and our water source for Rockland and increasing home values in Western Ramapo.
In 2008 Ramapo acquired the 55 acre Liberty Rock property in Sloatsburg, an approved subdivision, where developers anticipated constructing ninety single-family homes - now it will remain Parkland in perpetuity.
Fiscal Stability, Public Safety and Protection of the Environment facilitate economic expansion, cooperation among diverse community groups, and people of all races and religions wanting to live in the Town of Ramapo.
Bad times offer opportunities - opportunities we will continue to pro-actively pursue, Once again to quote Teddy Roosevelt "In a moment of decision the best thing you can do is the right thing -the worst thing you can do is nothing!"
With this sentiment in mind, I would like to share with you my major initiatives for the coming year.
I. TAX RELIEF
A. Implement a Zero Tax Increase once again in 2010. This year we cut 5 million dollars in expenditures to achieve a Zero increase in Town Tax.
B. Tax the Millennium Pipeline - Having successfully shifted 15% of the tax burden to the Utility Companies from our Homeowners, in the past several years. We will now fight to tax the millennium pipeline.
C. Convene a Regional Economic Summit Focusing on Municipal Cost Savings Practices and Property Tax Reform,
D. Continue to Fight Utility Rate Increases, as Ramapo has done for the past several years. Once again, we will intervene against the proposed O&R gas increase proposal. We were successful against United Water resulting in getting 12 ½ million dollars in infrastructure upgrades in Ramapo and a new water tank constructed in New Hempstead to improve water pressure in New Hempstead, Spring Valley and Hillcrest and New Square.
E. Aggressively pursued grants and federal funding, we have formally requested over 50 million dollars in Obama Stimulus Package Funding, through Congressman Eliot Engel, and an additional 50 million dollars in Grant Funding from the State Federal Funding sources for highway projects.
F. Expand Public and Private Investment in Ramapo - Hold a Real Estate Expo in the St. Lawrence Center for the purpose of attracting new businesses to Ramapo, promoting local businesses, offering informational seminars on finance and foreclosures to local residents. The theme of our Expo will be: Ramapo a great place to Live, Work, Raise a Family and Locate your Business.
II. GREEN RAMAPO
This program encompasses the following major elements:
A. PLAN GREEN - The establishment of a Supervisor’s Green Council consisting of Brooke Smokelin of Stony Point, Paul and Rabia Naggin of northeast Ramapo, Frank Hutton of Nanuet, Janet Burnet of Wesley Hills, Wendy Caesar-Dare of Spring Valley and Liaison Geoff Welsh of Sloatsburg and Kimberlea Shaw-Rae, Esq., Council. The Green Council will develop a renewable Energy Plan, pursue Environmental Grants and formulate a Think Green Public Education Campaign
B. STAY GREEN - The Town of Ramapo will continue its pro-active management of Open Space, Parkland and Historic Preservation Sites
C. POWER GREEN - The Town of Ramapo will promote energy efficiency by encouraging the use of LED’s and compact florescent lights and pursue strategies to utilize solar power, wind power, geo-thermal energy. We are currently saving $50,000 annually in energy costs through the use of geo-thermal energy in our new DPW Building. In 2009, we will reduce our vehicle purchases and transition our 2010 fleet to energy efficient hybrid vehicles.
D. SHARE GREEN - Establish Green Public/Private Partnerships, fostering conservation, pollution prevention, restoration of ecosystems and sustainable planning.
E. FLOW BLUE - As we keep Ramapo Green, we want our water to flow blue. We will continue to work on water quality, improved drainage and flood mitigation along the Ramapo, Mahwah, Pascack and Hackensack Rivers.
III. HOUSING FOR VOLUNTEERS
In tight economic times the last thing we can afford to lose is our Volunteers. Young volunteers cannot afford to live in Rockland County.
A. The first goal of the Supervisor’s Green Council will be to develop a sustainable housing project for volunteers incorporating geo-thermal, passive solar, flex fuel ports utilizing the latest technology to foster true sustainability. This project will be located in northeast Ramapo and the entire project must be sustainable economically also at no cost to taxpayers.
TONIGHT, I AM ANNOUNCING THAT THE TOWN OF RAMAPO WILL BE PURCHASING THE STRYKER PROPERTY WHICH IS 65 ACRES AND PLANNED FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF 57 SINGLE-FAMILY HOMES. OUR GOAL IS TO BUILD VOLUNTEER HOUSING ON A SMALL PORTION AND PROTECT THE MAJORITY OF THE GREEN SPACE. ONCE AGAIN THE EXPECTATION IS THAT THIS PROPERTY WILL PAY FOR ITSELF, AND NOT BE A COST TO TAXPAYERS.
IV. Culture and Recreation
My daughter Liz said to me as we were leaving the Saint Center, "Dad, I would bet that there are very few communities around the United States that offer so many opportunities" - such as an Equestrian Center; Four swimming pools; Cultural Arts Center; Numerous Pocket Parks; Camp Scuffy; Senior Citizen Center; Award Winning Spook Rock Golf Course; Two major multi-purpose complexes: The Joseph T. St. Lawrence Community, Health & Sports Center and The Herb Reisman Sports Complex
She is absolutely right and I feel very strongly that our vast array of Cultural, Recreation Facilities and Programs brings our community together and has contributed to our community being the safest in the Country. In tight economic times it sets Ramapo apart from other communities, stabilizing property values and encourages economic growth.
In the coming year, we will continue to expand our programs for senior citizens, young people and baby boomers!
A. Using funding from a New York State Grant of 1.5 million dollars, we will begin constructing a Multi-Generational Building in the Herb Reisman Sports Complex
B. Open a Job Training Center, a new Teen Center and Music School in the Ramapo Cultural Arts Center
C. Conservative Fiscal Management will allow us to seek a public/private partnership for the purpose of constructing a new Indoor Swimming Pool, at no cost to the taxpayer.
D. In this era of "staycations" with many people vacationing near home, attendance at our programs such as: The Big Screen Classics, July 4th Concert and Fireworks, outdoor movies, heritage nights and twinning programs are booming, which has motivated me to investigate the possibility of bringing a Minor League Baseball Team which is affiliated with a Major League Team to Ramapo.
V. Technology
A. Continue to expand our cutting edge "Town Hall Without Walls" program, which allows our residents the ability to access Town Hall 24/7.
B. Expand our on-line, inter-active Citizens Action Bureau which facilitates prompt response to residents’ problems, and establish an on-line job listings network.
C. Bring Government into peoples’ homes through web-streaming of meetings, Cablevision,Verizon Fios 24-hour channel, and remote broadcasts on WRCR Radio. Utilize GPS to monitor the efficient use of Town vehicles.
D. Produce in-house TV commercials to promote the Townof Ramapo and local businesses.
"Believe you can and you’re half-way there." Teddy Roosevelt
With the Ominous Clouds surrounding us, now is not the time to be overly pessimistic or exaggerate problems for political purposes - people’s livelihoods and their lifesavings are at stake!
I will never lose sight of my goal to bring tax relief for our hardworking and overtaxed homeowners. I will continue to manage the Town’s finances using fiscal discipline, and being pro-active in pursuing outside funding sources.
I believe that the best days for the Town of Ramapo lie ahead. I will, for as long as I have the privilege of leading this great Town, extol the virtues of living in a diverse community, remain the eternal optimist, continue to confront difficult issues and be resolute in my respect and administration for our residents, who through their hard work make whatever their elected officials do possible.
In closing I would like to echo the sentiments of President Elect Barack Obama, "We need to rebuild America block by block, brick by brick, calloused hand by calloused hand, we need to put aside our cynicism and work together."
God Bless our Troops serving around the world and God Bless America.
