Elect John Burin 9th District
Chemung County Legislator
Chemung County Legislator
John will be back on with Frank Acomb on his radio show, "Frankly Speaking", on Tuesday, October 30th at 7:00am on WENY 1230 AM radio.
Come join John for his last Town Hall meeting before the November 6th election. Wednesday, October 24th, 6:30 at the
White Eagles Club, 364 Millard St., Elmira.
He wants to hear the concerns from residents, and answer their questions.
White Eagles Club, 364 Millard St., Elmira.
He wants to hear the concerns from residents, and answer their questions.
Below is what I stated publicly at the full Chemung County Legislative meeting last night, October 9, 2018, prior to their vote on a revised sales tax distribution agreement.
Honorable Legislators:
On September 24, 2018 I mailed each of you a letter with supporting documentation asking that you table this proposed plan to revise the reallocation of sales tax. I also referenced a process by which the 2019 county budget and budget message could move forward without the revised plan being in place. In my op ed on September 23, 2018, I pointed out in three months, newly elected officials should have the right to vote on this multi-year funding program.
I fully support a plan to reallocate sales tax revenue however, I believe the plan should be based on more than fund balances and debt. For example, the County apportionment of real property taxes creates an unintentional double taxation for certain services. These inequities, which are common to most of the towns/villages in varying degree, should be taken into consideration with the allocation of sales tax dollars. Additionally, from 2013 to 2018 Chemung County expenses increased $15 million dollars. During this same time period five county budgets were passed with deficits that required $10.5 million dollars of fund balance to close the gap. Future estimates of county revenues and expenses should be projected showing the impact of a sales tax reallocation plan.
In order for our county to realize desired social/economic growth, we must work together for a common cause. It was in this spirit that the City of Elmira allowed it’s Empire Zone Benefits to be used outside the City. The City’s willingness to share its zone in early 2000 produced economic benefits we still enjoy today and will continue to enjoy into the future.
According to the Chemung County Industrial Agency report, Project Information, December 31, 2009 the City of Elmira Empire Zone;
• Leveraged over $700 Million of private investment.
•
• Generated new property tax revenue for the County in excess of $900,000 and $1.7 million local and school tax revenue. Each year as property tax exemptions expire, the real property tax revenue increases and therefore current tax revenue is significantly greater.
•
• The City’s zone created 4,500 jobs and retained 10,000 jobs.
•
• 14,500 jobs with an average salary of $20,000 generated $290 Million of payroll.
•
• $290 Million of payroll generates millions of sales tax dollars.
This is a Billion dollar infusion of economic benefits. If not for the City of Elmira sharing its Empire Zone, Chemung County finances would be quite different today.
In June 2016, the New York State Financial Restructuring Board commented on the City of Elmira’s Bond Rating. “Prior to June 2015, the City had a bond rating of A2 with a negative outlook from Moody’s. On June 1st, 2015, Moody’s released a new rating for the City’s General Obligation bonds and lowered the rating by five notices – to Ba1 with a sustained negative outlook. This is non-investment grade (junk bond) rating from Moody’s.”
The reasons Moody’s cited for this severe reduction in the City’s credit rating are:
• significant loss of revenue from the County sales tax sharing agreement
• health insurance overruns
• recurring general fund deficits
Moody’s will view new development positively however this plan that defers City debt will most likely not improve the City’s poor investment grade of bonds. The mixed use $14,000,000 development project in Elmira was granted a twenty year payment in lieu of tax agreement with the first four years being 100% exempt, after eleven years the project will pay 30% and in year twenty 60%. Property tax revenue from the affordable housing projects are restricted by law and proposed private developments have been given multi-year tax exemptions. It is for these reasons additional sales tax revenue to the City should be a part of tonight's plan. Even if the revenue is restricted as to use, Moody’s may look favorably at a slight upgrade.
Sound business practice would suggest that this proposed sales tax allocation is deficient of solid reasoning for the suggested allocations. Over the next three months, a cohesive legislature working together should develop a plan that addresses the needs of the community keeping in mind the future needs of county government as well as the social and economic challenges inherent with high poverty levels, effective tax rates that stagnate real estate values and the ever increasing cost of providing efficient public safety services.
The plan before you tonight falls short in capturing these community needs. Lets take a step back, analyze the financial impact of what is being proposed and compare those findings to the needs of our community.
Thank you
John J Burin
1270 N Hoffman Rd
Elmira, New York 14903
Honorable Legislators:
On September 24, 2018 I mailed each of you a letter with supporting documentation asking that you table this proposed plan to revise the reallocation of sales tax. I also referenced a process by which the 2019 county budget and budget message could move forward without the revised plan being in place. In my op ed on September 23, 2018, I pointed out in three months, newly elected officials should have the right to vote on this multi-year funding program.
I fully support a plan to reallocate sales tax revenue however, I believe the plan should be based on more than fund balances and debt. For example, the County apportionment of real property taxes creates an unintentional double taxation for certain services. These inequities, which are common to most of the towns/villages in varying degree, should be taken into consideration with the allocation of sales tax dollars. Additionally, from 2013 to 2018 Chemung County expenses increased $15 million dollars. During this same time period five county budgets were passed with deficits that required $10.5 million dollars of fund balance to close the gap. Future estimates of county revenues and expenses should be projected showing the impact of a sales tax reallocation plan.
In order for our county to realize desired social/economic growth, we must work together for a common cause. It was in this spirit that the City of Elmira allowed it’s Empire Zone Benefits to be used outside the City. The City’s willingness to share its zone in early 2000 produced economic benefits we still enjoy today and will continue to enjoy into the future.
According to the Chemung County Industrial Agency report, Project Information, December 31, 2009 the City of Elmira Empire Zone;
• Leveraged over $700 Million of private investment.
•
• Generated new property tax revenue for the County in excess of $900,000 and $1.7 million local and school tax revenue. Each year as property tax exemptions expire, the real property tax revenue increases and therefore current tax revenue is significantly greater.
•
• The City’s zone created 4,500 jobs and retained 10,000 jobs.
•
• 14,500 jobs with an average salary of $20,000 generated $290 Million of payroll.
•
• $290 Million of payroll generates millions of sales tax dollars.
This is a Billion dollar infusion of economic benefits. If not for the City of Elmira sharing its Empire Zone, Chemung County finances would be quite different today.
In June 2016, the New York State Financial Restructuring Board commented on the City of Elmira’s Bond Rating. “Prior to June 2015, the City had a bond rating of A2 with a negative outlook from Moody’s. On June 1st, 2015, Moody’s released a new rating for the City’s General Obligation bonds and lowered the rating by five notices – to Ba1 with a sustained negative outlook. This is non-investment grade (junk bond) rating from Moody’s.”
The reasons Moody’s cited for this severe reduction in the City’s credit rating are:
• significant loss of revenue from the County sales tax sharing agreement
• health insurance overruns
• recurring general fund deficits
Moody’s will view new development positively however this plan that defers City debt will most likely not improve the City’s poor investment grade of bonds. The mixed use $14,000,000 development project in Elmira was granted a twenty year payment in lieu of tax agreement with the first four years being 100% exempt, after eleven years the project will pay 30% and in year twenty 60%. Property tax revenue from the affordable housing projects are restricted by law and proposed private developments have been given multi-year tax exemptions. It is for these reasons additional sales tax revenue to the City should be a part of tonight's plan. Even if the revenue is restricted as to use, Moody’s may look favorably at a slight upgrade.
Sound business practice would suggest that this proposed sales tax allocation is deficient of solid reasoning for the suggested allocations. Over the next three months, a cohesive legislature working together should develop a plan that addresses the needs of the community keeping in mind the future needs of county government as well as the social and economic challenges inherent with high poverty levels, effective tax rates that stagnate real estate values and the ever increasing cost of providing efficient public safety services.
The plan before you tonight falls short in capturing these community needs. Lets take a step back, analyze the financial impact of what is being proposed and compare those findings to the needs of our community.
Thank you
John J Burin
1270 N Hoffman Rd
Elmira, New York 14903
News & Events
John Burin joined Frank Acomb on his radio show, "Frankly Speaking" on August 30th.
Click on the link below the photo to hear the audio from the show, where John discusses why he is running for county legislator and what experience he can bring to local government.
John will be back on with Frank again on September 11th at 7:30am on WENY 1230 AM radio.
Click on the link below the photo to hear the audio from the show, where John discusses why he is running for county legislator and what experience he can bring to local government.
John will be back on with Frank again on September 11th at 7:30am on WENY 1230 AM radio.
| john_burin_aircheck_8-30-18.mp3 |
Meet Your Candidate "John Burin"
I will hold three community meetings at the White Eagles Club, 364 Millard St., Elmira on July 26th, August 16th and September 6th, 6:30pm. And another at Diven School, 1115 Hall St., Elmira on August 21st, 6:00pm.
Speaking with the community, and learning about your concerns and questions, is very important to me. Dialoguing with citizens in the 9th District is critical to making our community a better place to live and work. As your future county legislator, I want to hear from people, because for me it's all about "RESIDENTS FIRST!"
Please take the opportunity to come meet with me. And if you are not able to attend, please call me anytime with your concerns and questions at 733-0798, or use the Contact form on this website to reach out to me.
Thank you,
John Burin
I will hold three community meetings at the White Eagles Club, 364 Millard St., Elmira on July 26th, August 16th and September 6th, 6:30pm. And another at Diven School, 1115 Hall St., Elmira on August 21st, 6:00pm.
Speaking with the community, and learning about your concerns and questions, is very important to me. Dialoguing with citizens in the 9th District is critical to making our community a better place to live and work. As your future county legislator, I want to hear from people, because for me it's all about "RESIDENTS FIRST!"
Please take the opportunity to come meet with me. And if you are not able to attend, please call me anytime with your concerns and questions at 733-0798, or use the Contact form on this website to reach out to me.
Thank you,
John Burin
John Burin speaking with residents at his community meeting on July 26th at the Whites Eagle Club
