Q&A with New Hartford supervisor candidates

What makes you the most qualified candidate for the position you seek?

Kalil: I have been a resident of the Town of New Hartford all of my life, and I am deeply concerned about the future of our town. As supervisor, I will be committed to bring open, honest and responsible government to the residents and taxpayers of the Town of New Hartford with an emphasis upon fiscal responsibility, holding the line on taxes, while trying to balance the need for essential services and public safety. Leadership, integrity, credibility and accountability must be restored to our town government, and I intend to do that.

Tyksinski: What makes me the most qualified candidate is my experience, education and training. I have gained experience in governmental accounting, finance and operations from my profession as a CPA and as being the comptroller for the Town of New Hartford. As a CPA, I have audited numerous municipalities in Oneida and Herkimer counties over the last 25 years. This experience has provided me with a working knowledge of municipal accounting and financial operations.

Being a CPA, I have also been trained and educated in all aspects of municipal accounting and finance. Additionally, I was the comptroller for the Town of New Hartford from 1998 to 2001. This was actual hands-on experience dealing with accounting, finance and tax issues specifically for the Town of New Hartford. As comptroller, I provided monthly financial reports to the board, oversaw the paying of bills, prepared budgets, reviewed expenditures in relation to budget on a weekly basis, and was responsible for payroll functions, investment of town funds, preparation of the annual report to the state and more.

What are the two main issues facing your community/district, and how would you go about addressing them?

Kalil: The first issue is to make town government open and transparent to the residents and taxpayers of the Town of New Hartford. Everything will be done to ensure that decisions made by town government are made responsibly and with the best interests of all residents and taxpayers in mind. Many decisions appear to have been made for the benefit of a few, and without consideration for the majority. Many decisions appear have been made by town government with little awareness, knowledge or input by residents and taxpayers. Efforts will be made to involve all residents and taxpayers in decision making.

Secondly, fiscal responsibility must be restored to town government, including holding the line on property taxes while working within a budget carefully planned out. Nothing can be achieved or resolved without a concerted effort by all personnel in town government to act responsibly in the fulfillment of their duties and with a view to actively make positive change for the good of the town, its residents, and its taxpayers. There must and will be concerted planning and cooperation between all departments in the Town of New Hartford. Positive changes for good government must come from those who work in government.

Tyksinski: The foremost issue facing the Town of New Hartford is its fiscal condition. The fund balance, which was built up over the years 1998 to 2001, when I was comptroller, has been drawn down significantly during the past two administrations. Currently, because of the wasteful spending over the last seven years, taxes have increased and another large tax increase appears to be coming from this administration. Under town law, the supervisor is the chief fiscal officer of the town, responsible for receiving revenues and expending funds. As supervisor, I would accept this responsibility and not delegate it to others. Using my experience, education and training with municipal accounting and finance I would stop the wasteful spending, which has occurred during the last two administrations and ensure that the town’s departments work within the budget given to them. I would prepare and submit budgets to the Town Board, which will keep costs low while still providing the services expected from the town’s residents. I would not submit a budget to the board, which represented a general fund tax increase, nor would I vote for a budget, which would increase the general fund tax. By keeping track of the town expenses and by maximizing the town’s revenues I will keep taxes from increasing and bring the fund balance back to a level to make the town fiscally strong. I did this during my term as comptroller, and I will do it as town supervisor.

The second issue that I believe is of concern to many town residents is the lack of transparency and openness of the town government. As town supervisor, I would bring back and maintain public involvement and openness in town government. As a CPA and former town comptroller, I recognize the need for creating a environment that will be candid with the residents. As supervisor I would create an understandable budget process with resident involvement and I would initiate an innovative “State of The Town” address so residents would understand exactly where the town stands with regards to its finances and its financial standing. Also, as town supervisor I would carry this openness to all facets of town government, keeping the residents informed of what is going on within this administration. By bringing this openness to our town government, I will bring back and maintain the financial and operational integrity of the Town of New Hartford. 

What steps would you take to manage the tax burden on the people you seek to represent?

Kalil: The following will be done to hold the line on taxes:
(a) Review and coordinate all department programs to ensure all governmental procedures and services are necessary, cost efficient and to eliminate unnecessary spending.
(b) Consider elimination of services that duplicate those provided by other governments.
(c) Hold the line on all development until such time as the present state of town affairs has been stabilized, fiscal responsibility restored and present developmental plans reviewed and analyzed.
(d) In order to professionally manage town finances, a comptroller should be hired by the town, free of all political connections and affiliations with the town.

Tyksinski: In order to manage the tax burden that has been placed on the taxpayers of the Town of New Hartford, one must create and maintain control over the budget. As supervisor, I would personally look after the revenues and expenditures within the town government. I would keep a constant vigil over expenditures to make certain that wasteful spending does not become part of the process as it did in the past and that all revenues which can be realized are realized. By monitoring the town’s finances, the supervisor can and should be able to institute tax relief for its taxpayers and thus relieving the tax burden which has now been placed upon them. Additionally, as supervisor I would stay abreast of the assessment process in order to ensure town residents that the revaluation debacle that occurred several years ago will not happen again. As our residents have found it is not only the tax rate which affects their taxes but also the assessed value. Therefore, awareness and an understanding of the assessment process is essential to lessening the tax burden on the peoples of the Town of New Hartford.

Do you favor consolidation of your government’s services or functions with other governments, and why or why not? If so, which services or functions?

Kalil: I would be remiss if I did not favor exploring the possibility of consolidation where there might be, at first glance, a duplication of governmental services with other governmental agencies. However, I will not rush to judgment until there has been a complete review of all town functions and services, a thorough knowledge of other available governmental services, input by town residents and taxpayers, and the ultimate cost and savings to the town.

Tyksinski: Any plan for consolidation of governmental services should and would be looked at in my administration. This would include any and all services, which the town now operates. However, there are two criteria which the plan must initially meet in order to be considered; first it must be cost effective for the town and accordingly save our residents tax dollars, second it must not significantly reduce the services that are now provided to the townspeople.

If a proposal is brought forward which can satisfy these two standards then the plan should be looked at and evaluated. The evaluation procedure must be thorough, it should look at what this will do for the Town currently and what it may or may not do in the future. What cannot happen is that services are consolidated now in order to save money only to find out that in the future these services no longer are ample for the Town’s needs. This requires careful analysis and a cautious projection of future needs and cost estimates.