Goodbye Brockport?

Residents of Brockport and former members of the village's board of trustees say the Brockport Tax Cutters, a committee working to dissolve Brockport into the Town of Sweden, has ulterior, or undisclosed motives for its petitioning. "The folks pursuing dissolution need to be looked at," said former trustee Carrie Maziarz. "They are made up of the same people as the Brockport Sweden Property Owners Association. They have an entirely different interest in dissolution than Brockport's single family homeowners."

Village Mayor Connie Castaneda confirmed a personal relationship with a reputed member of the Tax Cutters, landlord Norman Giancursio. He owns more rental properties than any other landlord in the village, including 172 Main St., known as "The Roxbury."

According to an e-mail from Tax Cutter member Linda Borrayo, Giancursio's sister, various members created and currently comprise the Tax Cutters.

"Our group is very diverse and includes SUNY professors, professionals, blue-collar workers, young and old residents, and several business owners, including a few rental owners," she said.

"These answers were a collective effort by a group of volunteers," the e-mail noted. The group would not produce a list of its members for "concern about police and village government intimidation and retaliation."

New law allows voter-initiated dissolution

A new law effective March 21, 2010, the "New N.Y. Government Reorganization and Citizen Empowerment Act," enables voters to petition for a public vote on consolidating or dissolving their local government. The Brockport Tax Cutters have collected the required signatures, 10 percent of the electorate, for the village to enact a resolution calling for a referendum.

In accordance with the law, if the voters approve the referendum, the village's board of trustees and the Town of Sweden must design a dissolution plan. The plan would specify which village services the town would adopt and which services, if any, would be eliminated.

The Village of Brockport started off the fiscal year $500,000 in the hole. And its reserves are depleted. The board of trustees transferred $464,000 from its third party billing fund to its general fund, which has shrunk more than $700,000 since the end of the 2008 fiscal year.

A financial analysis by a village-hired consultant indicates that without cutting any services, an estimated 18 percent annual increase for the next five years might be necessary to balance the budget. Brockport Tax Cutter Dan Kuhn said that's why the group is petitioning for dissolution - to avoid an astronomical tax hike.

"Dissolution offers a great opportunity to cut the overhead that's involved," Kuhn said. "We are beyond the point where we need a separate government to manage village services. Our group is concerned with what's best for the voters and taxpayers of the village who are worried about losing their homes."

Former village trustee Carrie Maziarz said this figure is inflated.

"I highly doubt taxes would go up 18 percent," she said. "It's a dream figure to fix everything in one shot."

Castaneda said an 18 percent annual tax increase wouldn't even replenish the village's reserves. She also commented on her relationship with Giancursio, what residents have called a "conflict of interest."

"My personal relationships are personal, but yes, I do have a relationship with him," she said. "It is unfortunate that my opponents want to divert attention from the real issues.

"The majority of the village government has gotten us in this situation and instead of coming up with a scapegoat, they should take responsibility for their own actions."

Several residents have said the Tax Cutters interests include the elimination of the Brockport Police Department, and for the landlords involved, less governmental oversight on rental properties.

Main Street resident Carol Hannan is one of them.

"In my opinion, the group is made up of same landlords who have been trying to abolish the police department for years and have been working to control the village government by getting themselves elected to the board," Hannan said.

Brockport's Historic Preservation Board chair, Bill Andrews, said some landlords have "the reputation of being unwilling to abide by the Village Zoning Ordinance." He also noted legal proceedings against some landlords (see sidebar) and problems that have occurred in student rental properties.

"Student housing has frequently been the sites of disorderly behavior leading to complaints resulting in enforcement by the police of village ordinance," Andrews said. "Some landlords may want those ordinances rescinded and that law enforcement ended and therefore, would like to see the zoning board and the police department abolished."

Four of the five residents Kuhn said created the Brockport Tax Cutters are landlords. This includes himself, Rhett King, Linda Borrayo and Linda's husband, Francisco Borrayo. Giancursio is "not a main member, but is involved," Kuhn said. All of the landlords Kuhn mentioned, except himself, own student housing properties.

None of the landlords in question would agree to an in-person interview, save Kuhn. Linda Borrayo agreed to the e-mail interview with answers reflecting the groups' opinion.

The Tax Cutters said dissolution is the only way to rectify the village's deficit and the burden village taxpayers bear.

"We believe dissolution of the inefficient and costly layer of village government is the only option that will allow Brockport residents to afford their homes. If the village is dissolved, village taxes will be reduced due to the duplication of [town and village] services."