A new model to maintain our quality of life

By Richard B. "Rick" Olver

Property taxes are too high. We must continue to improve management to cut costs, including through major energy savings. But we also must find new revenue sources, to shift the tax burden off homeoners, without compromising our quality of life.

Two years ago I ran for election because Croton risked turning into another village for the rich only, due to "nose-bleed" high and ever-increasing property taxes, and the absence of commercial investment. The previous administration's do-nothing idea that commercial decline "would take care of itself" wasn't working.

In the past two years, we have laid the foundation for new commercial revenues, once the recession ends. We have cut village expenses without reducing services, and for the first time ever have cut Village taxes. We have eased bureaucracy for investors and zoned for more flexibility in creating small scale projects, while protecting against large scale, high density development.

I also ran because shouting had replaced debate on the Village Board. Our debates are heated now, but they are debates. I will continue to promote civil discussion and strongly oppose smears and untruths.

The next two years will be critical in firmly establishing a new, more sustainable model of more proactive and professional but frugal and careful local government. I want to provide my professional strategic, budgetary and management expertise to the Board to help put Croton in the black for the long term, so that it can remain the quaint and lovely home we all love.

If reelected I will continue to be a budget hawk, a leader in planning for new revenues, and an implacable opponent of dense housing and waste transfer in our Village