News from the seamy side of town:

News from the seamy side of town:

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Absurd Predictions!
By Blithesome Spirit

.I'm going to start by wishing one and all a Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah, and a Happy New Year. The Cornball-Local.Com won't be publishing next week, so I had wanted to get the niceties out of the way.

With the new year we're going to see local government and the school district once again raid our wallets. Some increased will be caused by need,
while others will be due to mismanagement. You decide which one is which.

Let's start with the Town of Cornwall. Dick Randazzo had to raise taxes slightly. This wasn't his fault, it has more to do with the prior administration's gross mismanagement of our tax dollars.

Be watchful though for some slick real estate transactions and deals coming down the road. It's unfortunate, but it seems likely the Cornwall we used to know will soon be no more due to unchecked growth.

Then of course there's the Village of Cornwall-on-Hudson. Even though you may be a resident of the Town you will get zapped with Eddie Moulton's latest water rate hike.

Is it warranted? Of course not. We're already paying the highest water rates in the entire Hudson Valley. Eddie's just using this to subsidize his budget.

And if you're thinking the Town Board will advocate for lower water rates forget it. None of them want to bump heads with Eddie, he's too slick for 'em.

Then there is the school district. What can I say ...

In the coming days there will be a call for volunteers to participate in a citizens advisory committee that will in theory provide input into the formation of the 2006-2007 budget.

If you're interested in participating call 534-8009, extension 8, and give them your name.

While it may be a good idea in concept just consider the following -- approximately 98% of the school district's budget is driven by contractual expenses and state mandated programs.

Only 2% of the overall school district budget has any wiggle-room.


The school district's administration could always do something about minimizing contractual expenses, but cronyism seems to rear its ugly head every once in a while and it's hard to undue old habits.

In other words, before you volunteer your expertise, give some thought to whether it's worth your time and effort.

If this committee approach sounds reminiscent of the high school task force that was created in 2001 you're right. Bottom line is the folks at the school district will be using PR and not sound economics to try to get its budget passed next time around.

.Next week New Windsor Supervisor George Meyers will bid his adieu and walk-off into the sunset.

For those who don't the guy, he's a good person with a big heart.

The local media was not kind to George and misled the public. It's going to be interesting to see the tables turn when the Green administration takes office and starts making wholesale changes in New Windsor's town government.

And in closing ...

For some absurd reason our readership is at an all time high and we don't have any idea why.

We're visited by more than 6,000 people regularly every month with some of our readers located as far away as Iraq and Afghanistan.

To all of our readers, and supporters, the folks at the Cornball-Local.Com would like to extend a big "thank you" and we wish you all Happy Holidays!

See y'all in two weeks ...