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Updated 10/20/2010 10:55 PM

Village of Corinth discussing dissolution

By: C.J. Spang

The push to get towns and villages to consider joining forces in an effort to streamline government and cut cost isn't anything new in New York State and the issue took center stage at a meeting in Corinth on Wednesday. Our C.J. Spang has more on what people there had to say about the possibility.

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CORINTH, N.Y. -- To dissolve or not to dissolve? That is the question the Village of Corinth is facing.

"We could talk about this forever," said village resident Melanie Denno. "I think we've covered what we can. And I think if our constituents come and say, 'We want this up for a vote,' then we have to listen to them and we have to do that and let them make the final decision."

A 12-member committee of both Village and Town residents studied the issue for nine months and unofficially cast a vote of 11-1 against dissolution.

"I don't think five board members or 12 committee members should be making this decision," said Jim Hopkins, who lives in the village. "It's a decision that is going to have a lasting effect in this village or town for the next 100 years. So I believe that in order to put it to bed, we have to present the facts to the village residents and let them vote."

The study does project property tax savings for residents. However, there is a big uncertainty with what happens to the multi-million dollar payments from EPCOR Power if the village dissolves. If that revenue doesn't come through, the study says it may actually increase taxes.

"If we could all save money, that would be one thing, but that's not the way it's going to be," said town resident Jeff Collura. "It's going to be one entity paying more and the other entity maybe paying less, there's no guarantee there. If there were more assurances id so go with it, but everything is too vague at this point, as far as I'm concerned."

This process isn't over yet. The committee still has to formalize its recommendation to the village board. Then the village board will decide whether or not to put it to referendum. If the board says no to the referendum, according to state law, residents can file a petition, forcing a referendum vote.