An interview with supervisor candidate Greg Helsmoortel

What are the board’s top priorities?

The budget is the top priority. Fiscal responsibility; continue to “market” Kings Highway. Thomas Pest Control was just approved. Be as fiscally responsible as possible right now. The police consolidation is above and beyond our hopes and many residents’ expectations.

What would be the negative consequences if candidates from the other party were elected?

Loss of our experience and the network I’ve built, not just locally but regionally. Our familiarity with all aspects of village and town government would be lost.

Compared with neighboring towns, Saugerties has a vibrant business district and seems to be a place developers want to build. Why is that?

The reputation we’ve built of being open for business. We’re known as a festival town, downtown has built a reputation – a very active town, progressive.

What unique advantages does Saugerties have? What challenges?

Our reputation as a progressive, open-minded town with many different cultural events through the year. It’s a town that cares for our citizens – we support the Boys and Girls Club, we support the Kiersted House, we started the Historic Preservation Commission, even though we don’t always see eye to eye. We have a concern for our wetlands, we take open space very seriously, and we feel we balance the environmental issues with business. We have a green task force that we listen to – for instance, last year we took advantage of the federal and Central Hudson program to change the lighting in all our buildings. We’re starting to see the $25,000-plus savings in electric use. We are also going to join a state municipal energy group that can save us money. Also, the recreational centers we have available from Kiwanis and other civic organizations. Recreation is an economic driver. For years I’ve read that every dollar spent by visitors to our community goes around seven times, generating seven dollars in sales.

What qualities do you think a good supervisor should possess?

Leadership. A working knowledge of the business community, the ability to get along with almost everyone, the vast majority of the residents. The ability to listen. The desire to help residents in all situations to the best of my ability, and non-partisanship, which I have demonstrated.

What is your vision for Saugerties?

What does it say in the mural in the parking lot, “grow gracefully?” I see a responsible mix of residential and business growth. Our assessor just got an award from the state, and that’s not a small thing. I think we have set up a very responsible assessing unit in the town of Saugerties. It’s not going to make everybody happy, but I think it is professionally and responsibly done, more so now than ever.

Property taxes seem to be a big issue. Critics charge that town taxes have doubled during the incumbent supervisor’s term in office, but supporters point out that the majority of the increase has come in school taxes, which the town does not influence. Do you feel property taxes are too high, or has the town done a good job of holding the line?

Yes, property taxes have about doubled over the past 10 years. There are not too many progressive places where they haven’t. For instance, you could take $800,000 out of our budget last year [the cost of the police consolidation]. Village property tax was $1.5 million 10 years ago, and this year it’s $2.08 million. Add in the $800,000 for police, and you’re almost to $2.9 million, so her [Kelly Myers] governing body did the same thing as the one she’s criticizing. To take some random examples – I don’t want to pick on anybody – but Glasco Fire District’s budget was $128,000 ten years ago; now, it’s $297,000. It’s lights, it’s insurance. They don’t have a retirement system like we have, but the cost of doing business keeps going up. Centerville Fire, $228,000 to $627,000. I don’t have other towns at my fingertips, but I wouldn’t be surprised if it’s similar. They talk about using the fund balance, and yes, we did. But most responsible household heads do the same thing in their home. That’s where the term “rainy day fund” comes from, I’m sure. Well, we’re in a rainy day right now. We’ve used some of this fund balance to offset cost increases. We’ve kept the tax increase at zero.