opinion

Letter: Spring Valley assessments a mess

Over the years, I have watched taxes go up but services eliminated and our infrastructure deteriorate in Spring Valley. My biggest concern was where our tax money goes and why we are seeing such a decline in services.

As I walk my neighborhood I see broken roads and sidewalks, garbage all over the place and properties sitting vacant, half-burnt down, for years.

I jumped at the opportunity to work for the Village of Spring Valley so I could find answers. I found the conditions of the village, in my opinion, were due to a lack of oversight by of our political leaders. Departments not staffed properly to ensure the village codes are being followed. Major defects within our assessment roll. Large multifamily homes being taxed less than small single-family properties. Houses being taxed as vacant land. Facts were given to the mayor and then to the board. The mayor requested auditors, and unfortunately, instead of fixing the problem, it turned into more fighting.

The Village Board must now pass a budget and assessment roll which will dictate the 2015-2016 tax rate. Any tax increase is unfair until the assessment roll is corrected.

These are elected officials who promised to do the right thing and they are failing us. The big issues are being ignored and that is unacceptable. Elections have consequences, and we are now paying them by electing people who refuse to work together to tackle the big issues facing our village.

Aaron Morse

Spring Valley

The writer is a former legislative aide for the Spring Valley Village Board.