{"id":65,"date":"2015-08-05T09:14:21","date_gmt":"2015-08-05T13:14:21","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/labergegroup.com\/town\/?page_id=65"},"modified":"2022-09-06T22:56:13","modified_gmt":"2022-09-06T22:56:13","slug":"questions_answers","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/labergegroup.com\/lakegeorge\/questions_answers\/","title":{"rendered":"QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t<div data-elementor-type=\"wp-page\" data-elementor-id=\"65\" class=\"elementor elementor-65\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-4373c8f2 elementor-section-full_width elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"4373c8f2\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-no\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-15df76ce\" data-id=\"15df76ce\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-23ece516 elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"23ece516\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/labergegroup.com\/lakegeorge\/\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img width=\"188\" height=\"162\" src=\"https:\/\/labergegroup.com\/lakegeorge\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/Village-of-Lake-George-Logo-02.png\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-3119\" alt=\"\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-6d30bee1\" data-id=\"6d30bee1\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-2d10a24d elementor-nav-menu--dropdown-tablet elementor-nav-menu__text-align-aside elementor-nav-menu--toggle elementor-nav-menu--burger elementor-widget elementor-widget-nav-menu\" data-id=\"2d10a24d\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-settings=\"{&quot;layout&quot;:&quot;horizontal&quot;,&quot;submenu_icon&quot;:{&quot;value&quot;:&quot;&lt;i class=\\&quot;fas fa-caret-down\\&quot;&gt;&lt;\\\/i&gt;&quot;,&quot;library&quot;:&quot;fa-solid&quot;},&quot;toggle&quot;:&quot;burger&quot;}\" data-widget_type=\"nav-menu.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<nav migration_allowed=\"1\" migrated=\"0\" role=\"navigation\" class=\"elementor-nav-menu--main elementor-nav-menu__container elementor-nav-menu--layout-horizontal e--pointer-none\">\n\t\t\t\t<ul id=\"menu-1-2d10a24d\" class=\"elementor-nav-menu\"><li class=\"menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-435\"><a href=\"https:\/\/labergegroup.com\/lakegeorge\/questions_answers\/\" class=\"elementor-item menu-link\">QUESTIONS &#038; ANSWERS<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-3207\"><a href=\"https:\/\/labergegroup.com\/lakegeorge\/public-info-meetings-2\/\" class=\"elementor-item menu-link\">PUBLIC INFO &#038; MEETINGS<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-2990\"><a href=\"https:\/\/labergegroup.com\/lakegeorge\/documents\/\" class=\"elementor-item menu-link\">DOCS &#038; INFO<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-2795\"><a href=\"https:\/\/labergegroup.com\/lakegeorge\/links\/\" class=\"elementor-item menu-link\">LINKS<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-2796\"><a href=\"https:\/\/labergegroup.com\/lakegeorge\/the-dissolution-process\/\" class=\"elementor-item menu-link\">THE DISSOLUTION PROCESS<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\t\t\t<\/nav>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-menu-toggle\" role=\"button\" tabindex=\"0\" aria-label=\"Menu Toggle\" aria-expanded=\"false\">\n\t\t\t<i aria-hidden=\"true\" role=\"presentation\" class=\"elementor-menu-toggle__icon--open eicon-menu-bar\"><\/i><i aria-hidden=\"true\" role=\"presentation\" class=\"elementor-menu-toggle__icon--close eicon-close\"><\/i>\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-screen-only\">Menu<\/span>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<nav class=\"elementor-nav-menu--dropdown elementor-nav-menu__container\" role=\"navigation\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\n\t\t\t\t<ul id=\"menu-2-2d10a24d\" class=\"elementor-nav-menu\"><li class=\"menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-435\"><a href=\"https:\/\/labergegroup.com\/lakegeorge\/questions_answers\/\" class=\"elementor-item menu-link\" tabindex=\"-1\">QUESTIONS &#038; ANSWERS<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-3207\"><a href=\"https:\/\/labergegroup.com\/lakegeorge\/public-info-meetings-2\/\" class=\"elementor-item menu-link\" tabindex=\"-1\">PUBLIC INFO &#038; MEETINGS<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-2990\"><a href=\"https:\/\/labergegroup.com\/lakegeorge\/documents\/\" class=\"elementor-item menu-link\" tabindex=\"-1\">DOCS &#038; INFO<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-2795\"><a href=\"https:\/\/labergegroup.com\/lakegeorge\/links\/\" class=\"elementor-item menu-link\" tabindex=\"-1\">LINKS<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-2796\"><a href=\"https:\/\/labergegroup.com\/lakegeorge\/the-dissolution-process\/\" class=\"elementor-item menu-link\" tabindex=\"-1\">THE DISSOLUTION PROCESS<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\t\t\t<\/nav>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-0207226 elementor-section-full_width elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"0207226\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-no\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-b9b15e8\" data-id=\"b9b15e8\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-80bacf7 elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"80bacf7\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img fetchpriority=\"high\" width=\"1023\" height=\"374\" src=\"https:\/\/labergegroup.com\/lakegeorge\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/Lake-George-Dissolution-Study-Website-Banner-Image-1.jpg\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-3112\" alt=\"Village of Lake George NY Dissolution Study Website\" srcset=\"https:\/\/labergegroup.com\/lakegeorge\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/Lake-George-Dissolution-Study-Website-Banner-Image-1.jpg 1023w, https:\/\/labergegroup.com\/lakegeorge\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/Lake-George-Dissolution-Study-Website-Banner-Image-1-300x110.jpg 300w, https:\/\/labergegroup.com\/lakegeorge\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/Lake-George-Dissolution-Study-Website-Banner-Image-1-768x281.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1023px) 100vw, 1023px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-a7a9fac elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"a7a9fac\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-4e796c0\" data-id=\"4e796c0\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-a937baf elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"a937baf\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Questions & Answers<\/h2>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-694243a elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"694243a\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-a8d74ba\" data-id=\"a8d74ba\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-7281624 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"7281624\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Community engagement from the citizens of the Village of Lake George is a vital part of the process of developing an <em>Interim Dissolution Study<\/em>. As the process progresses, this page you will feature questions submitted by Lake George community members, as well as Frequently Asked Questions regarding village dissolution.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-80319b1 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"80319b1\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-551a132\" data-id=\"551a132\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-3b9b15d elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"3b9b15d\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Submit a Question<\/h2>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-9cc4f7e elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"9cc4f7e\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tTo submit a question, simply submit the form located at the bottom of this page. A response will be posted on this page within 5 business days.\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-24e3a5f elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"24e3a5f\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-0af1b87\" data-id=\"0af1b87\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-55ba4af elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"55ba4af\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Questions Submitted by the Village of Lake George Community<\/h2>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-74bb985 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"74bb985\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tResponses to questions submitted by members of the Village of Lake George community have been posted below.\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-859ae1b elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"859ae1b\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-2bdd4c1\" data-id=\"2bdd4c1\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-cea410c elementor-widget elementor-widget-accordion\" data-id=\"cea410c\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"accordion.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-accordion\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-accordion-item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div id=\"elementor-tab-title-2161\" class=\"elementor-tab-title\" data-tab=\"1\" role=\"button\" aria-controls=\"elementor-tab-content-2161\" aria-expanded=\"false\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-accordion-icon elementor-accordion-icon-left\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-accordion-icon-closed\"><i class=\"fas fa-plus\"><\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-accordion-icon-opened\"><i class=\"fas fa-minus\"><\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"elementor-accordion-title\" tabindex=\"0\">1. Will only Village residents be able to vote or will all Town residents have the right to vote?<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div id=\"elementor-tab-content-2161\" class=\"elementor-tab-content elementor-clearfix\" data-tab=\"1\" role=\"region\" aria-labelledby=\"elementor-tab-title-2161\"><p>Only registered voters in the Village can vote in the referendum.<\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-accordion-item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div id=\"elementor-tab-title-2162\" class=\"elementor-tab-title\" data-tab=\"2\" role=\"button\" aria-controls=\"elementor-tab-content-2162\" aria-expanded=\"false\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-accordion-icon elementor-accordion-icon-left\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-accordion-icon-closed\"><i class=\"fas fa-plus\"><\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-accordion-icon-opened\"><i class=\"fas fa-minus\"><\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"elementor-accordion-title\" tabindex=\"0\">2. Is the Town obligated to govern the Village if the vote is positive? If not, what happens?<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div id=\"elementor-tab-content-2162\" class=\"elementor-tab-content elementor-clearfix\" data-tab=\"2\" role=\"region\" aria-labelledby=\"elementor-tab-title-2162\"><p>Should the residents of the Village vote to dissolve the Village, there will no longer be a Village government. As such, all services and governance will be provided by the Town.<\/p><p>If the Village does not vote to dissolve, governance and service delivery remain the same as it is today.<\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-accordion-item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div id=\"elementor-tab-title-2163\" class=\"elementor-tab-title\" data-tab=\"3\" role=\"button\" aria-controls=\"elementor-tab-content-2163\" aria-expanded=\"false\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-accordion-icon elementor-accordion-icon-left\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-accordion-icon-closed\"><i class=\"fas fa-plus\"><\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-accordion-icon-opened\"><i class=\"fas fa-minus\"><\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"elementor-accordion-title\" tabindex=\"0\">3. Please explain the funds offered by NY State in perpetuity of $500,000 per year. How these funds are required to be allocated, among which taxpayers, etc.? I believe there is a general \"misconception\" or \"belief\" that this money would be used to pay off debt service left on the Village assets (if people vote to dissolve the Village). From the public meeting information, it seemed more like $350,000 would be applied directly to the Town tax amount, and then the taxpayers' taxes would be lessened by that amount, with the remaining $150,000 going to ..... something else? Please make this crystal clear to us.<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div id=\"elementor-tab-content-2163\" class=\"elementor-tab-content elementor-clearfix\" data-tab=\"3\" role=\"region\" aria-labelledby=\"elementor-tab-title-2163\"><p>Per the NYS law, the CETC is provided to the Town in perpetuity. We are preliminarily calculating it as approximately $500,000 pending the final municipal budgets in the year prior to dissolution.<\/p><p>State law mandates that at least 70% be used to lower the Town tax levy (remember that is for <strong>all property owners<\/strong> including those in the former Village as the Village government would have been dissolved).<\/p><p>The discussion at the Public Meeting regarding the $350,000 was a minimum utilization of the CETC to lower taxes. We have not progressed far enough yet in the plan development to determine or even speculate on how the funds may be used. The Town could choose to use all of it to lower the property tax levy, or use the $150,000 for other purposes. That is <strong>an annual decision by the Town Board<\/strong> as they develop their fiscal budgets.<\/p><p>Please note that the remaining 30% can be used for Town budgeted items. The debt service that remains in the legacy \u201cdistrict\u201d (this is not a real district, only a line item on the tax bill to pay for legacy debts\/costs) or the sewer district are not Town budgeted items and the funds <u>cannot <\/u>be used to pay down that debt. Town-wide funds <strong>cannot be used to reduce costs <\/strong>in special districts.<\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-accordion-item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div id=\"elementor-tab-title-2164\" class=\"elementor-tab-title\" data-tab=\"4\" role=\"button\" aria-controls=\"elementor-tab-content-2164\" aria-expanded=\"false\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-accordion-icon elementor-accordion-icon-left\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-accordion-icon-closed\"><i class=\"fas fa-plus\"><\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-accordion-icon-opened\"><i class=\"fas fa-minus\"><\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"elementor-accordion-title\" tabindex=\"0\">4. At the recent public hearing it was mentioned that there were historical reasons for the creation of villages in New York. (a) What were those reasons? (b) Do any of those reasons still apply to the Village of Lake George today? (c) What is a good reason for maintaining the Village as a separate political entity from the town? (d) What is a good reason for dissolving the Village?<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div id=\"elementor-tab-content-2164\" class=\"elementor-tab-content elementor-clearfix\" data-tab=\"4\" role=\"region\" aria-labelledby=\"elementor-tab-title-2164\"><p>Unfortunately these questions are value and\/or judgement questions \u2013 both of which are not ours to make. Our role is to provide unbiased information on the process and the potential outcome from which you can determine the reasons for or against dissolution.\u00a0<\/p><p>Question A &#8211;<br \/>As far as historical reasons for the creation of villages, there are many including but not limited to:<\/p><ul><li>Along trade routes for economic development<\/li><li>To provide for water and\/or sewer infrastructure<\/li><li>Public protection (former forts or strategic locations<\/li><li>Ports of entry<\/li><li>Land Use control<\/li><li>Political considerations<\/li><\/ul><p>Question B &#8211;<br \/>As far as whether or not these reasons still apply to the Village of Lake George, we have not researched the historical reasoning for the creation of the Village Lake George and as such are not in a position to make a judgement.<\/p><p>Questions C and D &#8211;<br \/>The Interim Study of Dissolution will outline potential changes resulting from a dissolution of the Village of Lake George government. Each community is different, and each voter needs to decide for themselves whether or not the reasons for or against dissolution outweigh each other.<\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-accordion-item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div id=\"elementor-tab-title-2165\" class=\"elementor-tab-title\" data-tab=\"5\" role=\"button\" aria-controls=\"elementor-tab-content-2165\" aria-expanded=\"false\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-accordion-icon elementor-accordion-icon-left\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-accordion-icon-closed\"><i class=\"fas fa-plus\"><\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-accordion-icon-opened\"><i class=\"fas fa-minus\"><\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"elementor-accordion-title\" tabindex=\"0\">5. Where can village residents obtain an online copy of the Village Budget for the current fiscal year?<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div id=\"elementor-tab-content-2165\" class=\"elementor-tab-content elementor-clearfix\" data-tab=\"5\" role=\"region\" aria-labelledby=\"elementor-tab-title-2165\"><p>Please contact the village clerk to obtain a copy of the village budget(s).<\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-accordion-item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div id=\"elementor-tab-title-2166\" class=\"elementor-tab-title\" data-tab=\"6\" role=\"button\" aria-controls=\"elementor-tab-content-2166\" aria-expanded=\"false\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-accordion-icon elementor-accordion-icon-left\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-accordion-icon-closed\"><i class=\"fas fa-plus\"><\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-accordion-icon-opened\"><i class=\"fas fa-minus\"><\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"elementor-accordion-title\" tabindex=\"0\">6. Since this is a citizen-initiated plan, there appears there will be no dissolution plan created prior to the vote to dissolve the village. How can village residents understand which village expenses will still remain a 'village taxpayer' obligation after dissolution?<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div id=\"elementor-tab-content-2166\" class=\"elementor-tab-content elementor-clearfix\" data-tab=\"6\" role=\"region\" aria-labelledby=\"elementor-tab-title-2166\"><p>The Village is creating an Interim Dissolution Study that will provide information for residents to review prior to the referendum. You are correct, a Final Dissolution Plan is not created until after the vote.<\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-accordion-item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div id=\"elementor-tab-title-2167\" class=\"elementor-tab-title\" data-tab=\"7\" role=\"button\" aria-controls=\"elementor-tab-content-2167\" aria-expanded=\"false\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-accordion-icon elementor-accordion-icon-left\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-accordion-icon-closed\"><i class=\"fas fa-plus\"><\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-accordion-icon-opened\"><i class=\"fas fa-minus\"><\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"elementor-accordion-title\" tabindex=\"0\">7. What does this ultimately mean for Lake George and the business\u2019s around it?<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div id=\"elementor-tab-content-2167\" class=\"elementor-tab-content elementor-clearfix\" data-tab=\"7\" role=\"region\" aria-labelledby=\"elementor-tab-title-2167\"><p>Thank you for your inquiry, however, your question is too broad for us to provide an answer to. Please refer to the Draft Interim Report for our findings when it is complete. In short, a village dissolution means that the governance and service delivery will be provided by the Town, and the government of the Village of Lake George will cease to exist.<\/p><p>The Interim Report will provide a service delivery model and the fiscal impact to property owners and should be available for review towards the end of August.<\/p><p>Please refer to the FAQ section of the project website for additional answers to frequent questions as there may be information pertaining to additional specific questions contained therein.<\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-accordion-item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div id=\"elementor-tab-title-2168\" class=\"elementor-tab-title\" data-tab=\"8\" role=\"button\" aria-controls=\"elementor-tab-content-2168\" aria-expanded=\"false\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-accordion-icon elementor-accordion-icon-left\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-accordion-icon-closed\"><i class=\"fas fa-plus\"><\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-accordion-icon-opened\"><i class=\"fas fa-minus\"><\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"elementor-accordion-title\" tabindex=\"0\">8. How will property and school taxes be affected for residents of the Village? How will the cost of other services be affected? What changes in development will be anticipated in and around Lake George Village?<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div id=\"elementor-tab-content-2168\" class=\"elementor-tab-content elementor-clearfix\" data-tab=\"8\" role=\"region\" aria-labelledby=\"elementor-tab-title-2168\"><p>Dissolution does not affect school or county taxes.<\/p><p>Changes in development are not part of the scope of this Interim Report and suggest that you speak with the Village and Town Planning Department about upcoming developments.<\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-accordion-item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div id=\"elementor-tab-title-2169\" class=\"elementor-tab-title\" data-tab=\"9\" role=\"button\" aria-controls=\"elementor-tab-content-2169\" aria-expanded=\"false\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-accordion-icon elementor-accordion-icon-left\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-accordion-icon-closed\"><i class=\"fas fa-plus\"><\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-accordion-icon-opened\"><i class=\"fas fa-minus\"><\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"elementor-accordion-title\" tabindex=\"0\">9. I have a question. In March of 2009 the Village prepared a proposed Dissolution Plan of the Village of Lake George. After dealing with the many basic issues, including the establishment of several \"Special Improvement Districts\" for such as Water, Sewer, Lighting etc., the Proposal contained a catchall provision Paragraph 15 which provided: \"Outstanding Debts and Obligations: The Town of Lake George will assume any and all outstanding debts and obligations of the Village of Lake George\u2026In accordance with Village Law Section 19-1912, this debt will be levied on real property that lies within the boundaries of Lake George Village until it is paid off. The annual levy for servicing this debt shall be calculated as the annual payments due on the debt minus the amortized annual value of all fixed assets conveyed by the Village to the Town through this Proposition. The value of these fixed assets shall be their depreciated value as listed in the Village Financial Statements for the fiscal year ending\u2026 This value shall be amortized over 24 years using an interest rate of zero percent (0%).\"  One of the major issues concerning the proposed dissolution of the Village concerns the Wastewater Treatment Plant and its related debt. Using that particular asset and related liability please explain the tax and debt service ramifications for the Village property owners under this proposed 24-year amortization of the debt at zero interest.   Note that the debt was last estimated at approximately $6M, with the Village obliged to pay approximately $500K annually.  Please include in your explanation the impact of the anticipated annual State tax credit of $475,000 to the town, if the Village is dissolved. This credit would appear to be particularly pertinent to any question of whether the town's assumption of the debt obliges the town to repay it in any shorter period contractually required by the obligation.<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div id=\"elementor-tab-content-2169\" class=\"elementor-tab-content elementor-clearfix\" data-tab=\"9\" role=\"region\" aria-labelledby=\"elementor-tab-title-2169\"><p>Dissolution of villages is now governed by the New NY Local Government Re-organization Act and Citizen Empowerment Act adopted in 2010, (specifically General Municipal Law Article 17-a). Outstanding debts and liabilities are addressed in Section \u00a7790 of the statute and its states, \u201cThe outstanding debts, liabilities and obligations of the dissolved local government entity shall be assumed by the Town in which the dissolved Village was situated and shall be a charge upon the taxable property within the Village entity (entity dissolved) collected in the same manner as town taxes. The town board shall have all powers with respect to such debts and obligations as the board of trustees would have had if the village had not been dissolved, including the power to issue town bonds to redeem bond anticipation notes issued by the village.\u201d This is essentially the same as the language that was historically found in Village Law Section 19 which was superseded by Article 17-a of GML.<\/p><p>In response to your question regarding the debt for the Waste Water Treatment Plant (WWTP) post dissolution, any debt remaining at the time of dissolution will become a charge upon the users in the sewer districts benefiting from the WWTP ( as is currently allocated). This debt will be amortized over time pursuant to the terms of final agreement. We are currently working to calculate the impacts of this bonding as well as all existing bonding, other liabilities and potential offsetting assets; all of which will be included in the fiscal impact section of the Interim Study of Dissolution. Similarly, debt service payments for other special district functions including water and fire will continue to be a charge to the system users. All long term debt and long term liabilities will be funded through an annual legacy taxing district tax levy upon the properties in the Village based on taxable assessed valuation.<\/p><p>The CETC, estimated at approximately $496K, becomes a revenue to the Town of Lake George post dissolution and will be applied to the town-wide Town budget. Town revenues may not be used to support special districts.\u00a0<\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-accordion-item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div id=\"elementor-tab-title-21610\" class=\"elementor-tab-title\" data-tab=\"10\" role=\"button\" aria-controls=\"elementor-tab-content-21610\" aria-expanded=\"false\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-accordion-icon elementor-accordion-icon-left\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-accordion-icon-closed\"><i class=\"fas fa-plus\"><\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-accordion-icon-opened\"><i class=\"fas fa-minus\"><\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"elementor-accordion-title\" tabindex=\"0\">10. It appears from Section 790, assuming that the opinions are borne out in your study and possibly reflected in any proposed plan of dissolution, that concerns of Village residents that they may lose the assets and the revenue (particularly the parking fees and the CETC) while being left holding the bag in the form of tax levies to satisfy the asset related debts are valid.  It seems that, if there are good reasons to end the separate village government, which appears to have been the interest of the state in enacting Local Government Reorganization Act and Citizen Empowerment Act, then consolidation under Title 2 of the Act would be the way to go, since under Sections 707 and 708 consolidation appears to allow for the two governments to agree as to disposition of assets and assumption of debt, and not otherwise be restricted as provided by Section 790.  So that brings me back to one of my original questions. In light of the state's interest in shrinking government, are there good reasons to terminate the separate government of the village, such that an initiative to consolidate ought to be fairly considered? If that is more of a political question than Laberge Group is able or prepared to answer, I will understand. But it would help to better inform my opinion to have some professional guidance. <\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div id=\"elementor-tab-content-21610\" class=\"elementor-tab-content elementor-clearfix\" data-tab=\"10\" role=\"region\" aria-labelledby=\"elementor-tab-title-21610\"><p>You are correct that it is not for us to give reasons for or against dissolution \u2013 as our charge is to provide unbiased information from which residents can choose their path forward.<\/p><p>Per your comments, as this is a dissolution vote under Article 17-A, it is not for us to determine whether or not a consolidation effort would have been a better option. The petition was for dissolution, so until that process comes to an end, consolidation cannot be taken up.<\/p><p>Under a dissolution all assets that are not sold prior to dissolution become the property of the town as a whole, all debts incurred by the Village are to be paid by the former village residents via a legacy district; the CETC goes to all taxpayers in the Town including those in the former village; and there is no ability for parking fees to be directed solely to the hamlet of Lake George.<\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-accordion-item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div id=\"elementor-tab-title-21611\" class=\"elementor-tab-title\" data-tab=\"11\" role=\"button\" aria-controls=\"elementor-tab-content-21611\" aria-expanded=\"false\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-accordion-icon elementor-accordion-icon-left\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-accordion-icon-closed\"><i class=\"fas fa-plus\"><\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-accordion-icon-opened\"><i class=\"fas fa-minus\"><\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"elementor-accordion-title\" tabindex=\"0\">11. Is it true that the residents of the Village are already liable for the debt associated with the Waste Water Treatment Plant, as well as any other debt associated with assets in special districts that may be transferred to the Town upon dissolution of the Village? If so, then isn't it true that the residents of the Village will benefit from the CETC reduction in their taxes even if the CETC is not directly applied to the treatment plant debt itself?<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div id=\"elementor-tab-content-21611\" class=\"elementor-tab-content elementor-clearfix\" data-tab=\"11\" role=\"region\" aria-labelledby=\"elementor-tab-title-21611\"><p>The Waste Water Treatment Plant debt will be the responsibility of the Village and will be funded through the new Hamlet Sewer District and will be shared with the Caldwell Sewer District. Debt not associated with a special district is the responsibility of the Village and net of any assets applied to reduce the cost, is a charge upon the properties in the former Village.\u00a0The CETC will go to the Town and minimally 70% must be used as an offset to the Town-wide property tax levy.\u00a0<\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-accordion-item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div id=\"elementor-tab-title-21612\" class=\"elementor-tab-title\" data-tab=\"12\" role=\"button\" aria-controls=\"elementor-tab-content-21612\" aria-expanded=\"false\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-accordion-icon elementor-accordion-icon-left\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-accordion-icon-closed\"><i class=\"fas fa-plus\"><\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-accordion-icon-opened\"><i class=\"fas fa-minus\"><\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"elementor-accordion-title\" tabindex=\"0\">12. As a town landowner and full time town resident, what is the benefit\/detriment of dissolution to town residents? <\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div id=\"elementor-tab-content-21612\" class=\"elementor-tab-content elementor-clearfix\" data-tab=\"12\" role=\"region\" aria-labelledby=\"elementor-tab-title-21612\">Unfortunately in a Village dissolution, the Town government and its residents do not have a vote or any formal input into dissolution.\n\nBased on the Final Dissolution Plan, there will be no impact to services currently provided to Town residents.<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-accordion-item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div id=\"elementor-tab-title-21613\" class=\"elementor-tab-title\" data-tab=\"13\" role=\"button\" aria-controls=\"elementor-tab-content-21613\" aria-expanded=\"false\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-accordion-icon elementor-accordion-icon-left\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-accordion-icon-closed\"><i class=\"fas fa-plus\"><\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-accordion-icon-opened\"><i class=\"fas fa-minus\"><\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"elementor-accordion-title\" tabindex=\"0\">13. The Resident Checklist section entitled Effectiveness and Efficiencies states that \"the Town as a whole, including the Village has a total population of approximately 3,400 residents.\" I believe this to be incorrect to the extent that the total purports to include the Village residents. Per the Office of the NY State Comptroller, the population of the Town of Lake George is itself approximately 3,402 (2019) and the population of the Village is 918 (2020), so that the combined population total would be approximately 4,320.<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div id=\"elementor-tab-content-21613\" class=\"elementor-tab-content elementor-clearfix\" data-tab=\"13\" role=\"region\" aria-labelledby=\"elementor-tab-title-21613\"><p>Thank you for your input. Please note that per the US Census, the population of a town includes the population of each of the incorporated villages within it.<\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-accordion-item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div id=\"elementor-tab-title-21614\" class=\"elementor-tab-title\" data-tab=\"14\" role=\"button\" aria-controls=\"elementor-tab-content-21614\" aria-expanded=\"false\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-accordion-icon elementor-accordion-icon-left\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-accordion-icon-closed\"><i class=\"fas fa-plus\"><\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-accordion-icon-opened\"><i class=\"fas fa-minus\"><\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"elementor-accordion-title\" tabindex=\"0\">14. I understand if the voters say \u201cno\u201d to dissolution, then it would be 4 years before they can try for dissolution again. And if that is the case, does that apply to any attempt at dissolution including dissolution by consolidation or by coterminous?<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div id=\"elementor-tab-content-21614\" class=\"elementor-tab-content elementor-clearfix\" data-tab=\"14\" role=\"region\" aria-labelledby=\"elementor-tab-title-21614\"><p>Voting \u201cno\u201d to dissolution does not preclude the processes of consolidation of the Village and Town nor does it preclude the process of creating a coterminous Village \u2013 Town.<\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-accordion-item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div id=\"elementor-tab-title-21615\" class=\"elementor-tab-title\" data-tab=\"15\" role=\"button\" aria-controls=\"elementor-tab-content-21615\" aria-expanded=\"false\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-accordion-icon elementor-accordion-icon-left\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-accordion-icon-closed\"><i class=\"fas fa-plus\"><\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-accordion-icon-opened\"><i class=\"fas fa-minus\"><\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"elementor-accordion-title\" tabindex=\"0\">15. With regard to the dissolution option of \u201cconsolidation,\u201d it is my understanding that the Village would be dissolved as well under this scenario. Is that true?<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div id=\"elementor-tab-content-21615\" class=\"elementor-tab-content elementor-clearfix\" data-tab=\"15\" role=\"region\" aria-labelledby=\"elementor-tab-title-21615\">In a consolidation of a Village and Town, the resulting local government would be a Town because villages are not legally able to exist outside a Town.\u00a0However, the consolidation process is different than the dissolution process.\u00a0 In a Village dissolution, only Village voters are allowed to vote, whereas in a consolidation of a Town and Village, both the electorate in the Village and Town have a vote. In a dissolution process, the Village is required to develop a Dissolution Plan; however, the plan is not binding upon the Town.\u00a0In the consolidation process, the Village and Town are required to develop and adopt a joint consolidation agreement detailing the terms and conditions of the consolidated government.\n<br><br>In a coterminous Town-Village the Town and Village share the same boundaries.\u00a0The Town and the Village function together as a single local government or as two separate local governments. As a single unit of government, the governing body of one unit of the coterminous government serves as the governing body of the other unit. This process results in one of the forms of government being the primary form of government \u2013 either Town of Village \u2013 effectively eliminating the other as far as administration is concerned.<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-accordion-item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div id=\"elementor-tab-title-21616\" class=\"elementor-tab-title\" data-tab=\"16\" role=\"button\" aria-controls=\"elementor-tab-content-21616\" aria-expanded=\"false\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-accordion-icon elementor-accordion-icon-left\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-accordion-icon-closed\"><i class=\"fas fa-plus\"><\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-accordion-icon-opened\"><i class=\"fas fa-minus\"><\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"elementor-accordion-title\" tabindex=\"0\">16. Fire Departments are not operated by any Town Government?  Is this a law?<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div id=\"elementor-tab-content-21616\" class=\"elementor-tab-content elementor-clearfix\" data-tab=\"16\" role=\"region\" aria-labelledby=\"elementor-tab-title-21616\">Unlike Villages and Cities, Towns are not authorized by Town or General Municipal Law to operate fire departments.\u00a0 Fire services in all Towns in New York State are provided services through one of three means:<br>\n<ul>\n \t<li>Fire District that is a separate government entity with its own elected board, set its own budget and has\u00a0 the authority to levy taxes and incur debt; or<\/li>\n \t<li>Fire Protection District established by a Town and is an entity of the Town for purposes to raising revenues from the users in the protection district for the provision of fire services in the fire protection district; or<\/li>\n \t<li>Joint Fire District that can include the Town with other Towns and\/or Villages.<\/li>\n<\/ul><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-accordion-item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div id=\"elementor-tab-title-21617\" class=\"elementor-tab-title\" data-tab=\"17\" role=\"button\" aria-controls=\"elementor-tab-content-21617\" aria-expanded=\"false\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-accordion-icon elementor-accordion-icon-left\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-accordion-icon-closed\"><i class=\"fas fa-plus\"><\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-accordion-icon-opened\"><i class=\"fas fa-minus\"><\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"elementor-accordion-title\" tabindex=\"0\">17. How much debt does the Village have?<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div id=\"elementor-tab-content-21617\" class=\"elementor-tab-content elementor-clearfix\" data-tab=\"17\" role=\"region\" aria-labelledby=\"elementor-tab-title-21617\"><p>Please click <a href=\"https:\/\/labergegroup.com\/lakegeorge\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/Village-Liabilities-and-Indebtedness.pdf\"><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><strong>HERE<\/strong> <\/span><\/a>to view a chart showing Village Liabilities and Indebtedness.<\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-accordion-item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div id=\"elementor-tab-title-21618\" class=\"elementor-tab-title\" data-tab=\"18\" role=\"button\" aria-controls=\"elementor-tab-content-21618\" aria-expanded=\"false\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-accordion-icon elementor-accordion-icon-left\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-accordion-icon-closed\"><i class=\"fas fa-plus\"><\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-accordion-icon-opened\"><i class=\"fas fa-minus\"><\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"elementor-accordion-title\" tabindex=\"0\">18. As stated in the last meeting, assuming the dissolution does in fact happen, the Village can sell assets. My question is, is the Village legally allowed to sell assets that the Town has contributed to? For instance, the Town pays approximately 78% of the Fire Department, and the Village pays approximately 22%. Can the Village legally sell the fire house? There are many other assets that the Town pays a good portion of already that many are not aware of. Is the Village allowed to sell those assets?<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div id=\"elementor-tab-content-21618\" class=\"elementor-tab-content elementor-clearfix\" data-tab=\"18\" role=\"region\" aria-labelledby=\"elementor-tab-title-21618\"><p>Each contract between the Town and Village has to be reviewed to determine the opportunity and\/or availability of assets for disposition.<\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-accordion-item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div id=\"elementor-tab-title-21619\" class=\"elementor-tab-title\" data-tab=\"19\" role=\"button\" aria-controls=\"elementor-tab-content-21619\" aria-expanded=\"false\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-accordion-icon elementor-accordion-icon-left\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-accordion-icon-closed\"><i class=\"fas fa-plus\"><\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-accordion-icon-opened\"><i class=\"fas fa-minus\"><\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"elementor-accordion-title\" tabindex=\"0\">19. What is the cost of the dissolution to town taxpayers? What is the benefit to the town taxpayers?<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div id=\"elementor-tab-content-21619\" class=\"elementor-tab-content elementor-clearfix\" data-tab=\"19\" role=\"region\" aria-labelledby=\"elementor-tab-title-21619\">As this is a Village Interim Plan of Dissolution, the pro\u2019s and con\u2019s to the Town taxpayer was not explored or vetted. As discussed, only village residents can vote in the referendum. However it is important to note that if the residents to vote to dissolve, then the Town would receive a NYS funded Citizen Empowerment Tax Credit annually in perpetuity. The amount would be equal to 15% of the combined tax levy (exclusive of special districts) in the fiscal year prior to dissolution. Today we are estimating that to be approximately $494,527, of which a minimum of 70% must be used to lower taxes.\n\n<br><br>\nThe following tables from the <em>Interim Dissolution Study<\/em> highlight the potential effect on town taxpayers:<br>\n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/labergegroup.com\/lakegeorge\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/Table-20.pdf\">Table 20<\/a>\n<br><a href=\"https:\/\/labergegroup.com\/lakegeorge\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/Table-21.pdf\">Table 21<\/a><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-accordion-item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div id=\"elementor-tab-title-21620\" class=\"elementor-tab-title\" data-tab=\"20\" role=\"button\" aria-controls=\"elementor-tab-content-21620\" aria-expanded=\"false\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-accordion-icon elementor-accordion-icon-left\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-accordion-icon-closed\"><i class=\"fas fa-plus\"><\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-accordion-icon-opened\"><i class=\"fas fa-minus\"><\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"elementor-accordion-title\" tabindex=\"0\">20. Will there be absentee votes for 9\/13 vote?<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div id=\"elementor-tab-content-21620\" class=\"elementor-tab-content elementor-clearfix\" data-tab=\"20\" role=\"region\" aria-labelledby=\"elementor-tab-title-21620\"><p>Yes, please contact the Village Clerk to obtain an absentee ballot.\u00a0<\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-accordion-item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div id=\"elementor-tab-title-21621\" class=\"elementor-tab-title\" data-tab=\"21\" role=\"button\" aria-controls=\"elementor-tab-content-21621\" aria-expanded=\"false\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-accordion-icon elementor-accordion-icon-left\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-accordion-icon-closed\"><i class=\"fas fa-plus\"><\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-accordion-icon-opened\"><i class=\"fas fa-minus\"><\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"elementor-accordion-title\" tabindex=\"0\">21. Where can I find the monthly or annual financial statements for the Village of Lake George? Not budgets, I am interested in the actual, incurred expenses?<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div id=\"elementor-tab-content-21621\" class=\"elementor-tab-content elementor-clearfix\" data-tab=\"21\" role=\"region\" aria-labelledby=\"elementor-tab-title-21621\"><p>Please contact the Village\u00a0Clerk\u2019s Office.<\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-accordion-item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div id=\"elementor-tab-title-21622\" class=\"elementor-tab-title\" data-tab=\"22\" role=\"button\" aria-controls=\"elementor-tab-content-21622\" aria-expanded=\"false\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-accordion-icon elementor-accordion-icon-left\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-accordion-icon-closed\"><i class=\"fas fa-plus\"><\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-accordion-icon-opened\"><i class=\"fas fa-minus\"><\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"elementor-accordion-title\" tabindex=\"0\">22. The Village Board of Trustees has just resolved to use $3M in parking meter revenue to reduce Village taxes. Has that reduction been figured into the Dissolution Study's calculation of the anticipated savings to Villagers from the dissolution, which was otherwise calculated at between 27% and 33% without that reduction? What would the savings be with the reduction?<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div id=\"elementor-tab-content-21622\" class=\"elementor-tab-content elementor-clearfix\" data-tab=\"22\" role=\"region\" aria-labelledby=\"elementor-tab-title-21622\"><p>The interim report is based on the 2021-22 Village Budget and the 2022 Town Budget. The Village Board Resolution came after the release of the draft Interim Study of Dissolution and the potential effect on a 2022-23 budget was not calculated into the report.<\/p><p>The proposal to use the $3M to reduce Village property taxes next year was introduced after the study process was conducted.\u00a0 To evaluate the impact of dissolution after a tax reduction is a different fiscal analysis once it was understood how the Village will use the $3M.to reduce the property tax rate. \u00a0\u00a0However, we do know that the impact of dissolution post the Village property tax reduction would be much less than in the study as savings has already been gained in a scenario where the Village taxes were already reduced by 35%.\u00a0 As the study pointed out, the majority of the savings is a result of the use of assets to offset long term liabilities.<\/p><p>In addition, as CETC is based on the budget in the tax year prior to the year of dissolution, any efforts to lower the Village Budget will result in a lower CETC as well.\u00a0<\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-accordion-item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div id=\"elementor-tab-title-21623\" class=\"elementor-tab-title\" data-tab=\"23\" role=\"button\" aria-controls=\"elementor-tab-content-21623\" aria-expanded=\"false\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-accordion-icon elementor-accordion-icon-left\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-accordion-icon-closed\"><i class=\"fas fa-plus\"><\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-accordion-icon-opened\"><i class=\"fas fa-minus\"><\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"elementor-accordion-title\" tabindex=\"0\">23. Are all residents of the Village allowed to vote or is it restricted to Property owners who are residents? Does this include part-time residents?<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div id=\"elementor-tab-content-21623\" class=\"elementor-tab-content elementor-clearfix\" data-tab=\"23\" role=\"region\" aria-labelledby=\"elementor-tab-title-21623\"><p>All residents that are legally registered to vote at a residence in the Village of Lake George are eligible to vote.<\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-accordion-item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div id=\"elementor-tab-title-21624\" class=\"elementor-tab-title\" data-tab=\"24\" role=\"button\" aria-controls=\"elementor-tab-content-21624\" aria-expanded=\"false\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-accordion-icon elementor-accordion-icon-left\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-accordion-icon-closed\"><i class=\"fas fa-plus\"><\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-accordion-icon-opened\"><i class=\"fas fa-minus\"><\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"elementor-accordion-title\" tabindex=\"0\">24. Why would a non-permanent tenant, have the right to vote if it doesn\u2019t affect them as it would a property owner, whether full time, part time etc. as I think the biggest issue here are the property taxes. <\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div id=\"elementor-tab-content-21624\" class=\"elementor-tab-content elementor-clearfix\" data-tab=\"24\" role=\"region\" aria-labelledby=\"elementor-tab-title-21624\"><p>All registered voters in the village are eligible to vote in the referendum per NYS General Municipal Law.<\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-accordion-item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div id=\"elementor-tab-title-21625\" class=\"elementor-tab-title\" data-tab=\"25\" role=\"button\" aria-controls=\"elementor-tab-content-21625\" aria-expanded=\"false\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-accordion-icon elementor-accordion-icon-left\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-accordion-icon-closed\"><i class=\"fas fa-plus\"><\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-accordion-icon-opened\"><i class=\"fas fa-minus\"><\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"elementor-accordion-title\" tabindex=\"0\">25. Based on the assumptions in the recent study, can you please let us know what the impact on the Village tax rate would be in years 2 and 3 post dissolution? <\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div id=\"elementor-tab-content-21625\" class=\"elementor-tab-content elementor-clearfix\" data-tab=\"25\" role=\"region\" aria-labelledby=\"elementor-tab-title-21625\"><p>Based upon the assumptions and information provided to us, please see Table 3 from the plan pasted below. As the plan is not binding, we cannot guarantee post-dissolution results.<\/p><p>Click <a href=\"https:\/\/labergegroup.com\/lakegeorge\/questions-and-answers-post-dissolution-village-property-owner-tax-impact-table\/https:\/\/labergegroup.com\/lakegeorge\/questions-and-answers-post-dissolution-village-property-owner-tax-impact-table\/\"><strong>HERE<\/strong><\/a> to view Table 3: Estimated Post-Dissolution Village Property Owner Tax Impact<\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-accordion-item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div id=\"elementor-tab-title-21626\" class=\"elementor-tab-title\" data-tab=\"26\" role=\"button\" aria-controls=\"elementor-tab-content-21626\" aria-expanded=\"false\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-accordion-icon elementor-accordion-icon-left\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-accordion-icon-closed\"><i class=\"fas fa-plus\"><\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-accordion-icon-opened\"><i class=\"fas fa-minus\"><\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"elementor-accordion-title\" tabindex=\"0\">26. With the sale of assets, do you foresee possible new tax districts such as a fire district, with an additional tax for that district. Would this additional tax affect the potential tax savings?<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div id=\"elementor-tab-content-21626\" class=\"elementor-tab-content elementor-clearfix\" data-tab=\"26\" role=\"region\" aria-labelledby=\"elementor-tab-title-21626\"><p>Per the Interim Dissolution Study, upon dissolution the Town will create taxing districts for the Hamlet of Lake George for fire, water and sewer services.\u00a0 Using today\u2019s cost, the special district taxes have been included in the analysis of the post-dissolution tax structure.<\/p><p>The sale of assets has not been negotiated and\/or discussed at this point of the process.<\/p><p>Click <a href=\"https:\/\/labergegroup.com\/lakegeorge\/questions-and-answers-post-dissolution-village-property-taxpayer-table\/\"><strong>HERE<\/strong><\/a> to view the Village Property Taxpayer Table from the <em>Interim Dissolution Study<\/em>.<\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-721f835 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"721f835\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-fb5c9be\" data-id=\"fb5c9be\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-e29daca elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"e29daca\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Frequently Asked Questions <\/h2>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-2490619 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"2490619\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tBelow you will find answers to some of the most frequently asked questions about the dissolution process. Please click on any question below that interests you to view the answer.\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-1dd9537 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"1dd9537\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-5d0876c\" data-id=\"5d0876c\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-e350fbe elementor-widget elementor-widget-accordion\" data-id=\"e350fbe\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"accordion.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-accordion\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-accordion-item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div id=\"elementor-tab-title-2381\" class=\"elementor-tab-title\" data-tab=\"1\" role=\"button\" aria-controls=\"elementor-tab-content-2381\" aria-expanded=\"false\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-accordion-icon elementor-accordion-icon-left\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-accordion-icon-closed\"><i class=\"fas fa-plus\"><\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-accordion-icon-opened\"><i class=\"fas fa-minus\"><\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"elementor-accordion-title\" tabindex=\"0\">1. What is an Interim Dissolution Study?<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div id=\"elementor-tab-content-2381\" class=\"elementor-tab-content elementor-clearfix\" data-tab=\"1\" role=\"region\" aria-labelledby=\"elementor-tab-title-2381\"><p>General Municipal Law Article 17-A provides a unified process for the dissolution of local government entities. The process is applicable to towns, villages, fire protection districts, and special improvement districts created pursuant to Articles 11, 12, 12-a, or 13 of Town Law, and other districts created by law. Under Article 17-A of General Municipal Law, there are two different methods for local governments to consider: Board-Initiated or Citizen-Initiated.\u00a0<\/p><p>The formal process established in Article 17-A for a citizen-initiated dissolution only charges the Village with the responsibility of developing a Dissolution Plan\u00a0<em>after<\/em>\u00a0the vote on dissolution and only\u00a0<em>if<\/em>\u00a0the referendum passes.\u00a0 However, the Village Board of Trustees has chosen to undertake this\u00a0<em>Interim Dissolution Study<\/em>\u00a0prior to the referendum to assist the citizens of the Village of Lake George in making an informed decision when voting in the referendum.<\/p><p>This\u00a0<em>interim<\/em>\u00a0study is being developed to answer as many questions as possible and to provide unbiased assessments regarding potential post-dissolution conditions and key issues that voters may choose to consider while making their decision and casting their vote.<\/p><p>\u00a0<\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-accordion-item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div id=\"elementor-tab-title-2382\" class=\"elementor-tab-title\" data-tab=\"2\" role=\"button\" aria-controls=\"elementor-tab-content-2382\" aria-expanded=\"false\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-accordion-icon elementor-accordion-icon-left\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-accordion-icon-closed\"><i class=\"fas fa-plus\"><\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-accordion-icon-opened\"><i class=\"fas fa-minus\"><\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"elementor-accordion-title\" tabindex=\"0\">2. Was this a Board-Initiated or Citizen-Initiated Dissolution process?<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div id=\"elementor-tab-content-2382\" class=\"elementor-tab-content elementor-clearfix\" data-tab=\"2\" role=\"region\" aria-labelledby=\"elementor-tab-title-2382\"><p>This is a Citizen-Initiated process. On May 18, 2022 the electorate of the Village of Lake George submitted a completed Petition for Dissolution in accordance with the Article 17-A of General Municipal Law. The petition, which contained 99 valid signatures, was certified on May 26, 2022.<\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-accordion-item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div id=\"elementor-tab-title-2383\" class=\"elementor-tab-title\" data-tab=\"3\" role=\"button\" aria-controls=\"elementor-tab-content-2383\" aria-expanded=\"false\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-accordion-icon elementor-accordion-icon-left\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-accordion-icon-closed\"><i class=\"fas fa-plus\"><\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-accordion-icon-opened\"><i class=\"fas fa-minus\"><\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"elementor-accordion-title\" tabindex=\"0\">3. Does the Village of Lake George need an Interim Dissolution Study?<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div id=\"elementor-tab-content-2383\" class=\"elementor-tab-content elementor-clearfix\" data-tab=\"3\" role=\"region\" aria-labelledby=\"elementor-tab-title-2383\"><p>In accordance with New York General Municipal Law (GML) Article 17-A \u00a7774, the Board of Trustees of the Village of Lake George is only required to develop a Dissolution Plan <em><u>after<\/u><\/em> the vote on dissolution and only<em><u> if<\/u><\/em> the referendum passes. However, the Village Board of Trustees has chosen to undertake this <em>Interim Dissolution Study<\/em> prior to the referendum to assist the citizens of the Village of Lake George in making an informed decision when voting in the referendum.<\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-accordion-item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div id=\"elementor-tab-title-2384\" class=\"elementor-tab-title\" data-tab=\"4\" role=\"button\" aria-controls=\"elementor-tab-content-2384\" aria-expanded=\"false\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-accordion-icon elementor-accordion-icon-left\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-accordion-icon-closed\"><i class=\"fas fa-plus\"><\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-accordion-icon-opened\"><i class=\"fas fa-minus\"><\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"elementor-accordion-title\" tabindex=\"0\">4. What is the next step after the Interim Dissolution Study is developed?<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div id=\"elementor-tab-content-2384\" class=\"elementor-tab-content elementor-clearfix\" data-tab=\"4\" role=\"region\" aria-labelledby=\"elementor-tab-title-2384\"><p>General Municipal Law (GML) Article 17-A lays out the legal process for a Citizen-Initiated dissolution. In accordance with Article 17-A, the electorate of the Village of Lake George will cast votes in a referendum to determine whether or not the Village is to be dissolved. To learn about the full process of a Citizen-Initiated Dissolution, click <strong><u><a href=\"https:\/\/labergegroup.com\/lakegeorge\/the-dissolution-process\/\">HERE<\/a><\/u><\/strong>.<\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-accordion-item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div id=\"elementor-tab-title-2385\" class=\"elementor-tab-title\" data-tab=\"5\" role=\"button\" aria-controls=\"elementor-tab-content-2385\" aria-expanded=\"false\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-accordion-icon elementor-accordion-icon-left\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-accordion-icon-closed\"><i class=\"fas fa-plus\"><\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-accordion-icon-opened\"><i class=\"fas fa-minus\"><\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"elementor-accordion-title\" tabindex=\"0\">5. Will the Town of Lake George vote on the Dissolution Plan?<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div id=\"elementor-tab-content-2385\" class=\"elementor-tab-content elementor-clearfix\" data-tab=\"5\" role=\"region\" aria-labelledby=\"elementor-tab-title-2385\"><p>No. The Town of Lake George will have no vote in the Village\u2019s dissolution process. This is considered a local government decision. Only the residents of the Village of Lake George are permitted to participate in the referendum.<\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-accordion-item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div id=\"elementor-tab-title-2386\" class=\"elementor-tab-title\" data-tab=\"6\" role=\"button\" aria-controls=\"elementor-tab-content-2386\" aria-expanded=\"false\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-accordion-icon elementor-accordion-icon-left\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-accordion-icon-closed\"><i class=\"fas fa-plus\"><\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-accordion-icon-opened\"><i class=\"fas fa-minus\"><\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"elementor-accordion-title\" tabindex=\"0\">7. Where can I locate more information about the dissolution process?<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div id=\"elementor-tab-content-2386\" class=\"elementor-tab-content elementor-clearfix\" data-tab=\"6\" role=\"region\" aria-labelledby=\"elementor-tab-title-2386\"><p>Check this website periodically for updates. Information will also be available on the Village\u2019s website.<\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-accordion-item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div id=\"elementor-tab-title-2387\" class=\"elementor-tab-title\" data-tab=\"7\" role=\"button\" aria-controls=\"elementor-tab-content-2387\" aria-expanded=\"false\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-accordion-icon elementor-accordion-icon-left\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-accordion-icon-closed\"><i class=\"fas fa-plus\"><\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-accordion-icon-opened\"><i class=\"fas fa-minus\"><\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"elementor-accordion-title\" tabindex=\"0\">8. Are there other examples in NY State of village dissolutions?<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div id=\"elementor-tab-content-2387\" class=\"elementor-tab-content elementor-clearfix\" data-tab=\"7\" role=\"region\" aria-labelledby=\"elementor-tab-title-2387\"><p>Yes. Please use\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/dos.ny.gov\/dissolve-village\"><strong>THIS LINK<\/strong><\/a> and then select &#8220;Villages Dissolved Since 1900&#8221; to access the New York State Department of State\u2019s list of dissolved villages.<\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-96b8f30 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"96b8f30\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-ab1a2ae\" data-id=\"ab1a2ae\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-f70b6ad elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"f70b6ad\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Submit a Question<\/h2>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-fe24c2f elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"fe24c2f\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><strong>Stay informed and active in the process by using the form below to submit your questions.<br \/><\/strong>A reply to your question will be posted below within 5 business days (without your name).\u00a0<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-cee6a50 elementor-button-align-center elementor-widget elementor-widget-form\" data-id=\"cee6a50\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-settings=\"{&quot;step_next_label&quot;:&quot;Next&quot;,&quot;step_previous_label&quot;:&quot;Previous&quot;,&quot;step_type&quot;:&quot;number_text&quot;,&quot;step_icon_shape&quot;:&quot;circle&quot;}\" data-widget_type=\"form.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<form class=\"elementor-form\" method=\"post\" name=\"Lake George Dissolution Community Question Form\">\n\t\t\t<input type=\"hidden\" name=\"post_id\" value=\"65\"\/>\n\t\t\t<input type=\"hidden\" name=\"form_id\" value=\"cee6a50\"\/>\n\t\t\t<input type=\"hidden\" name=\"referer_title\" value=\"\" \/>\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-form-fields-wrapper elementor-labels-above\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-field-type-text elementor-field-group elementor-column elementor-field-group-name elementor-col-100 elementor-field-required\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<input size=\"1\" type=\"text\" name=\"form_fields[name]\" id=\"form-field-name\" class=\"elementor-field elementor-size-sm  elementor-field-textual\" placeholder=\"Name\" required=\"required\" aria-required=\"true\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-field-type-email elementor-field-group elementor-column elementor-field-group-email elementor-col-100 elementor-field-required\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<input size=\"1\" type=\"email\" name=\"form_fields[email]\" id=\"form-field-email\" class=\"elementor-field elementor-size-sm  elementor-field-textual\" placeholder=\"Email\" required=\"required\" aria-required=\"true\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-field-type-textarea elementor-field-group elementor-column elementor-field-group-message elementor-col-100\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<textarea class=\"elementor-field-textual elementor-field  elementor-size-sm\" name=\"form_fields[message]\" id=\"form-field-message\" rows=\"4\" placeholder=\"Question \"><\/textarea>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-field-group elementor-column elementor-field-type-submit elementor-col-100 e-form__buttons\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<button type=\"submit\" class=\"elementor-button elementor-size-sm\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span >\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\" elementor-button-icon\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-button-text\">SUBMIT YOUR QUESTION<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/button>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/form>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-852a0e1 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"852a0e1\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-23facee\" data-id=\"23facee\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-35d9492 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"35d9492\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><strong>Updated <\/strong>July 22, 2022<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Questions &#038; Answers Community engagement from the citizens of the Village of Lake George is a vital part of the process of developing an Interim Dissolution Study. As the process progresses, this page you will feature questions submitted by Lake George community members, as well as Frequently Asked Questions regarding village dissolution. 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