Proposal to dissolve divides Macedon residents

The Village of Macedon is at a crossroads that could determine its very future. Last February the grassroots group One Macedon submitted a petition proposing dissolving the village into the Town of Macedon. One Macedon member Mark McEwan supports the idea. He thinks as the town continues to grow the village continues to lose revenue. “The town just gave out a 35 percent decrease in their taxes because of economic activity out in the town. I just don’t want the village to get lost in that. I want them to share equally in all that revenue,” said McEwan.

“Villages dissolve because their in debt and they can’t see their way out. This village has no debt,” said Village Mayor Jim Hoteling.

Hoteling opposes dissolving the village. He says a financial study of the impact of dissolving the village shows most homeowners will only save about $200 in taxes. Hoteling believes that savings will be lost in other expenses like fire service.

“The $200 that you’re saving on this snapshot in time that we did will be eaten up in a higher insurance rate,” said Hoteling.

Former Village Fire Chief Greg Fry agrees. There’s a potential for us to take the ISO rating up to 9 percent which to me personally and my family means an increase of almost $300 a year in homeowners insurance,” said Fry.

This is the second time a proposal to dissolve was put before village residents. A similar proposal was defeated in 2002. Residents will vote on this proposal on March 18th.