NCCC in $3.7-Million trouble because of no reserve for repairs. The college went along the past thirty years expanding buildings, boosting salaries, increasing employment, and pushing for constant raises in taxes but failed to set aside anything for rain wear on the roof. It was revealed last week that college administrators had failed to maintain a reserve fund for the replacement of its primary roofing for the past thirty years. With no reserve account to have to place money aside in, the college was able to claim its expenses as less than actual over the past three decades. Now college administrators want $3.7-million from taxpayers to put on a replacement roof. On top of that, another $5.3-million is being sought for other capital projects. (11/28/05)
Fatima at Night.
The Lewiston, NY Festival of Lights at the Fatima
USA Shrine opened Saturday evening, 11/19 to lots of oooh and ahhhs.
Brilliant colored lights highlighted statues and other figures over a near-19-acre
stretch of land. One of the most popular winter attractions in the Niagara Frontier
area will be open every evening until 9PM through January 1st. Admission and parking
is free. Large cafeteria on site also in operation daily except Thanksgiving and
Christmas. Inside displays are easy to photograph, outside ones require some skill
in night photography. Because of limitations in that regard, your Lockport Home
Page used black & white to capture this image. (11/20/05)Niagara County tax hike now projected at 5.5%. The Niagara County Legislature had directed County Manager, Gregory Lewis to present a budget showing no real estate tax increase. Instead, Lewis has presented a budget showing employee "benefit" costs and Medicaid welfare spending soaring over $4-million. That will mean a 5.5% property tax hike for 2006 according to preliminary figures released by the County. The tax hike is proposed despite a projected $12.7-million surplus for the current year's books. (11/16/05)