I hope people saved the Auburn Citizen June 19 article on “Seneca County postpones vote on Cayuga land claim settlement.” Amaris is good when it comes to accuracy in reporting.

Dr. David Dresser, retired Ph.D. professor from Ithaca College, is trying to sell this settlement proposal. One of the enticing parts is the money being offered to offset property tax loss.

These are what he calls hold harmless payments.

Depending on inflation rates, I've found the dollar devalues in half about every 10 to 20 years.

Even at 3 percent, anyone can see in 20 years, inflation would be at least 60 percent and today's dollar worth 40 cents.

I think fuel prices will push inflation higher than 3 percent. Nonetheless, this is just to get you thinking.

County representatives listening to David's revenue-sharing proposal had better do their own math. Relating to Seneca County, the following two sentences are from the article.

€ “According to Dresser's analysis, if all 3,333 acres allowable in Seneca County entered restricted fee status, the county would receive $6.33 million from the tribe and the state in casino revenue, but $2,899,422 in tax money would be lost from the county's tax rolls.”

€ “He believes the county could pay the localities twice what they will lose in taxes, keep $529,680 against the county's hypothetical losses and still have $1,060,836 left over to reduce county taxes.”

If Seneca County pays localities twice what they would lose in property taxes, that's $5,798,844, which leaves $531,156.

Then David says the county can keep $529,680 against its own losses and have $1,060,836 left over to cut taxes. I think he's $1,059,360 short.

Don't vote for or sign a contract you haven't read and understood.

If you've read and understood this one, you'd vote no anyway.

Richard Tallcot

Union Springs