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The Legislature’s Government Operations Committee today recommended that Tompkins County enter into a joint services agreement under the New York State Real Property Tax Law to provide assessment services to the Town of Covert, located in Seneca County.  The recommended agreement, which must still be approved by the full County Legislature, was recommended by unanimous vote.

Through the agreement, the Tompkins County Department of Assessment would provide a full-time assessment office for the Town of Covert, Assessment Director Jay Franklin told the committee.  While the office would be staffed in City of Ithaca most of the time, Franklin said there would be office hours of at least four office hours each week at the Covert Town Hall.

The only true countywide assessment unit in New York State, the Tompkins County Department of Assessment is able to provide staff trained in various aspects of the assessment function. As well as providing an assessor who would be available full-time, additional field appraisers specializing in various property types and office staff experienced in the maze of real property tax exemptions would be available to assist the residents of the Town of Covert.  Director Franklin said, “This unique agreement is just another way that these local governments are looking for the best possible and most financially feasible way to provide great local public service to their constituents.”  He told the committee he believes the arrangement will be a benefit to both Tompkins County taxpayers and to those in the Town of Covert.

County Administrator Joe Mareane said the recommended agreement is a testament to the recognized excellence of Tompkins County’s Department of Assessment and the expertise of its staff.  He noted that the County was a pioneer in the area of shared assessment services, having operated its high-quality countywide assessment program for more than 40 years.

“This is really exciting,” added Committee Chair Nate Shinagawa stated, “a great example of intermunicipal cooperation.”

The Committee today also made other recommendations related to the Department of Assessment—including recommending, subject to public hearing, passage of a new local law that would provide a property tax exemption of up to ten years for County tax purposes for new building construction meeting LEED certification standards, in line with local option provided under state real property tax law.

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