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In a special meeting today, the Legislature endorsed pending state legislation that would authorize Tompkins County to increase its telephone access line surcharge to support the cost of maintaining and operating the county’s Public Safety Communications System.  With nine members present, the vote was 8-1, with Legislators Dooley Kiefer, Pam Mackesey, Martha Robertson, Will Burbank, Carol Chock, Jim Dennis, Leslyn McBean-Clairborne and Chair Mike Koplinka-Loehr voting in favor and Frank Proto voting no.

The action builds upon a memorializing resolution passed by the County Legislature earlier this year, which asked the State Legislature to permit the County to increase its landline surcharge from the current 35 cents to as much as $1.00, under provisions of state home rule law.  This action indicates the County Legislature’s support for specific bills in the Assembly and State Senate, scheduled to be considered before the State Legislature adjourns tomorrow.  The bill language is consistent with a similar authorization measure for Onondaga County, currently before the State Legislature and incorporates a ten-year sunset clause for the authorization.

If passed by the State Legislature, the measure would authorize the County to adopt a local law to increase the surcharge by as much as 65 cents for landline telephones in the County.  The County Legislature would still have to approve such a local law for that to happen.  County Administrator Joe Mareane told Legislators that the proposed surcharge increase would affect an estimated 35,700 lines in the county, generating approximately $250,000 each year to support the emergency communications system.

Legislator Chock asked that the County Legislature, as part of its action, insert a provision that would formally indicate the County’s commitment to investigate the use of the communications system as a platform for county broadband service, which could be eligible for federal stimulus dollars.  While several Legislators indicated support of the concept, many maintained that timing wasn’t right to include the amendment in this action and that the issue should be considered under the Legislature’s normal committee process.  Chock withdrew her proposal and Chair Koplinka-Loehr referred the matter to the Public Safety Committee.

Legislator Robertson expressed concern that the County Legislature was required to consider the matter at “beyond the eleventh hour” just before State Legislature adjournment, even though the County had submitted its initial request three months ago.

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