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The Legislature, by a vote of 13-1, implemented a provision of New York State Tax Law that authorizes the County to apply an additional .25 percent Mortgage Recording Tax for mass transportation services.  (Legislator Dooley Kiefer voted no; Legislator Nate Shinagawa was absent.)  Last month, State Tax Law was amended to permit Tompkins County to retain that additional quarter-percent mortgage tax for that purpose, instead of having proceeds from that tax go to the State.  In its action, the Legislature repealed a 1969 resolution of the Board of Representatives that had temporarily suspended imposition of the additional tax.

The additional quarter-percent tax will specifically be devoted to support of the county’s bus system, Tompkins Consolidated Area Transit (TCAT), generating an expected $800,000 in annually, which County Administrator Joe Mareane notes will provide a stable stream of revenue for TCAT to address capital and operating needs.  The three TCAT partner—the County, City of Ithaca, and Cornell University—will continue to allocate annual operational funding, each currently contributing about $900,000 each year.

TCAT Operations Director Nancy Oltz thanked the Legislature for its action, calling it an exciting time for TCAT and the community.  Legislator Pam Mackesey, a member of the TCAT board said a “tremendous debt of gratitude” is owed to Assemblywoman Barbara Lifton and Senator Tom O’Mara, who advanced the measure in the State Legislature.

Legislator Kiefer indicated that she “sadly” voted no.  She had advanced some proposed wording changes, but those changes were not considered, since legislators were informed the language in the resolution had been specified and approved by the State.

The action will bring Tompkins County’s total mortgage tax to 1% as of December 1, when the additional tax will take effect.

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