Archive: News

Tompkins County Administrator Jason Molino has delivered to the County Legislature a 2019 Recommended County Budget and 2019-2023 Capital Program. The budget proposes modest spending growth, stability in current programs, and the alignment of resources with priorities that include sustained investment in capital infrastructure, continued focus on reducing our jail population, addressing the shortage of affordable housing, and maintaining a diverse, well-trained, motivated workforce.

The Recommended Budget supports total expenditures of $186.5 million (an increase of 2.57%) and local dollar spending of $89.9 million (an increase of 2.05%). The budget is balanced with a 1.43% increase in the County property tax levy, which is less than the Legislature's 2.2% levy goal, and well below the County's tax cap. Due to a substantial 4.3% increase in the county's tax base, which spreads the cost of government across a larger base, the budget contains a property tax rate that will go down again in 2019, to $6.39 per $1,000—a reduction of 2.76%. This is the fifth consecutive year that the tax rate has decreased, and is the lowest County tax rate since 2011. A $3 increase in the County's solid waste annual fee also is recommended, bringing the fee to $58. Under the Recommended Budget, the County property tax bill for the owner of a median-valued $185,000 home would increase by $15.40.

Governor Andrew M. Cuomo announced Wednesday that New York will utilize the $127.7 million received from the 2016 Volkswagen settlement to dramatically increase the number of electric vehicles and other clean vehicles in the state. Covered vehicles include new buses, trucks, locomotives, ferries, tug boats, and cargo handling equipment, as well as the availability of electric vehicle charging equipment statewide. At the Governor's direction, the state Department of Environmental Conservation in concert with the New York State Energy and Research Development Authority, New York Power Authority, state Department of Transportation, the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, and others, developed Clean Transportation NY - New York's plan to strategically invest settlement resources for maximum benefit and to build on New York's national leadership on clean energy and climate change. The funds were secured through the Attorney General's settlement with Volkswagen in close collaboration with DEC. The state's strategically leveraged investment of settlement funds is anticipated to result in at least $300 million of clean vehicles and infrastructure on New York's roadways.

"Combatting climate change and air pollution and protecting our environment is critical to the very future of this great state," Cuomo said. "As Washington continues to roll back protections, New York is more committed than ever to supporting cleaner, greener transportation technologies. By strategically investing these settlement funds, we can take real action to improve community health and sustainability, while providing incentives to address one of the largest causes of harmful pollution and greenhouse gas emissions."

The Lansing Fire Commissioners approved a proposed $2.5 million 2019 budget Tuesday.  $1,349,199 of that will be raised in taxes, with the remainder coming from capital reserves, notably $1,00,5217 that is paying for a new fire truck (apparatus) currently under construction.  The levy, which falls below the allowed state tax cap, represents a $58,327 rise from the current year's levy.

"We've got a million dollars for apparatus," District Treasurer George Gesslein said. "And a half a million on top of that to go into apparatus reserves for the next piece (of apparatus), and a contingency fund of $174,000."

Governor Andrew M. Cuomo announced $5 million in funding through the state Office of Victim Services Wednesday that will allow the State University of New York to supply and distribute 225,000 comfort bags to victims of sexual assault and domestic violence seeking help at hospitals, shelters and rape crisis centers across the state. The funding will continue and expand the "SUNY'S Got Your Back" program, which has provided roughly 25,000 bags to victims throughout the state in the last three years -- each containing essential personal care items and vital information about the services available to them.

"This unique partnership has brought support to tens of thousands of victims while spreading awareness of sexual assault and domestic violence on SUNY campuses statewide," Cuomo said. "With additional investments to bolster this initiative, we can continue to help survivors while working to end the cycle of sexual assault and violence that affects so many New Yorkers."

The number of New Yorkers who rely on Medicaid and other publicly funded health plans has grown sharply over the past decade, but proposals by President Trump and some members of Congress could cut federal funding for those programs by billions of dollars and jeopardize health care coverage for many residents, according to a report released Wednesday by State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli.

"There are disturbing calls in Washington to repeal the Affordable Care Act (ACA) and make radical changes to Medicaid," DiNapoli said. "We cannot go backwards on health care and force people to choose between buying groceries or seeing a doctor. We need more people to have access to quality health care, not fewer. These cuts would also impact the state budget and require difficult decisions to cover shortfalls."

Legislators, after considerable discussion, authorized the sale of 15 acres of Airport property, located on Warren Road, to the New York State Department of Transportation, as the first step toward relocating the NYSDOT regional highway maintenance, from its current location on Ithaca's Cayuga Inlet. Several Hillcrest Road residents expressed concern to the Legislature regarding how the facility could impact their properties, and maintained they had not been notified about the project. Legislators Amanda Champion and Shawna Black were among those who said they didn't yet know enough about the proposal, including environmental aspects, and Legislator Mike Sigler said he'd first like to see a plan from the DOT.

"A few weeks ago I asked Mike Hall to see if there were other sites at the airport that would be suitable and I reached out to Cornell to see if they might have a site as they own a lot of land there. I would prefer a site East of the Airport on Rt. 13, but that is not County land," wrote Sigler in a letter to nearby residents in response to a bitter email complaining that up to date information about the sale was not available on the County Planning Website. "The state and Mike Hall did meet with the Kennedy-Smiths at their home a couple of weeks ago and Sean Scanlon sent me an email with suggestions on how to make the situation better."

11 angry and frightened residents, many of whom wanted the Lansing Town Board to enforce a Stop Work Order to make the Lansing Rod & Gun Club cease clearing land that may become new shooting ranges, spoke about their fears that Ludlowville and the surrounding area is subject to lead poisoning.  Speakers said they feared for the health of their families and themselves, and also worried that leaving the area infested with lead and moving the shooting ranges would negatively impact their property values.  But Supervisor Ed LaVigne said that town officials acting prematurely might disqualify them from making a difference and put the town at risk.  He said that people should 'cool down' while Code Enforcement Officer Lynn Day investigates recent activity on club property.

"I must warn you this is a continuing investigation," LaVigne said. "One of the reasons we haven't responded to a lot of emails is that it's an ongoing investigation.  Anything that we would do prematurely as board members acting as the agent of the Town may actually hurt.  It doesn't mean we are ambivalent.  It doesn't mean we don't care.  We have to be thorough so when we do go forward, if we go forward, we're on solid ground."