Archive: News

Tompkins County 2018 Budget Adopted
Concluding a process that started at the beginning of September, the Tompkins County Legislature tonight adopted the County's 2018 budget and the capital program for the next five years. The budget was approved by unanimous vote.

The $180 million budget increases the County tax levy by 2.32% and represents an increase in local spending of 2.87%. The tax rate of $6.58 per thousand is down by 4 cents (0.60%) from 2017, representing an increase of $11.42 in the tax bill for the median-valued $178,000 county home. The levy increase falls below the County's tax cap of 3.53%, as calculated by New York State.

Washington, DC - Tax cuts for western New York families are one step closer to reality. Congressman Tom Reed (R-NY) voted in favor of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, which successfully passed out of the Ways and Means Committee. Reed has been an outspoken supporter of the bill, which lowers federal taxes for 99 percent of taxpayers in New York's 23rd District.

"Although the bill may be amended as it makes its way through the House and Senate, we must keep tax cuts moving forward for the American people. This is a once in a generation opportunity to ensure families in our region will be able to keep $1600 more of their hard earned dollars, rather than allowing the federal government to take it from them as it does today," Reed stated. "This money means real things for real people. It's appliance repairs for a family in Olean, a family trip to a Bills game, or gas so grandparents can visit their grandkids in Georgia."

The surface site plan for the Cayuga Salt Mine's Shaft #4 project was conditionally approved by the Town of Lansing Planning Board Monday.  Planning Board members voted 7-0 to approve the site plan and pass the project on for  consideration by the Town Board, which is expected to vote on final approval later this year.  That will clear the way for construction permits to be issued.

Company officials said at an October public hearing that the site is not big enough to be used to bring the road salt product to the surface, that the cost of moving an enormous salt filtering plant and miles of conveyor belts is prohibitive, and that an entirely new permitting process would be required if there ever were a decision to use it for that purpose.  However, some Planning board members shared public concerns that the shaft might  at some point in the future, even after

The Lansing Town Planning Board voted to send its draft of the latest Comprehensive Plan revision Monday for final consideration by the Town Board.  After considering public comments board members agreed to send those comments and concerns along with its recommendation to the Town Board, setting the stage for possible official adoption of the plan before the end of this year.  But Town Board members disagreed with each other on how quickly they should approve the plan.

Planning Board members felt that many issues raised were already addressed in the plan, and noted that the public misunderstood some issues already addressed, the Planning Board's legal obligations relative to the plan, and the purpose of comprehensive plans, which is to be a guide for future legislation while not itself being legislation at all. 

Geneva – Senator Pam Helming today announced that the Senate Task Force on Lyme and Tick Borne Diseases has released a comprehensive report aimed at combatting the spread of Lyme and tick-borne diseases. The report highlights the immediate need for additional research funding and awareness for Lyme and tick-borne diseases.

The release of the report follows a public hearing held in August and hosted by the Senate Task Force, of which Senator Helming is a member. The hearing included testimony from experts in the field, medical professionals, insurance industry representatives, patients, and advocates to develop effective solutions to empower patients and prevent New Yorkers from contracting the diseases.

Washington, DC - Congressman Tom Reed (NY-23), along with colleagues on the Ways and Means Committee, unveiled comprehensive tax reform legislation last week. The bill will ensure a family of four in New York's 23rd District will see a tax cut of over $1600.

"When people get to keep more of their hard earned dollars, it means money for things that make a difference for hardworking people. It's a down payment on a car for a factory worker in Hornell, daycare for a young family in Elmira, or a trip to Disney World for a family in Dunkirk. Seniors can now visit their grandkids who were forced out of New York because the taxes were 'too damn high.' This is important to folks throughout the Southern Tier, Finger Lakes, and Western New York. That's who I'm working for and whose voice I will continue to carry to Washington," Reed added.

The Lansing Fire District election has been set for Tuesday, December 12th.  This year voters will choose one fire commissioner for a five year term.  Candidates must submit a letter to the commissioners declaring their intention to run at least 20 days before the election, according to state law.

Alvin Parker has been a commissioner for a total of three terms, and is current Fire District Secretary.  This year he is being challenged by Fire Department member Gary Brooker, who was honored with the Dedication and Service award at the Fire Department's annual banquet in February.  This election will be his first run for the office.

The Lansing Town Board passed a $4,916,788 2018 budget Wednesday, plus another $1,427,065.28 budget for special districts for a total of $6,343,853.28 in appropriations.  Despite decreased assessments, the good news for property taxpayers is that the Town tax rate is expected to decrease by .03%, to $1.4910 per thousand dollars of assessed value.

"From our preliminary indications we look healthy," said Lansing Supervisor Ed LaVigne.  "It's a good budget.  My goal is to get this eventually to a zero based budget, which means 'This is the pot of money we have coming in -- this is the pot of money that we're going to use, only'.  We're slowly working our way down from using our fund balance, as it keeps decreasing every year.  We gently do that so the taxpayers won't be vulnerable.  Because, to us an OMG is a WT-you-know-what to them.  You don't want shocks."

While Town Councilmen Doug Dake (REP, IND)  Robert Cree (REP, IND) won at the polls Tuesday, the spread between Cree and Joe Wetmore (DEM, GRE) was only 12 votes.  With more than 200 votes yet to be counted that meant that while it was probable that Dake would keep his seat on the Town Board, Cree's fate on the Board was uncertain.  Board of Elections Officials, candidates and their attorneys poured over absentee and affidavit ballots yesterday, hoping for a clearer result, but at the end of the day Wetmore was up by two votes and around 10 of the votes that had been challenged hadn't yet been ruled on.  Results for Lansing's representatives on the Tompkins County Legislature were more certain.  Mike Sigler (REP, IND) was elected to a third term in the only contested Lansing Legislature seat.

"This was a tough, long race, but after being outspent almost two to one, I'm happy and humbled to again be headed to the County legislature," Sigler said the next day. "It started six months ago and my opponent and I went to thousands of doors.  Mike Koplinka-Loehr did a lot of voter outreach and in the end won more than 1000 votes.  I thank Mike for a hard fought race where I think the issues and positions were clear; I worked hard supporting the mine, power plant, and ending the natural gas moratorium and I'm relieved the majority of my neighbors in Lansing found those to be the most compelling issues.  I'll continue the fight on those issues."

Village Mayor Donald Hartill said Monday that a joint sewer proposal between the Town and Village of Lansing is coming closer to fruition.  With an agreement signed that allots capacity to the Town at Cayuga Heights Sewer Treatment Plant and access through the Village sewer system, the new proposal will actually bring sewer to at least three properties in the Town, including two large proposed developments.

"I had a meeting with the Town of Lansing and a couple of developers, and we're making progress on a joint sewer solution that will involve the Village, Hartill said.  "I would characterize it as pretty good progress.  i met with one of the major landowners.  Landowners are comfortable with the current proposal, so I think we're making good progress."

Joe Wetmore (D) is running for Lansing Town Board.  He is running on a platform of keeping the public involved in the decision making process, "getting the communication flow from the public to public officials, and back to the public again."  This is his first run for municipal office, but he has participated in Lansing, notably as a member of the Comprehensive Plan Revision Committee.  While he hasn't held municipal office, he is on the Board of Directors of the Downtown Ithaca Partnership.

Wetmore has actually lived in Lansing for five years, but says he has been involved here for 10 or 12 years, as his wife lived here before they were married.  He grew up mainly in Michigan and New York City.  He stopped by the Lansing Star to talk about why he hopes to be elected.

Geneva - Senator Pam Helming announced Monday that legislation that she co-sponsored to create the New York State Volunteer Firefighter Gap Coverage Act was signed into law by Governor Cuomo. This important legislation will provide volunteer firefighters who contract certain forms of cancer with enhanced disability benefits. Under current benefit law, a fully disabled firefighter is limited to $600 a month in disability benefits. Senator Helming believes a gap coverage disability benefit is long overdue and will help volunteer firefighters offset some of the medical expenses.

"There has been increasing evidence in recent years linking certain types of cancer to firefighting. Paid firefighters already receive similar disability benefits, but volunteer firefighters who contract these horrible disease and their families end up taking on significant out-of-pocket expenses for cancer treatment. The fact is these courageous volunteers save the state billions of dollars through their service to local towns and villages, and it is about time that they are compensated for a risk they selflessly assume to protect our communities. I am pleased the Governor signed this critical legislation," Helming said.