Archive: News

Seneca Falls- Senator Michael Nozzolio blasted Governor Paterson’s proposal to withhold hundreds of millions of dollars in tax refunds to New York State taxpayers.

“Delaying the payment of state tax refunds to New York State residents unfairly punishes taxpayers who have followed the law and fulfilled their obligation to file their New York State tax returns,” said Nozzolio.  “These individuals believed they would receive their state tax refund in a reasonable period of time.  Many of these individuals are depending on their tax refund to meet other financial obligations they may have.  Any delay in the processing of these refunds is simply unacceptable.”

The Legislature’s Budget and Capital Committee today recommended an adjustment to the 2010 County budget that would decrease the funding received by programs and agencies under the County’s municipal sales tax agreement with the City of Ithaca.  The recommended decrease of more than $46,000 reflects 2009 sales tax collections within the City that came in nearly 5% below the revenue budgeted.

Finance Director David Squires also reported that County sales tax receipts for January came in more than 3% below the same period last year— receipts within the City of Ithaca holding nearly steady and those outside the City down by more than 6%.  While the January figures amount to only an initial indicator, County Administrator Joe Mareane cautioned that, with a 3% increase in sales tax revenue projected in the 2010 budget, the situation definitely amounts to a cause for concern.

Washington, DC –- U.S. Rep. Michael A. Arcuri (NY-24) announced that the Credit Cardholder’s Bill of Rights takes effect today.  The legislation, which included support from a majority of Democrats and Republicans, cracks down on credit card companies that take advantage of their customers through frivolous charges and increasing interest rates without explanation or warning.

“Too often credit card companies rely on the fine print to take advantage of families,” Arcuri said.  “This legislation is a great example of how Republicans and Democrats can come together to protect consumers. Today marks a great step in the fight to end these predatory practices by holding credit card companies accountable, providing some much needed transparency over the industry and sets a standard of ethics that just makes common sense.”

The Tompkins County Industrial Development Agency (IDA) approved a renegotiated Payment In Lieu Of Taxes (PILOT) agreement Wednesday that will have a multi-million dollar impact on the County, Town of Lansing, and Lansing Central School District.  The original agreement valued the plant from $130 million to $255 million over the course of five years.  One year into the PILOT the new agreement lowers the assessment from $160 million (which includes a $30 million rise this year as per the original agreement) to $100 million in 2013.  Despite strong opposition from the school district, the agreement was approved in a 6-1 vote.  IDA Chair Martha Robertson said that negotiations will be reopened again early this summer.

"The comments that have been made have been very important," she said.  "We have said already that we will reopen negotiations before June of this year.  I am personally committing to taking all the comments in mind about the process, the information we gather in order to establish our negotiating position.  We'll look harder at what the process has been so far on the IDA side, and we need to continue to improve this process."

Better Housing for Tompkins County (BHTC) Executive Director John Spence announced Tuesday that it will submit an application in partnership with the NRP Group to fund a $9 million development in the Village of Lansing.  The project will be located between the Northwoods Apartment complex and Route 13.

"All the collaboration in the world won't cut it if it doesn't translate into housing opportunities," BHTC Executive Director John Spence told a large audience of Tompkins County community leaders Tuesday morning.  "That's why I'm pleased to share with you that Better Housing has partnered with one of the country's top affordable housing developers, the NRP Group of Cleveland, Ohio.  Just one week ago today we submitted an application to fund a $9 million project to build 80 affordable family apartments in the Village of Lansing."

Legislature Endorses Route 96 Corridor Management Study

The Legislature, by unanimous vote, accepted and endorsed the Route 96 Corridor Management Study, which evaluates how development along the corridor from the Village of Trumansburg to the City of Ithaca would affect corridor traffic.  The study, undertaken through a partnership involving the County, City of Ithaca, the Towns of Ithaca and Ulysses, and the Ithaca-Tompkins Transportation Council, concludes that a nodal development pattern, consistent with principles of the County’s Comprehensive Plan, would be expected to reduce traffic, enhance traffic management, and preserve quality of life within that area. 

The measure formally supports continuation of cooperative planning efforts among the parties that conducted the study.  It was stressed that the study is a document to provide planning guidance and that municipalities remain responsible for overseeing municipal land use. The other partner municipalities have all taken actions expressing some level of support for the study.

The Tompkins County Legislature passed a resolution Tuesday supporting a revised Payment In Lieu Of Taxes (PILOT) agreement that will reduce the valuation of Lansing's AES Cayuga power generation plant from $160 million to $100 million over the next four years.  While the reduction impacts the County as a whole and the Town of Lansing, the Lansing School District has the most to lose from the renegotiation.  This year alone the district stands to lose a half million dollars in revenue, not including about $300,000 it would have gained if the agreement hadn't been renegotiated.  But Lansing's representative on the County Legislature, Pat Pryor, said that not having the PILOT would have a much worse impact on taxpayers.

"This is painful," Pryor told the Legislature.  "This is not something that the taxpayers of Lansing are going to be able to handle very easily.  It is very clear to me that at this point in time to do anything else but to support this resolution would not be in the best interest of the taxpayers of the entire county or the taxpayers of Lansing."

Two weeks ago representatives of AES Cayuga and the Tompkins County Industrial Development Agency (IDA) tried to explain to the Lansing Board of Education why a Payment In Lieu Of Taxes (PILOT) agreement was reneotiated so soon after the initial signing.  The new agreement will downgrade Lansing's biggest taxpayer's property assessment from what would have been $255 million in four years to $100 million.  In a statement last week Superintendent Stephen Grimm asked the IDA to adjust the agreement.  But the school board went further, completely rejecting the renegotiated PILOT.

"It's mind boggling to me that last year they were looking at $255 million of tax assessment and now they're looking at $100 million," said school board member David Dittman.  "That's two and a half times difference within two months.  Either they have very poor forecasters -- in which case why should we believe that they forecasted right? -- or we got gamed."

In a recent letter from Thomas A. Beilein, Chairman of the New York State Commission of Correction, adressed to Sheriff Peter Meskill, Chairman Beilein indicated that the Commision of Correction reviewed the Sheriff's application for an extension of the variance to house additional inmates in the Tompkins County Jail and the variance was approved and extended for another six months until July 1, 2010.

"I am pleased that the Chairman and Commision have extended the variance for housing additional inmates for another six months," Meskill  said.  "The extension of the variance will save county taxpayers at least $250,000 annually.  I am thankful for the Chairman's willingness to assist the county and help the county reduce expenses, especially in this difficult economic time."

Charges were filed with the Caroline Town Court yesterday in connection with the January 27th seizure of 100 animals from a Brooktondale trailer home.  39 counts of Overdriving, Torturing and Injuring Animals; Failure to Provide Proper Sustenance in violation of Section 353 of the Agriculture and Markets Law of the State of New York, a class A misdemeanor, were filed against each resident of 18 Creamery Road in Brooktondale.

Courtney Cotter and Kevin Pierce were also each charged with 39 counts of Failure to provide proper food and drink to impounded animals in violation of Section 356 of the Agriculture and Markets Law of the State of New York, an unclassified misdemeanor.

Seneca Falls- State Senator Michael Nozzolio announced today that the New York State Senate Agriculture Committee has scheduled a public hearing on legislation he is opposing, which would have a tremendous negative impact on farmers in New York State.

This legislation (S.2247) would mandate collective bargaining, mandate work week schedules, regulate hourly pay rates and require farmers to pay unemployment insurance to seasonal migrant workers.

Last Tuesday, Fall Creek residents packed the Ithaca School Board meeting room to protest the possible closing of Fall Creek Elementary School.  On February 3, Superintendent Judith Pastel had suggested that one way to close the ICSD’s budget gap would be to close the smallest school in the district—Fall Creek, moving its 220 students to other schools.  Then the school district might house all Pre-K students at Fall Creek.

By February 9, over 100 Fall Creekers had created a grassroots group complete with website, 1,200 signatures on a protest document, and orange stickers reading “FALL CREEK WORKS!  More than 100 people filled a room meant for half that many.  They sat on the floor and spilled into the hallways.