Archive: Opinions

Back in 2006/07 we had another sewer project proposal in Lansing.  At that time, those included in the billing district were charged by Equivalent Dwelling Units (EDU’s).  The main difference between that proposal and the current one is that not all of the town was to be billed but only part of the town.  There too, many fringe areas would get to pay and receive no benefits.  This time, the whole town gets to pay – even the outer fringe (which most is in an Agricultural District).

Prior to the first sewer proposal in 2006/07, the town did a survey and the majority of the residents did not approve of this proposal but they went ahead anyway.  We and others fought that battle and finally won (due to lack of adequate funding). We found out the results of that proposal in an unannounced, quiet meeting held on July 7, 2007 at 8am.

We attended a formal presentation on May 22, 2013 and we were again with some of the same supporters and the same old talking points.  All they wanted was questions about the project but nothing about some of our statements and concerns.  It seemed to be a one-sided presentation.

The Sewer Committee gave a lot of figures about paying for the project  (mainly in Tier 1).  The cost of the sewer project is based on $219.50 per EDU with a total cost of $474.74 per first year charges.  There are other charges, not included in that cost.  But, it’s Only a debt.

In Tier 2, the cost is also based on the value of your property - $23.65 per $100,000 assessed value.  This cost is apt to increase every year, but it’s Only a debt.

Tompkins County and Westchester County (near New York City) are the only two counties in New York State that have 100% full assessed valuation.  The Only costs are by EDU’s or what the assessment department places a value on your property.  We all know that that always goes Up.

The purpose of an Agricultural District (Ag Dist) is to preserve the land for agricultural purposes – either currently or in the future.  Normally, except for special circumstances, water and sewer development is prohibited.  Non-farmer residents in the district are considered to be serving agricultural purposes by protecting undeveloped land.  Non- agricultural residents should not be taxed as a development.

Many farmers in the Agricultural District have recently had a large increase in their assessment values on their land.
It is getting almost impossible for them to have enough crops and/or livestock to pay for their land charges.  If a farmer can’t make a living farming,  he is going to sell.  This helps the developers.

Back in Jan. 1992, we owned land in an Ag Dist for which we were charged for three units for water.  At that time, we weren’t aware of the protections of being in an Ag Dist..  We tried selling that land as three building lots and we were told that it could only be two lots.  We got tired of paying for water that we couldn’t and didn’t want, so we finally sold it.  It’s amazing, that  the developer was able to build  four duplex houses on that same land.  At the time of closing, I asked what one of the papers I was to sign was for and  ‘Low and Behold’, it was because it was in an Ag Dist.

Most people move out to the country to have some space and control their land and their lives.  If people want all of the amenities of a city (water & sewer) they should stay in the cities.

Back to the Only costs.  The school system just got an Only increase (approval) of 3.62%.  That is for this year and will probably get more increased in the following years.

Recently, Tompkins County lawmakers just approved Only an increase of a 4% property tax hike.  Per the May 23, 2013 Ithaca Journal article, this means a $45.13 hike for a total cost of $1,087.15 on a $160,000 property.  This too, goes up about every year.

When the Lansing Library started, it wasn’t supposed to cost the taxpayers anything – it was a volunteer project.  However, it  wasn’t very long (2008) before we were Only paying for this too (included with our School Tax Bill).  This also is based on our assessed property value.

It seems that the Only things that go up are those that the government (at all levels) have control of.  Mostly, our incomes either stay the same (with a devalued dollar) or they go down.

If the sewer project gets approved, it only benefits the developers and the town.  They would like to have the value of the land and the improvements, worth at least $500,000 for a half an acre lot (since you wouldn’t need extra land for a septic system).  All it will do, is expand  development  throughout  the town, not keep it to a confined area.   Where is the slogan for Lansing going?  “Home of Industry, Agriculture and Scenic Beauty”.

In the Tier 2 area (most of the town), we will be paying for a sewer system for years to come, at an ever increasing cost – without benefit.   And if our septic system fails in the meantime, we will still have to repair our own system, at our own cost, plus pay for the sewer district.

Remember, that all of the costs for the various items mentioned above – only keep going Up.  You can compound debt, just as you can compound interest on money.  Currently, the rate of interest on our small savings account  is only at .02% and we pay income taxes on that small amount.

A lot of the current residents are treading water now and either are unable to save any money or have depleted their savings altogether.

Most  people only  want  to be left alone and not spend all of our money, time and energy fighting all of these high priced ‘pipe dreams’.


Marilyn Hagin
Lansing