Highlights of the November 19, 2002 meeting of the
Tompkins County Board of Representatives
2003 COUNTY BUDGET PASSES WITH 13.44 PERCENT TAX RATE INCREASE
Ten of the 15 members of the Board of Representatives voted yes to a $106,884,865 County budget for 2003 that raises next year's county property tax by 13.44 percent. The slight increase in the tax rate over the 12.9 percent in the proposed spending plan was attributable to the addition of $128,944 to the District Attorney's budget. The funding restores staff previously cut from the office, as well as adding a position. These changes will allow the County to take over much of the City of Ithaca's prosecutorial duties in the wake of Common Council's elimination of the City Prosecutor's office. The Board made a $12,856 cut in its funding to the SPCA and added $3,500 for a new telephone system at Offender Aid and Restoration. Several other amendments to further cut funding from the Planning, Social Services, Human Rights, Youth Bureau, and Alternatives to Incarceration programs failed. An amendment to restore funding for a deputy sheriff also failed.

The 2003 approved budget increases the county property tax from $5.69 per $1,000 of assessed value to $6.45 per $1,000. This increase will add $76.47 to the tax bill for a $100,000 house. The total county property tax raised will be $25,113,783. Voting against the budget were all four Republican members: Frank Proto, Thomas Todd, George Totman, and Daniel Winch; and Democrat Dooley Kiefer.

The "local share" of the 2003 budget - the portion raised from local revenues as opposed to state and federal aid - is $52,710,344. This total is $2 million more than the current year's budget, but it does not mean that local services have expanded. Tompkins is one of many counties in the state that have seen the costs of state-mandated programs increase radically in the past year. In order to meet the additional $2.7 million needed to pay for the mandates, budgets for many local services have been cut, and taxes have also been increased. Budget Committee Chair Peter Penniman predicted an even larger tax increase in 2004 due to uncontrollable costs. Contact: Peter Penniman, Chair, Budget & Capital Committee, 387-3928, 387-5897.

SALES TAX ON CLOTHING AND SHOES TO BE REINSTATED
By a 12 to 3 vote (Reps. Michael Lane, Leslyn McBean, and George Totman voted no), the Board reinstated the County's portion of sales tax on purchases of clothing and shoes up to $110. The 4 percent tax will return on March 1, 2003, one year after it was removed. The state's portion of the tax will not be charged. In response to recent criticisms that shoppers will go elsewhere to find savings, Budget Committee Chair Peter Penniman reported that four nearby counties - Cayuga, Chemung, Seneca, and Onondaga - that have large shopping areas do not have local exemptions of the tax. Contact: Peter Penniman, Chair, Budget & Capital Committee, 387-3928, 387-5897.

BOARD SETS PESTICIDE NEIGHBOR NOTIFICATION HEARING
The Board of Representatives will hold a hearing on adopting a law that requires 48-hour notification of use of pesticide sprays to neighbors within 150 feet of the affected area. The law, which was passed by New York State in 2000 and allows counties to opt in, requires commercial applicators to notify neighbors of the planned use of pesticides. If homeowners apply the pesticides themselves, they must post signs in the sprayed area. Sellers of the pesticides must post notices in their places of business informing consumers of the law. The hearing is scheduled for 5:30 p.m. December 3, 2002. Contact: Dooley Kiefer, Chair, Planning Committee, 257-7453.

FUNDS APPROVED FOR CONVENTION CENTER STUDY
Tompkins County will provide $24,000 in room tax funds for a convention center feasibility study. Tompkins County Area Development is supplying another $12,000. The study will be conducted by Pinnacle Advisory Group, a research firm based in Boston, in conjunction with the proposed Ithaca hotel project at the corner of Tioga and Buffalo streets. Contact: Michael Lane, Chair, Economic and Workforce Development Committee, 844-8440.

NEW DEMOCRATIC ELECTION COMMISSIONER APPOINTED
Stephen Dewitt of Brooktondale was appointed Democratic election commissioner of the Board of Elections, replacing Shary Zifchock, who is retiring at the end of this year. The renewable appointment is for two years, starting January 1, 2003. Contact: Stephen Dewitt, 539-2370.
 
 

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