COUNTY TURNS DOWN MORTGAGE TAX
By a vote of 11 – 3, the Legislature rejected a proposal to add 0.25 percent to the existing mortgage recording tax. The tax would have raised an estimated $170,000 for the 2004 budget year and as much as $600,000 in subsequent years. Seen by some as a solution to providing local funds for public transit, the Legislature approved the idea conceptually when it included $170,000 in revenue from the proposed tax in its 2004 adopted budget. That revenue will now have to be made up from another source. Several legislators who initially were in favor of the increase in the one-time tax charged for recording a mortgage – currently set at 0.75 percent – said they changed their minds after hearing from constituents that the tax would be detrimental to homeownership and add to the already high burden on property owners. A memo from Planning Commissioner Edward Marx, stating the impact on first-time homebuyers could be mitigated by refunding the added tax on mortgages up to $100,000 did not dissuade opponents. Voting against the tax were Legislators Blanchard, Joseph, Kiefer, Lane, Luz Herrera, Penniman, Robertson, Schuler, Todd, Totman, and Winch. Voting for the tax were Legislators Booth, Koplinka-Loehr, and Proto. Legislator McBean-Clairborne was absent.

COUNTY ADVOCATES PAPER TRAIL FOR ELECTRONIC VOTING MACHINES
The Legislature approved a resolution promoting a paper record for all voting machines. Citing recent examples of lost votes in Florida, Texas, and other states due to the failure of computer voting systems that have no paper back-up, the resolution recommends a number of reforms including requiring that paper records be available for all voting machines, new or old, in New York State in the 2004 general election. The resolution will be forwarded to appropriate elected officials at the federal and state levels of government. The vote was 10 to 4, with Legislators Proto, Todd, Totman, and Winch voting no.

POSITIVE SALES TAX TREND CONTINUES
Finance Director David Squires reported that February income from sales tax continued on a positive track. The February total was $2,339,972 as compared to $2,066,120 last year. Year-to-date totals are up by $750,000 over this time last year. The county retains 66 percent of sales tax income for its operations and shares the remaining 33 percent with the City of Ithaca and other municipalities. Another positive circumstance, said Squires, was the County’s sale of a $6.5 million bond anticipation note at a net interest cost of 1.028 percent. Squires indicated that this is the lowest interest rate received during his tenure with Tompkins County.

COUNTY URGES INCREASE IN MINIMUM WAGE
The Legislature voted 11 – 3 to support State legislation that would raise the minimum wage in New York State from $5.15 to a maximum of $7.10 an hour by the year 2006. If enacted, the legislation would increase the before-tax minimum wage for a 40-hour week from $206 to $284 and bring minimum-wage earners above the federal poverty level. The resolution was authored by Legislator Kathy Luz Herrera. According to the U.S. Department of Labor, twelve states plus the District of Columbia now have a minimum wage higher than the federal level of $5.15 per hour. They are: Alaska $7.15; California $6.75; Connecticut $7.10; Delaware $6.15; District of Columbia $6.15; Hawaii $6.25; Illinois $5.50 (Rising to $6.50 on Jan. 1, 2005); Maine $6.25; Massachusetts $6.75; Oregon $7.05; Rhode Island $6.15; Vermont $6.25; and Washington $7.16. Voting against the resolution were Thomas Todd, George Totman, and Daniel Winch. Leslyn McBean-Clairborne was absent.

LEGISLATORS AGREE TO STREAMLINE BUDGET PROCESS
The County is revamping its budget process, and approval of a revised calendar of budget activities is a significant step toward change. By a vote of 10 – 4, the Legislature agreed to several changes, including dropping program committee reviews of budget requests and instead reviewing all budgets in a committee of the whole. This change will potentially save many hours of meeting time and staff work. Program review on a policy level will occur throughout the year. The formal start of the budget process will be delayed by one month, allowing departments that receive state aid more time to estimate their revenues. bThose opposing the revised process were Dooley Kiefer, Frank Proto, Nancy Schuler, and George Totman. The Legislature will hold a “budget retreat” in late April to discuss guidelines and a charge to the County Administrator, who will prepare a preliminary budget for Legislative review, to be released on or near September 1.

LEGISLATURE AFFIRMS GOAL OF COMMUNICATIONS INTEROPERABILITY
In anticipation of applying for a Department of Homeland Security (DHS) grant for its proposed Public Safety Communications System, Tompkins County is making sure it has officially affirmed its goal of building an interoperable system. The Legislature unanimously approved a resolution stating this purpose. A major failing of the antiquated public safety communications system used by local first responders is that the various agencies cannot talk to each other by radio. This lack of interoperability has been identified as a serious detriment to coordinated response in emergencies and is a top priority of the Department of Homeland Security in supporting local communications systems. The County plans to apply for a DHS grant as soon as availability is announced.

REFORM ROCKEFELLER DRUG LAWS, SAYS LEGISLATURE
The County Legislature approved a perennial plea to the Governor and State Legislature to reform the Rockefeller drug laws to lift mandatory sentences, return sentencing discretion to judges, and promote drug rehabilitation. Frank Proto cast the sole no vote.

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