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Agency Advocates Urge Against Further
Budget Cuts
More than a dozen advocates for human
services agencies receiving county funds tonight urged the Legislature
not to cut their funding in the 2007 county budget. Agencies
including the Community Dispute Resolution Center, the Women’s
Opportunity Center, Ithaca Neighborhood Housing Services and Tompkins
Learning Partners are among those that were recommended for funding in
Administrator Stephen Whicher’s tentative budget, but are now mentioned
by some lawmakers as possibilities for reductions, once budget
committee review resumes next week. Those addressing the
Legislature included the executive directors of CDRC, the Women’s
Opportunity Center and Ithaca Neighborhood Housing, and others served
by the agencies, who spoke to the human needs the agencies address, the
cost savings they produce for county government, and the outside
funding that county dollars leverage.
Contact: Michael Koplinka-Loehr, Chair, Budget and Capital Committee, 257-2329 Legislature Commits to County Economic
Development Strategy, Appoints Empire Zone Board
The Legislature, by a vote of 14 to 1,
accepted guidelines set forth in the 2006 Tompkins County Economic
Development Strategy report, prepared by Tompkins County Area
Development, and committed to the plan’s implementation.
Described by TCAD’s Martha Armstrong as the product of more than a year
of research by many business and civic leaders and citizens, the
project updates an earlier program and strives to “cultivate a
prosperous and sustainable regional economy” through collaborative and
community-based initiatives. Major goals over the next five years
include increasing and diversifying the county’s housing supply,
improving workforce and business skills, and revitalizing the county’s
unique commercial districts and town centers. It establishes a
local Economic Development Collaborative to formalize, strengthen and
deepen the cooperation among the many local agencies and municipal
bodies addressing economic development issues in the County to make the
process more effective through common goals and approach.
By a vote of 10 to 5, the Legislature also
appointed eight members to the Administration Board for the county’s
new Empire Zone. The board will be chaired by county Planning
Commissioner Ed Marx. Some lawmakers expressed concern about the
tight time frame for appointments preventing some potential appointees
from being considered.
Contact: Martha Robertson, Chair, Planning, Development, and Environmental Quality Committee, 272-0584 Legislature Increases Senior/Disability
Real Property Tax Exemption
By a vote of 14 to 1, the Legislature raised
by $2,000 the income eligibility levels for real property tax exemption
for persons 65 years of age or older and those with disabilities, in
accordance with limits now permitted under state law. A sliding
scale provides the range of a 5 percent exemption for those with annual
income of $34,399, to a 50 percent exemption for those with annual
income of $26,000 or less. The change shifts a little more than
$23,000 in county tax dollars to the remaining tax base.
Contact: Kathy Luz Herrera, Chair, Government Operations Committee, 273-8169 Gadabout Fund Increase Approved
By a vote of 13 to 2, the Legislature
approved a $20,000 transfer from the County’s contingency fund to
Gadabout, to help the agency meet increased fuel expenses and help cope
with an operating deficit. The allocation is conditional upon
receipt of a copy of the agency’s budget and a breakdown of its
ridership by municipality.
Contact: : Martha Robertson, Chair, Planning, Development, and Environmental Quality Committee, 272-0584 |