County extends sales tax increase to 2013
NORWICH – Chenango County lawmakers were asked on Monday to adopt a resolution extending the 1 percent sale tax collection for the four-year-old Chenango County Public Safety Facility to Nov. 30, 2013.
The dedicated collection, instituted back in 2002 to afford the $31 million jail and public safety project, requires approval from the New York State Legislature every other year. Chenango County Clerk of the Board RC Woodford recommended applying early to ensure the county’s request is considered by both houses and signed by the Governor before it expires on Nov. 30, 2011.
The sales tax was originally opposed by community action groups and one county supervisor, Ross Iannello of New Berlin. It brought Chenango County’s rate to 8 percent. Its use was expanded in 2007 and again in 2008 to not only pay for the new 129-bed and Public Safety Facility’s construction, but also for operational expenses and expenditures related to the new 911 emergency communication tower system.
Before voting on the measure Monday, Smyrna Supervisor James B. Bays asked how long the tax would be extended into the future. “Are we close to being through with it?” he asked.
Finance Committee Chairman Lawrence Wilcox, R-Oxford, confirmed that the jail’s loans had been paid off and the tax is now being used to afford the facility’s $3 to $4 million in operations costs.
“I don’t relish putting that amount on the burden of the property tax,” he said.
Preston Supervisor Peter C. Flanagan said he hoped some sales tax collections would eventually be returned to the levy.
However, Wilcox and Finance Committee Vice Chairman Dennis Brown, D-Pharsalia, expressed doubt that sales would grow enough and jail operations costs would lessen over time. Brown said both the jail and Sheriff’s Office combined $8 million budgets might eventually be absorbed by the 1 percent collection combined with revenues from boarding in prisoners.
“That’s our hope in the future,” Brown said, “but there probably won’t be any left over.”
Bays asked for an update on the 911 tower system, a project that has been underway for a decade. Board of Supervisors Chairman Richard B. Decker, R-N. Norwich, said testing is wrapping up and the Chenango County Emergency Services Department was simply waiting for certification.
“We hope to be operational by the first of the year still,” he said.
The dedicated collection, instituted back in 2002 to afford the $31 million jail and public safety project, requires approval from the New York State Legislature every other year. Chenango County Clerk of the Board RC Woodford recommended applying early to ensure the county’s request is considered by both houses and signed by the Governor before it expires on Nov. 30, 2011.
The sales tax was originally opposed by community action groups and one county supervisor, Ross Iannello of New Berlin. It brought Chenango County’s rate to 8 percent. Its use was expanded in 2007 and again in 2008 to not only pay for the new 129-bed and Public Safety Facility’s construction, but also for operational expenses and expenditures related to the new 911 emergency communication tower system.
Before voting on the measure Monday, Smyrna Supervisor James B. Bays asked how long the tax would be extended into the future. “Are we close to being through with it?” he asked.
Finance Committee Chairman Lawrence Wilcox, R-Oxford, confirmed that the jail’s loans had been paid off and the tax is now being used to afford the facility’s $3 to $4 million in operations costs.
“I don’t relish putting that amount on the burden of the property tax,” he said.
Preston Supervisor Peter C. Flanagan said he hoped some sales tax collections would eventually be returned to the levy.
However, Wilcox and Finance Committee Vice Chairman Dennis Brown, D-Pharsalia, expressed doubt that sales would grow enough and jail operations costs would lessen over time. Brown said both the jail and Sheriff’s Office combined $8 million budgets might eventually be absorbed by the 1 percent collection combined with revenues from boarding in prisoners.
“That’s our hope in the future,” Brown said, “but there probably won’t be any left over.”
Bays asked for an update on the 911 tower system, a project that has been underway for a decade. Board of Supervisors Chairman Richard B. Decker, R-N. Norwich, said testing is wrapping up and the Chenango County Emergency Services Department was simply waiting for certification.
“We hope to be operational by the first of the year still,” he said.
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