May 18, 2015
City Council
looks to OK efficiency plan
The city Common Council on Tuesday will review a Government Efficiency Plan that city officials have been putting together in an attempt to get property tax rebates for some Cortland landowners and others throughout the county.
The plan is part of Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s so-called Tax Freeze Program. Under this program, School Tax Relief, or STAR-eligible homeowners in Cortland County would receive rebate checks next year equal to around 2 percent of what they pay in taxes, excluding school taxes.
To get these rebates, municipalities must file a government efficiency plan with the state by June 1.
The government efficiency plan must show the state how municipalities are sharing services, how much they are saving, and prove that their efforts will continue to yield savings over the next three years.
City Director of Administration and Finance Mack Cook has said that due to the city’s participation in the Tompkins County Health Care Consortium, the city has generated enough savings so that even with minimal consolidation, city residents and those in other municipalities in the county could take advantage of the rebates.
Both Cook and Mayor Brian Tobin have been contacting town officials and getting their respective boards to sign off on the plan.
Also at Tuesday’s meeting the council will discuss possible changes to the city’s sign ordinances.
Discussions about residents’ concerns that some codes and zoning laws are too restrictive have been tabled since April.
The council is also expected to decide whether to hire a consultant to revise the city’s planning and zoning regulations.
In April 2014 the city received $112,000 in funding from the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority for its Live In Cortland Initiative to encourage private and public sector and SUNY Cortland employees to live in Cortland.
The funding was made available through NYSERDA’s Cleaner, Greener Community grant program and is contingent on the city putting up $38,000 or a 25 percent match.
Tobin said at Tuesday’s meeting the council will have the opportunity to review the consultants interviewed.
If approved, the consultants would help the city update land use regulations and examine zoning in areas like Lincoln Avenue and Madison Street. Tobin said he will not identify the consultants until the council confirms who the city would work with.
Tobin said an agenda item will also be added to allow a representative from the Cortland Downtown Partnership to deliver a presentation addressing some concerns residents have regarding litter and trash disposal in downtown Cortland.
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