News Items
11-20-2007 |
Legislature Adopts 2008 County Budget
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Nearly ten weeks after the process began, the Tompkins County Legislature tonight adopted a 2008 Tompkins County Budget. The final vote, approving the 2008 budget and the 2008-2012 capital program, ...
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11-15-2007 |
Power Outage Scheduled at Health Department
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Electrical power to the Tompkins County Health Department will be disrupted temporarily between 5:00 a.m. and 7:00 a.m. on Friday, November 16th to allow for the installation of a new generator.
A ...
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11-07-2007 |
Legislature Adopts Amended 2008 Tentative Budget
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With little discussion and no modification, the Legislature, by a vote of 8 to 4, adopted amendments to County Administrator Steve Whicher’s 2008 tentative budget and 2008-2012 capital program, as ...
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11-05-2007 |
Snow Shovelers Needed To Assist Seniors
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It’s not too early to think about snow! With winter coming upon us, the Tompkins County Office for the Aging is updating its listing of snow shovelers. Deep snow and icy sidewalks are dangerous for ...
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10-22-2007 |
New Poll Sites for Town of Ithaca
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Beginning with the November 6 General Election voters in Town of Ithaca Election Districts 4, 11 and 12 will vote at Ellis Hollow Apartments, located at 1028 Ellis Hollow Rd. Voters should use the ...
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10-15-2007 |
Office for the Aging Public Hearing and Senior Fair
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The Tompkins County Office for the Aging will be holding a Public Hearing and Senior Citizens’ Fair on Thursday, October 25, with registration beginning at 9:30am at Titus Towers, 800 South Plain ...
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10-12-2007 |
Sample Ballots Now Available Online
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Sample ballots for the November 6 General Election may be viewed on the Tompkins County Board of Elections web site, www.votetompkins.com. Copies are also available at the Board office, located at ...
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10-09-2007 |
Registration and Party Change Deadlines
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October 12 is the last day a new voter can register and be eligible to vote in the November 6, 2007 General Election. This is also the last day previously registered voters can apply for a party ...
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10-09-2007 |
Absentee Ballots Now Available
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Absentee ballots for the November 6 General Election are now available at the Tompkins County Board of Elections.
The last day to apply by mail for an absentee ballot is October 30. The last day ...
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10-05-2007 |
County Administrator Search Process Underway
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Tompkins County has begun the process of searching for a new County Administrator to succeed Administrator Steve Whicher, who will retire next spring.
The 15-member committee which will oversee ...
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10-02-2007 |
Legislature Hears Report on Homeless Youth
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Housing, transportation, education and finding a job are the primary needs of the county’s homeless youth. Those factors were among the information communicated to legislators, as participants in ...
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10-02-2007 |
Legislature Supports Farmland Protection Initiative
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The Legislature, without dissent, authorized the County to enter into an agreement with the Town of Dryden to implement a grant-funded program to preserve agricultural use for a parcel of farmland in ...
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09-28-2007 |
Community Invited to Annual Budget Forum
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Tompkins County residents will have the opportunity to learn about the 2008 Tompkins County tentative budget and to voice their concerns to Legislators at the annual Community Budget Forum, sponsored ...
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09-27-2007 |
Tourism Grants Workshop Monday, October 1
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The county’s Strategic Tourism Planning Board will sponsor a Tourism Grants Workshop on Monday, October 1st, beginning at 2:30 p.m. at the Tompkins County Convention and Visitors Bureau, located at ...
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09-18-2007 |
Legislature Approves IDA Revenue Bonds for Longview
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The Legislature, by unanimous vote, approved the issuance by the County’s Industrial Development Agency of up to $14 million civic facility revenue bonds, to support the Ithacare Service Center ...
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09-18-2007 |
Coddington Road Reconstruction Plan Approved
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By a vote of 10 to 4, the Legislature authorized approval of design and right of way plans for the reconstruction of Coddington Road in the Town of Ithaca. (Legislators Pam Mackesey, Greg Stevenson, ...
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09-17-2007 |
Expanded Budget Committee Begins 2008 Budget Review
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Legislators acting as an Expanded Budget Committee today received their initial briefing on the County Administrator’s 2008 Tentative Budget, guided through the budget document that will form the ...
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09-13-2007 |
New Poll Site on West Hill
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Beginning with the September 18 Primary, voters in Town of Ithaca Election District 1 will use the Paleontological Research Institution (PRI) as their poll site. PRI is located at 1259 Trumansburg ...
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09-04-2007 |
Hanshaw Road Reconstruction Project Moves Ahead
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By a vote of 13 to 1, the Legislature authorized the design and right-of-way plan for the reconstruction of one-and-a-half miles of Hanshaw Road. (Legislator Dooley Kiefer voted no; Legislator Tyke ...
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08-22-2007 |
Legislature Extends Recreation Partnership Agreement
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The Legislature, by a vote of 12 to 3 adopted an extension of the intermunicipal Recreation Partnership Agreement, from January, 1, 2008 through December 31, 2012. Through the partnership, the ...
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08-13-2007 |
Absentee Ballots Now Available
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Absentee ballots for the September 18 Primary Election are now available at the Tompkins County Board of Elections.
Only Democratic voters in the Town of Ithaca will be eligible to vote in this ...
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08-07-2007 |
Drop-In Children’s Center Receives Funding
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By a vote of 9 to 5 (with Legislator Pamela Mackesey absent), the Legislature approved $50,000 in contingent funding to enable Ithaca’s Drop-In Children’s Center to cope with an ongoing fiscal ...
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08-01-2007 |
Special Legislature Session Focuses on Real Estate
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In special session, the Legislature conducted a three-hour-long executive session to discuss real estate negotiations.
The closed-door meeting was the latest step in the ongoing analysis of ...
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07-31-2007 |
Weatherization Assistance Available for Seniors
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The Weatherization Referral and Assistance Program (WRAP) of the Tompkins County Office for the Aging helps senior citizens with energy related problems and home repairs.
The WRAP program can ...
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07-17-2007 |
Legislature Backs IDA Bonds for Cayuga Medical Center
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The Legislature, by unanimous vote, approved issuance of up to $5.5 million in tax-exempt county Industrial Development Agency Civic Facility Revenue Bonds to benefit Cayuga Medical Center at Ithaca. ...
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07-17-2007 |
Legislature Consolidates Fringe Benefit Accounts
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The Legislature, without dissent, authorized moving of employee fringe benefit allocations from individual department accounts to one centralized fringe benefit account, to improve financial ...
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07-03-2007 |
Legislature Authorizes Supplements to Military Pay
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As it did in 2002 and 2004, the Legislature committed the County to pay the difference between base County salary and military pay for up to 90 days per calendar year, when a County employee is ...
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06-28-2007 |
Final Assessment Roll to be Filed June 29, 2007
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On June 29th, the Tompkins County Department of Assessment will file the 2007 Final Assessment Roll.
The 2007 Final Assessment Roll conforms in all respects to the 2007 Tentative Assessment Roll ...
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06-28-2007 |
Recycling and Solid Waste Center Holiday Changes
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All curbside-recycling collections during the week of July 4th will not occur on schedule. Recycling collection for July 4th through July 6th will be delayed by one day.
For example, if ...
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06-14-2007 |
Tompkins County Celebrates Diversity
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Along with members of the community, Tompkins County legislators, administrators and staff joined together today on the Ithaca Commons for a noontime event celebrating the County’s commitment to ...
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06-05-2007 |
Legislature Supports Impeachment Inquiry
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After listening to a half-hour of public comment and debating for nearly an hour on the appropriateness of local action, the Legislature took a stand on the call for federal investigation into ...
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06-05-2007 |
Funds Approved for Community Re-Entry Initiative
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By a vote of 14 to 1 (Legislator Mike Hattery dissenting), the Legislature approved the allocation of $28,715 to support a pilot community re-entry initiative for county jail inmates, to ease their ...
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06-01-2007 |
Public Comment Opportunity for Airport Safety Project
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Tompkins County and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) are seeking public comment on the Environmental Assessment (EA) of a proposed project at the Ithaca Tompkins Regional Airport. The draft ...
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05-22-2007 |
Cameron New Director of Environmental Health
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The Tompkins County Health Department is pleased to announce the appointment of C. Elizabeth Cameron to the position of Director of Environmental Health. Cameron replaces John Andersson who retired ...
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05-15-2007 |
County Administrator Stephen Whicher to Retire
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After seven years as Tompkins County Administrator, Steve Whicher tonight told the County Legislature that this year with the County will be his last. The Administrator announced his intent to ...
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05-11-2007 |
Legislator Dick Booth Nominated for State Service
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Governor Eliot Spitzer has nominated County Legislator Dick Booth (D-City of Ithaca) to serve on New York State’s Adirondack Park Agency. Booth’s appointment is subject to confirmation by the New ...
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05-02-2007 |
Legislature Fails to Set Financial Goal for 2008
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There was much talk but, ultimately, no approval tonight for setting County financial goals for 2008. The Legislature failed to muster sufficient votes to approve a proposal that would have ...
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04-24-2007 |
Office for the Aging Annual Luncheon May 3
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The Tompkins County Office for the Aging will hold its Annual Luncheon on Thursday, May 3, 2007, at noon at the Clarion Hotel, 1 Sheraton Drive, Ithaca.
This year’s luncheon will feature Michael ...
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04-19-2007 |
Human Rights Award Recipients Announced
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The Tompkins County Human Rights Commission congratulates this year’s recipients of county Human Rights Awards. The awards will be presented at the Commission’s 25th Annual Awards Dinner on ...
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04-16-2007 |
Severe Weather and Recycling Collection Delays
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The Tompkins County Solid Waste Division advises that, due to the severe weather and the hazardous driving conditions, curbside recycling will be delayed by one day. Recycling collections scheduled ...
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04-04-2007 |
Update on County Sustainability Effort
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·The Legislature heard a progress report on the county’s employee-driven sustainability program.
Facilitator Cheryl Nelson reported that much progress has been made since the Legislature created ...
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03-28-2007 |
Judge Rowley Elected to Statewide Post
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Hon. John C. Rowley, Tompkins County Judge, has been elected President of the New York State Association of Drug Treatment Court Professionals (NYSADTCP). Judge Rowley was elected to the post at the ...
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03-07-2007 |
Legislature Backs Unemployment Insurance Reform
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The Legislature, by a vote of 10-3, urged New York State to “enact measures to bring significant reform” to New York State’s unemployment insurance system. (Legislators Sigler, Proto and Hattery ...
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03-07-2007 |
Legislature Supports Babcock Tract Acquisition
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The Legislature, by a 12-1 vote (Legislator Mike Hattery opposed; Legislators Mackesey and Randall were absent) approved allocation of $20,000 from the county’s Capital Reserve Fund for Natural, ...
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02-22-2007 |
March 1st Deadline to File Exemption Application
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The Tompkins County Department of Assessment reminds property owners about the upcoming exemption application filing deadline.
March 1st is the deadline to file for any Real Property Tax ...
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02-08-2007 |
Health Department Building Committee Sets Timetable
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The new county committee charged with advising the County Legislature concerning a new headquarters for the Tompkins County Health Department expects to have site options ready to present to the ...
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02-06-2007 |
Community Budget Forums Scheduled
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Legislators learned more about three community budget sessions that will be held next month to both educate the public about the county budget and to ask guidance concerning where the County should ...
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02-02-2007 |
Working Toward a Healthier Cayuga Lake
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All of the Finger Lakes are currently listed by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation as threatened, stressed, or impaired. Residents and policy makers are invited to learn ...
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02-01-2007 |
Human Services Building Evacuated By Bomb Threat
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The Tompkins County Human Services Building was evacuated as a precaution this afternoon after staff received a call claiming there was a bomb in the building. A search of the building by Ithaca ...
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01-24-2007 |
Flu Reported In Tompkins County
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The first case of lab-confirmed influenza was reported last week in Tompkins County. The adult case was influenza type B which is well matched to the influenza vaccine being provided this season. ...
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01-19-2007 |
County Participates in Council of Governments
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Through a new association, Tompkins County municipalities are crossing municipal boundaries to address common issues they face.
The Tompkins County Council of Governments (TCCOG) involves all of ...
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01-19-2007 |
Free Rabies Clinic: Wednesday, January 24th
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All cats, dogs and ferrets harbored in New York State are required by law to be vaccinated against rabies by four months of age.
The Tompkins County Health Department will offer a FREE rabies ...
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01-16-2007 |
Joseph Considering Ithaca Town Supervisor Candidacy
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Cautioning that he has not made a definite decision, Legislature Chair Tim Joseph said that he is giving “serious thought” of running for the position of Ithaca Town Supervisor. Mr. Joseph indicated ...
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01-16-2007 |
Ben Dodge Named January Distinguished Youth
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The Legislature honored Trumansburg High School senior Ben Dodge as this month’s recipient of the Tompkins County Distinguished Youth Award. An apprentice firefighter with the Trumansburg Fire ...
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01-12-2007 |
Health Department Building Committee Begins Work
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The new county committee charged with developing design and site options for a proposed new headquarters for the Tompkins County Health Department has set the stage for preparing its advice to the ...
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01-04-2007 |
Tim Joseph Reelected Legislature Chair
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The Legislature elected Tim Joseph (D) to his sixth year as chair of the Tompkins County Legislature. The position of chair, filled each year by a majority vote of the Legislature’s 15 members, is ...
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01-03-2007 |
2007 Legislature Chair’s Address
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Chair Tim Josephs Address to the Legislature, January 2, 2007:
The problems and issues that we deal with in County government don’t respect arbitrary calendar boundaries, so it’s no surprise ...
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01-02-2007 |
Joseph Announces Committee Assignments
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Following his election as Chair of the Legislature, Tim Joseph announced standing and special committee assignments for 2007. Leadership has changed for three of the seven standing committees, all ...
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12-21-2006 |
Buyers of Bulk Fuel Commit to Biodiesel
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Thanks to the coordination efforts of a Cornell University intern, several large-scale fleet operators in Tompkins County have committed to buying biodiesel in 2007.
Tompkins Consolidated Area ...
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12-05-2006 |
December 8th-Another Chance To Get A Flu Shot
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It’s not too late to get a flu shot! The Tompkins County Health Department will hold another flu clinic in the storefront next to Kay Jewelers at Pyramid Mall this Friday, December 8th from 4:00PM to ...
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11-30-2006 |
Flu Clinic at Pyramid Mall December 1st
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The Tompkins County Health Department will hold a flu clinic in the storefront next to Kay Jewelers at Pyramid Mall on Friday, December 1 from 1:00PM to 5:30 PM for anyone 19 years of age and older ...
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11-21-2006 |
2007 Tompkins County Budget Adopted
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By a vote of 10 to 5, the Tompkins County Legislature ended nearly three months of study and debate and adopted the 2007 Tompkins County budget. Voting against the budget were Legislators Mike ...
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11-13-2006 |
County Awards $5,000 in Community Celebrations Grants
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Tompkins County, by action of the Legislature last week, approved grant funding to support five community celebrations, in the Fall 2006 round of the Community Celebrations Grant Program. Community ...
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11-06-2006 |
Snow Shovelers Needed To Assist Seniors
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It’s not too early to think about snow! With winter coming upon us, the Tompkins County Office for the Aging is updating its listing of snow shovelers. Deep snow and icy sidewalks are dangerous for ...
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10-25-2006 |
Tompkins County Health Department Has Flu Vaccine
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Tompkins County Health Department (TCHD) will
hold flu clinics in five locations in the County from October 31 through November 16.
Appointments are now being made for all 5 clinics. The Health ...
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10-17-2006 |
OAR Bail Fund Increased
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By a vote of 10 to 5, the Legislature transferred $10,000 from the contingency fund to increase the bail fund for Offender Aid and Restoration. Public Safety chair Leslyn McBean-Clairborne indicated ...
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10-17-2006 |
Legislature Takes Stand Opposing War in Iraq
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After more than a half-hour of discussion, the Legislature, by a vote of 9 to 6 “urged the federal government to commence a humane, orderly and comprehensive withdrawal of United States military ...
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10-17-2006 |
Legislature Amends 2007 Tentative Budget
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The Legislature, by a vote of 10 to 5, adopted amendments to County Administrator Stephen Whicher’s tentative 2007 county budget, as recommended by the Legislature’s Expanded Budget Committee. The ...
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10-13-2006 |
Budget Committee Nears End of 2007 Budget Review
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As the Expanded Budget Committee of the Tompkins County Legislature ended its latest budget review session this evening, Chairman Michael Koplinka-Loehr said he is hopeful that his committee next ...
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10-03-2006 |
Agency Advocates Urge Against Further Budget Cuts
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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 ...
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09-19-2006 |
Legislators Finish First Review of 2007 Budget
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County Legislators, acting an Expanded Budget Committee, took up nine more spending requests tonight to complete their first run-through of the County’s 2007 Tentative Budget.
Much of the focus ...
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09-13-2006 |
Tompkins County Receives Federal Transit Grant
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Tompkins County has received a nearly $700,000 Federal Transit Administration grant, which will purchase a hybrid-fueled transit bus and renovate two downtown Ithaca bus stops. The County applied ...
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09-06-2006 |
Workshop for Community Celebrations Grants
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Grants of up to $2,000 are now available to groups planning an observance, commemoration, celebration, inauguration, or any other "red letter day" or salute that has meaning for the community. ...
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09-06-2006 |
County Legislators Begin 2007 Budget Review
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Listening to more than a dozen department heads and agency representatives over four hours, Tompkins County legislators, meeting as an Expanded Budget Committee, today took the first steps toward ...
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08-24-2006 |
County Office for the Aging Receives State Grant
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The Tompkins County Office for the Aging has been awarded $40,000 from the New York State Division of Housing and Community Renewal to provide home repairs for low-income senior homeowners.
The ...
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08-18-2006 |
Assessment Reports STAR Rebates Coming
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This fall, eligible homeowners will receive a rebate check from the State of New York for a portion of their local property taxes. The check will be issued by the New York State Tax Department. The ...
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08-16-2006 |
County Welcomes New Citizens
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Tompkins County Supreme Court will swear in 45 new citizens of the United States, representing more than 22 foreign countries, on Thursday, August 17th, at 1:30 p.m. in the main courtroom of the ...
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08-16-2006 |
Brothers Honored as Distinguished Youth
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Fourteen-year-old Peter and 17-year-old Donald Quinn-Jacobs, of Sodom Road in Dryden, were chosen as the August recipients of the Tompkins County Distinguished Youth Award. Nominated by local ...
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08-15-2006 |
Real Estate Transfer Tax Vote Delayed Again
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The Legislature once again postponed action on the proposed local law that would create a local tax on the transfer of real property, since the Governor still has not yet signed enabling state ...
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08-15-2006 |
Holmes Appointed New Aging Office Director
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By unanimous vote (with two Legislators absent), the Legislature confirmed the appointment of Lisa Holmes as Director of the Tompkins County Office For the Aging.
The County’s Aging Services ...
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08-14-2006 |
Absentee Ballots Now Available
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Absentee ballots for the September 12 Primary Election are now available at the Tompkins County Board of Elections.
You must be a member of the party holding a Primary in order to vote in it. This ...
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08-08-2006 |
Health Department Telephone Problems
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The Tompkins County Health Department is having sporadic problems with its telephone system.
If you are having trouble getting through or if your call is cut off, the Department advises you to ...
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08-01-2006 |
Decision Delayed On Local Real Estate Transfer Tax
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The Legislature listened to public comment concerning a proposed local law which would authorize a County tax on real estate transfers, charged to the sellers of real property. Lawmakers, however, ...
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07-19-2006 |
Charles Whitsell Awarded Distinguished Youth Award
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Thirteen-year-old Charles Whitsell of Groton was chosen as the latest recipient of the Tompkins County Distinguished Youth Award. Nominated by Viola Fitzgerald of Groton Youth Services, Charles was ...
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07-11-2006 |
Banks Road Bridge Closed
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Because of structural bridge deterioration caused by the flooding of June 28th, the Tompkins County Highway Department has closed the Banks Road bridge in the Town of Caroline, effective immediately. ...
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06-29-2006 |
Old 76 Road Closing
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Due to the washout of an underground pipe during heavy rains, the Tompkins County Highway Department has closed a portion of Old 76 Road in the Town of Caroline. Access from Central Chapel Road ...
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06-22-2006 |
WWII Flying Fortress to Visit Ithaca
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Take a "Sentimental Journey" on a Historic Bomber.
The Arizona Wing of the Commemorative Air Force will be flying their B-17 Flying Fortress into the Ithaca Tompkins Regional Airport on ...
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06-15-2006 |
OAR's 30th Anniversary Annual Meeting
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Offender Aid & Restoration of Tompkins County, Inc. (OAR) cordially invites you and your guests to attend our annual meeting to celebrate OAR’s 30th ANNIVERSARY. The theme of the anniversary meeting ...
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06-07-2006 |
Public Hearing Scheduled, TC3 Budget
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2006-2007 TOMPKINS CORTLAND COMMUNITY COLLEGE OPERATING BUDGET
On June 20, 2006, the Tompkins County Legislature will hold a public hearing in regards to the 2006-2007 Tompkins Cortland Community ...
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05-17-2006 |
Charge For A Management Strategic Planning Team
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The Legislature voted (11 to 2; 2 Legislators were absent) to charge the County Administrator to work with a Management Team to develop a strategic plan based on the Focus Area recommendations ...
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05-17-2006 |
Establishment of 2007 County Financial Goals
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The Legislature passed a resolution (8 to 6; 1 Legislator absent) to establish a goal of a maximum tax levy increase of 2.8% and a 0% tax rate change for the 2007 Budget. As part of the budget ...
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04-24-2006 |
Sales and Use Tax in Tompkins County
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As of April 1, 2006, New York State implemented a year-round exemption of State sales and uses taxes for clothing, footwear, and items used to make or repair exempt clothing, costing less than ...
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04-19-2006 |
Legislature Supports Changes in Medicare Part D
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The Legislature voted (9 to 3; 3 Legislators were absent) to support Federal legislation aimed at fixing the major problems with Medicare Part D. The resolution urges passage of Federal legislation ...
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03-30-2006 |
Unpaid 2006 Town/County Property Tax Bills
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The Tompkins County Finance Department reminds the public that after April 1, 2006, the Towns will be turning unpaid 2006 Town/County Property Tax Bills over to the County for collection. Prior to ...
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12-21-2005 |
Legislature Approves Emergency Communications Project
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The Legislature has approved several actions that formally launch the County’s new Public Safety Communications System (PSCS). The Findings Statement that describes the environmental impact and any ...
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11-16-2005 |
No Increase in County Tax Levy for 2006
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On November 15, the County Legislature voted 14 to 1 to approve a 2006 County budget that holds the property tax levy (total amount of County property tax collected) at the 2005 level. The ...
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10-25-2005 |
Tentative Budget Reduces Tax Levy and Rate
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On October 18, the County Legislature unanimously approved the Tentative 2006 Tompkins County Budget, with 14 members present. The Legislature improved slightly on its goal of a zero percent property ...
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09-07-2005 |
Pittsburgh Air Service Returns to Ithaca
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Starting November 9, USAirways will offer once-daily nonstop service between Ithaca and Pittsburgh. The new service complements the existing nonstop service from Ithaca to New York La Guardia, ...
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09-02-2005 |
Recommended Budget Meets Zero Tax Increase Goal
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Tompkins County Administrator Steve Whicher has presented a recommended 2006 Tentative Budget to the County Legislature. Whicher’s recommendations meet the Legislature’s directive to produce a ...
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08-03-2005 |
Committee Recommendation: County Needs New Buildings
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Frank Proto, chair of the Space Needs & Location Committee, reported at the August 2 County Legislature meeting that the committee has recommended the County begin design and construction of at least ...
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07-14-2005 |
Airport Passenger Count Up 30 Percent
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Officials report that commercial passenger traffic at the Ithaca Tompkins Regional Airport was 30 percent higher in June 2005 than in June 2004. Northwest Airlines, which started two Ithaca-Detroit ...
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07-06-2005 |
County Adopts Diversity Statement
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As part of ongoing efforts to increase diversity and inclusion among Tompkins County government’s workforce, the Legislature unanimously (14 present; Barbara Blanchard was absent) adopted a diversity ...
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06-23-2005 |
Legislature Aims for Zero-Increase Budget
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Tompkins County Administrator Steve Whicher has received his instructions: Bring the Legislature a recommended 2006 budget that does not increase the County property tax levy – the total amount of ...
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06-16-2005 |
Air Traffic Up 21 Percent at Regional Airport
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The number of passengers getting on and off commercial airliners at the Ithaca Tompkins Regional Airport in May increased 21 percent over the previous year. Airport statistics show 7,209 passengers ...
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06-16-2005 |
County Budget Committee Makes Key Decisions
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County Poised to Pay $620,000 for TC3 Capital Project -- Tompkins County’s Budget and Capital Committee approved a cash payment of $620,000 to assist Tompkins Cortland Community College (TC3) in ...
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05-18-2005 |
Legislators Set Zero Percent Tax Levy Goal
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At their meeting May 17, County Legislators set a goal for no tax levy increase in the 2006 budget. The levy is the total amount of property tax collected in the county. The zero percent goal implies ...
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03-14-2005 |
Tompkins Residents Save $17,000 with Free Rx Card
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In just six weeks, Tompkins County residents have saved almost $17,000 on prescription medicines by using the free TompkinsRx discount card. According to a report from CaremarkRx, the company that ...
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12-22-2004 |
State Names County Historian "Historian of the Year"
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The Regents of the University of the State of New York recently named Carol Kammen Public Historian of the Year. Kammen is the historian for Tompkins County. The county historian is an appointed ...
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12-22-2004 |
Legislature Approves County Comprehensive Plan
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Culminating over two years of work and public input, the Tompkins County Comprehensive Plan was adopted by the County Legislature. The plan is based on principles and policies that can be used to ...
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12-20-2004 |
County Plan Receives Strong Municipal Support
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The Tompkins County Comprehensive Plan has garnered strong support from municipal elected bodies around the county. According to County Planning Commissioner Edward Marx, eight municipalities have ...
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11-10-2004 |
Committee Approves Rx Discount Card
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Tompkins County’s Health and Human Services Committee has authorized the signing of a contract with a prescription drug management firm that will make available to any County resident a discount ...
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11-10-2004 |
County Budget Vote on November 16
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The County Legislature is scheduled to vote on adoption of the 2005 County budget November 16 at its regular meeting, which starts at 5:30 pm in the County Courthouse, 320 North Tioga Street, Ithaca. ...
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10-20-2004 |
Legislature Approves 2005 Tentative County Budget
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The Legislature approved the tentative (proposed) County budget for 2005 by a vote of 12 to 3, at its regular meeting October 19. The total allocation, including state and federal pass-through funds ...
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10-20-2004 |
IDA Bonds Okayed for Ithaca College
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The County Legislature voted 14 to 1 at its October 19 meeting to approve the issuance by the Tompkins County Industrial Development Agency (IDA) of up to $32 million in tax-exempt bonds for building ...
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10-20-2004 |
Housing Grant Turned Down
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Tompkins County’s 2004 application for a $600,000 grant for its first-time homeownership program has been turned down. Kathy Luz Herrera, chair of the Planning, Development, and Environmental Quality ...
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10-15-2004 |
Committee Settles on Proposed Budget
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Tompkins County’s Expanded Budget Committee concluded its work on October 15 on a proposed County budget for 2005. The budget, which includes $63,681,119 of locally funded services, programs, and ...
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10-14-2004 |
Legislators to Meet in Continued Budget Review
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Possibly nearing the end of its review of the 2005 recommended County budget, the Expanded Budget Committee will meet again 1 – 5 p.m., Friday, October 15. At that meeting, Legislators will discuss ...
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09-30-2004 |
Budget Committee Adds $750,000 to Capital Program
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On September 27, the Expanded Budget Committee of the Tompkins County Legislature made amendments to the recommended 2005 County budget that would raise the tax levy by 5.29 percent. The tax levy is ...
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09-30-2004 |
Legislators Unfreeze Their Salaries
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Eight members of the Expanded Budget Committee of the Tompkins County Legislature voted on September 29 to increase Legislator salaries – frozen for the past two years – by $500. In each of the past ...
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09-22-2004 |
Few Changes So Far to 2005 Recommended Budget
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After two meetings of the Expanded Budget Committee, the recommended tax levy for 2005 has changed very little. Committee chair Michael Koplinka-Loehr has held the focus of the meetings to ...
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09-22-2004 |
County Calls on State for Mandate Relief
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The Legislature unanimously passed a resolution calling on the State government to put a cap on the local share of Medicaid costs and to fully fund any new mandates (required services) that may be ...
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08-19-2004 |
August 31 Forum Addresses Jail, County Exec
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The Tompkins County Legislature is holding a “County Issues” forum to inform the public and invite input on two major topics: possible renovation and expansion of the Public Safety Building; and ...
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07-27-2004 |
County Studies Jail Options
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On July 20, Jeff Buck of Jacobs Facilities, the County’s consultant on jail design, presented the Legislature with several options for expansion and renovation of the Tompkins County Public Safety ...
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07-21-2004 |
Sales Tax Continues Upswing
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Finance Director David Squires reports that County sales tax receipts at midyear are up 12.4 percent over last year at this time. Through the end of June, the County’s receipts are $1,378,000 ahead ...
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07-21-2004 |
Citizen Group to Study Local Income Tax
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Legislature Chair Tim Joseph announced appointments to an Income Tax Study Committee that will examine the feasibility of a local income tax surcharge as a substitute for property tax and how it ...
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06-09-2004 |
Communications Project Moves Ahead
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Peter Penniman, Chair of the Legislature’s Communications Capital Projects reports on progress of the Public Safety Communication System upgrade. (First published in the Ithaca Journal, June 8, ...
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05-26-2004 |
County, College to Share Communications Tower
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Tompkins County is preparing for the next step in rebuilding the countywide emergency communications system used by first responders. At the Communications Capital Projects (ComCap) Committee May 20, ...
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05-26-2004 |
DSS Has Healthy 2003 Year-End Report
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The Department of Social Services (DSS) finished the 2003 budget year in the black, Tompkins County officials have reported. Primarily as a result of one-time revenues, the department’s local costs ...
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04-28-2004 |
County Legislature Sets Preliminary Budget Goals
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Thirteen members of the Tompkins County Legislature met in an informal retreat April 27 to look at 2005 budget forecasts and set preliminary guidelines for the County Administrator to use in ...
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04-26-2004 |
Homeless Youth Report
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A group of young people who have experienced homelessness presented a report in April to the County Legislature on the plight of homeless youth in Tompkins County. The young people worked with youth ...
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04-26-2004 |
Panel Recommends Changes to County Budget Process
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The Budget Community Advisory Panel, a 10-member group with representatives from the business, not-for-profit, local government, and higher education communities, has met six times to analyze the ...
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03-17-2004 |
County Rejects Increase in Mortgage Tax
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The Legislature has 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 ...
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03-17-2004 |
Raise Minimum Wage, Say Legislators
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The Legislature voted 11 to 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 ...
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03-17-2004 |
Legislators Agree to Streamline Budget Process
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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 ...
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02-18-2004 |
Legislature Passes Expanded Anti-Discrimination Law
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By a vote of 11 to 4, the Legislature passed a local law that adds “gender identity and expression” to existing County anti-discrimination legislation. The vote followed a well-attended public ...
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02-05-2004 |
County Wary of Proposals in Governor's Budget
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Governor Pataki’s 2004-2005 Executive Budget contains a blend of cuts in state aid and phased-in Medicaid relief to counties – but County officials here are skeptical about the overall result. At the ...
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01-15-2004 |
State Looks at Medicaid Reform
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Two recent reports, one released by the NYS Senate Medicaid Reform Task Force in December 2003, and an interim report prepared for the Governor and released on January 13, 2004, tackle the question ...
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12-23-2003 |
Ethics Board Issues Decision
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The Tompkins County Ethics Advisory Board has issued a decision in response to complaints made by Joseph Wetmore against City of Ithaca Alderwoman Patricia Vaughan, Mayor Alan Cohen, and Alderman ...
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12-04-2003 |
Legislature Passes 2004 Budget
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The Tompkins County Legislature adopted the 2004 County Budget at its regularly scheduled meeting on Tuesday, December 2, 2003. The budget, which passed by a 9 – 6 vote, will increase the County ...
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11-13-2003 |
Carey is New DSS Commissioner
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Patricia Carey was sworn in as the new Tompkins County Commissioner of Social Services, taking over the top spot from Mary Pat Dolan, Commissioner since 1984. The swearing-in ceremony took place ...
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11-13-2003 |
Four Communities Receive Revitalization Grants
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On November 5, the County Legislature approved four Commercial Center Revitalization grants to the following communities:
-- Newfield community, for construction of a path near the restored Zenas ...
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11-03-2003 |
Proposed 2004 Budget Adds 19.65 Percent to Tax Rate
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Tompkins County’s Expanded Budget Committee has approved a 2004 Proposed Budget. The total County budget for 2004 is estimated at $117 million. The proposed local share – that is, the portion of ...
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11-03-2003 |
Public Hearing on 2004 Budget
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The last of three public input meetings on the proposed 2004 Tompkins County budget will be held at 7 p.m., Monday, November 10, at Boynton Middle School. Members of the County Legislature will hear ...
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10-14-2003 |
PUSH BACK Against State Tax Policy
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Tim Joseph, Chair of the Tompkins County Legislature, explains the root causes of the 2004 funding dilemma.
On October 14, Joseph delivered the following speech to a group of about 60 community ...
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09-16-2003 |
OTB May Be Put to Popular Vote
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Within days of the County Legislature's 8-7 vote to allow Off Track Betting (OTB) in Tompkins County, a group of citizens declared their intention to gather enough signatures to put the matter on the ...
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09-16-2003 |
Legislature Okays Bonds for Medical Center
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The Legislature voted unanimously to approve the issuance of $20 million in tax-free bonds for a multi-faceted project being planned by Cayuga Medical Center. The bond issuer is the Industrial ...
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09-03-2003 |
5% Budget Would Cut Programs and Jobs
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A “5% percent scenario” budget for 2004 shows how funding for programs and staff could be reduced to arrive at a 5 percent County property tax rate increase. The scenario cuts an additional $5.6 ...
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09-03-2003 |
County Joins Off Track Betting Corporation
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By a vote of 8-7, the Tompkins County Legislature approved a resolution that will bring Off Track Betting (OTB) to Tompkins County – unless citizens disagree via a public referendum. County officials ...
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