Economic warfare has no winners

Cooperative economic development efforts are a critical element to the future prosperity of our community. It is my assessment that the current formula for the distribution of sales tax hinders these cooperative efforts.

This negative influence was demonstrated recently in the events involving the Fingerlakes Crossing project. During this process it became clear that the city of Auburn had concerns about the impact that continued retail development in the towns of Sennett and Aurelius might have on the retail corridor through Auburn, specifically on Grant Avenue.

This concern was exacerbated by the fact that Auburn, in 1996, pre-empted the then existing countywide sales tax distribution formula. This pre-emption created a situation where retail development inside the city limits was enormously beneficial, and where retail development outside of the city limits was a more nominal benefit to the city.