AUBURN - Five years ago a Cornell University study showed that $78 million of purchases by Cayuga County residents occurred out of the county, a county lawmaker said Monday night.

County Planning and Economic Development Committee members discussed ways to promote economic development and how to bring the revenue back into the county during Monday night's meeting.

Committee Chair Dan Schuster, D-Auburn, presented his 2007 Committee Work Plan to members with its first objective to create an economic development planner position for the county. Committee members discussed the importance of economic development and decided that creating a job description and planning funding and hiring for the position as one of the plan's top priorities.

“We're ready to market, we need someone to market us,” said Michele Sedor, D-Sennett. “But right now there's no united front and we can't afford to market ourselves. We can't afford not to have this position.”

Members supported the idea of creating the position and agreed that it must be considered with careful planning but must move forward. If considered, the position must be something that is budgeted every year, Schuster said.

“We need to be careful how we do this. Everyone has to be able to buy into this and let the person do the job,” Schuster said.

County Planning Director Steve Lynch presented examples of how this position is structured in other parts of the state.

“Expansion and retention of current businesses is what most economic development positions focus on,” Lynch said.

Peter Tortorici, R-Auburn, said that the city hopes to see the county move forward with the position and suggested the county review prior plans to create a joint city and county planner.

“We need to use every tool in the box to move forward with this position,” Tortorici said.

Staff writer Kristina Martino can be reached at 253-5311 ext. 238 or kristina.martino@lee.net