FLEMING -- High temperatures stifled the air in Emerson Park's Pavilion Tuesday night, but an anticipated debate between city of Auburn and Cayuga County officials pertaining to the city's request to acquire additional sales tax revenue remained cool.

A debate was avoided due to a request by Auburn Mayor Timothy Lattimore to discuss the issue with the county's Ways and Means Committee next month rather than take time during the evening's regularly scheduled Legislature meeting.

County Treasurer Jim Orman sat ready to discuss sales tax figures and didn't expect the short request posed by Lattimore to meet at a later time. Orman said he was not expecting this reaction from the city.

"Not from what I had heard," the treasurer said.

During a recess, Lattimore explained the city is requesting about 21 percent of the county's sales tax revenue.

"The issue is regional growth," Lattimore said. "We expanded our sewer and water services because the towns needed it and we respectfully asked for the additional revenue."

Lattimore said the two municipalities have discussed the issue but have not agreed on a formalized plan.

"We want to make sure the city and county make a sound financial decision," Lattimore said.

Tuesday evening's meeting also brought closure and authorization to many long discussed items.

Legislators authorized an amended term limit stating that no person shall be elected to more than three legislative terms on the Legislature following attempts to both table and amend the proposed amendment.

Officials adopted the new term limits, voting 10-4 and it is still subject to a mandatory public referendum.

Read the full report in Wednesday's edition of The Citizen.