AUBURN - Cayuga County Legislature candidates for the District 8 seat offered ways they would keep property taxes under control during a televised debate Thursday.
Incumbent Republican Francis Mitchell, of King Ferry, is facing Democrat Sjana McClure-Berry, of Genoa, for the second time. McClure-Berry is also running on the Independence Party line.
Instead of continuing to raise property taxes, the county should look at other areas like the tax of home heating fuel or consider dropping legislator insurance coverage, McClure-Berry said.
“I feel that if we start looking at the local level we could find other avenues and we would have a better quality of life,” McClure-Berry said, suggesting tourism is another tool that is underused by the county.
Mitchell pointed to low equalization rates in his district that includes the towns of Locke, Venice and Genoa, as part of the property tax problem. He placed the larger blame on unfunded state mandates such as Medicaid, which costs the county millions each year.
“We've broken down the mandated and non-mandated costs,” Mitchell said, suggesting at some point some county services could be shed.
He said he would like to see the state consolidate some of its services before counties and their municipalities start doing so.
“I think the problem is at the state level,” Mitchell said. “I don't think consolidation at the local level would make much of a difference.
“It would make some difference,” he said, showing favor for consolidation of economic development services.
Mitchell does not support giving Auburn a larger share of sales tax because the current formula is fair, he said.
McClure-Berry said she would be willing to look into such arrangements.
“I think it should be fair is fair and square is square,” she said. “If the county is healthy, then the city should be healthy and if the city is healthy, the county should be.”
McClure-Berry stressed the county should be searching for alternatives to sales tax deals.
“We have to bring manufacturing back to the area instead of worrying about sales tax,” she said.
“I think I can bring some fresh ideas to the legislature.”
Mitchell said he expects property taxes to level off for the next few years.
“I think the first thing we needed to do has been done and that's looking at the mandates,” he said.
Staff writer Shane Liebler can be reached at 253-5311 ext. 248 and shane.liebler@lee.net
Instead of continuing to raise property taxes, the county should look at other areas like the tax of home heating fuel or consider dropping legislator insurance coverage, McClure-Berry said.
“I feel that if we start looking at the local level we could find other avenues and we would have a better quality of life,” McClure-Berry said, suggesting tourism is another tool that is underused by the county.
Mitchell pointed to low equalization rates in his district that includes the towns of Locke, Venice and Genoa, as part of the property tax problem. He placed the larger blame on unfunded state mandates such as Medicaid, which costs the county millions each year.
“We've broken down the mandated and non-mandated costs,” Mitchell said, suggesting at some point some county services could be shed.
He said he would like to see the state consolidate some of its services before counties and their municipalities start doing so.
“I think the problem is at the state level,” Mitchell said. “I don't think consolidation at the local level would make much of a difference.
“It would make some difference,” he said, showing favor for consolidation of economic development services.
Mitchell does not support giving Auburn a larger share of sales tax because the current formula is fair, he said.
McClure-Berry said she would be willing to look into such arrangements.
“I think it should be fair is fair and square is square,” she said. “If the county is healthy, then the city should be healthy and if the city is healthy, the county should be.”
McClure-Berry stressed the county should be searching for alternatives to sales tax deals.
“We have to bring manufacturing back to the area instead of worrying about sales tax,” she said.
“I think I can bring some fresh ideas to the legislature.”
Mitchell said he expects property taxes to level off for the next few years.
“I think the first thing we needed to do has been done and that's looking at the mandates,” he said.
Staff writer Shane Liebler can be reached at 253-5311 ext. 248 and shane.liebler@lee.net
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