AUBURN - Cayuga County residents can expect a tax levy increase of approximately 3.1 percent, said County Manager Wayne Allen after the Legislature met to discuss specific budget items Tuesday.
During the meeting, Peter Tortorici, R-Auburn, tried unsuccessfully to get rid of certain projects in hopes of saving taxpayers some money. Tortorici proposed to remove a line item for $225,000 for economic development, citing funding for the Cayuga Museum of History and Art and other venues as a means to boost travel and tourism.
“We do have agencies in place that continue to provide economic development and I just think that at this time, we're not ready to put another layer of government on the sixth floor,” he said. “I support economic development, I think we (should) continue to work on economic development, but at this time, with all the unknowns and all the items that we have in the budget, I don't think we'll be able to continue with this.”
Funding cultural activities is not enough, said chairman of the Legislature Roger Mills.
“This is something that's going to be used to create jobs and that's certainly what we need more so than ever. In these tight economic times, it's even more important that we have an economic developer out there doing whatever they can do to create jobs in the community,” Mills, R-Owasco, said.
The motion was defeated 8-5, with Tortorici, Michael Chapman, Patrick Mahunik, Daniel Sincebaugh and Steven Cuddeback dissenting.
Tortorici also attempted to get a new, full-time accounting position reduced to part-time, which would have decreased the budget by more than $40,000. Francis Mitchell, R-Genoa, strongly opposed the motion indicating that the county needs a full-time accountant to check for accuracy.
Allen recommended that the Legislature keep the full-time position, adding that the auditor would help prevent fraud in the future and that the payback would be worth more than the $60,000 salary.
The motion was defeated 9-5, with Chapman, Mahunik, Tortorici, Sincebaugh and Christopher Palermo dissenting.
Tortorici said the cuts he proposed would have had a tremendous affect on the county's tax increase and that if all of his proposed motions passed, the county would not see an increase at all.
“The taxpayers have a lot on their plate,” he said after the meeting. “I'm concerned about the times and the taxpayers of Cayuga County.”
In other news:
* The county will not be conducting a $48,900 feasibility study. The purpose was to see if it would be cheaper to correct current codes violations or build a new county building. The motion, made by Tortorici, carried by a vote of 11-2. David Axton and Raymond Lockwood dissented.
Staff writer Gitana Mirochnik can be reached at 253-5311 ext. 237 or gitana.mirochnik@lee.net
“We do have agencies in place that continue to provide economic development and I just think that at this time, we're not ready to put another layer of government on the sixth floor,” he said. “I support economic development, I think we (should) continue to work on economic development, but at this time, with all the unknowns and all the items that we have in the budget, I don't think we'll be able to continue with this.”
Funding cultural activities is not enough, said chairman of the Legislature Roger Mills.
“This is something that's going to be used to create jobs and that's certainly what we need more so than ever. In these tight economic times, it's even more important that we have an economic developer out there doing whatever they can do to create jobs in the community,” Mills, R-Owasco, said.
The motion was defeated 8-5, with Tortorici, Michael Chapman, Patrick Mahunik, Daniel Sincebaugh and Steven Cuddeback dissenting.
Tortorici also attempted to get a new, full-time accounting position reduced to part-time, which would have decreased the budget by more than $40,000. Francis Mitchell, R-Genoa, strongly opposed the motion indicating that the county needs a full-time accountant to check for accuracy.
Allen recommended that the Legislature keep the full-time position, adding that the auditor would help prevent fraud in the future and that the payback would be worth more than the $60,000 salary.
The motion was defeated 9-5, with Chapman, Mahunik, Tortorici, Sincebaugh and Christopher Palermo dissenting.
Tortorici said the cuts he proposed would have had a tremendous affect on the county's tax increase and that if all of his proposed motions passed, the county would not see an increase at all.
“The taxpayers have a lot on their plate,” he said after the meeting. “I'm concerned about the times and the taxpayers of Cayuga County.”
In other news:
* The county will not be conducting a $48,900 feasibility study. The purpose was to see if it would be cheaper to correct current codes violations or build a new county building. The motion, made by Tortorici, carried by a vote of 11-2. David Axton and Raymond Lockwood dissented.
Staff writer Gitana Mirochnik can be reached at 253-5311 ext. 237 or gitana.mirochnik@lee.net
