August 2023 Update
The August Session was fairly quick as there wasn’t a lot of business on the table. Perhaps the biggest thing the Legislature approved was increasing the income limitations for county homeowners to receive a partial exemption on their property taxes. The change only applies to those age 65 and older and/or those with disabilities whose incomes are limited by reason of such disabilities.
The income limits are now the same for both seniors and those with disabilities and are as follows:
Now approved, homeowners will need to contact the Assessor’s Office in the town in which they live or the City of Syracuse Assessor's Office to learn more.
“Helping some of our most susceptible taxpayers living on a fixed or reduced income is the right thing to do, especially in this era of increased costs for gasoline, energy and basic food staples” says the Legislature’s Chairman, James Rowley (2nd District). “Poor policy decisions at the federal and state levels which are driving these costs higher, make the property tax exemptions passed by the Legislature timelier then ever. I am proud to support this important legislation.”
Legislators also approved a funding request from the Onondaga County Sheriff’s Office, which was asking for $3,187,555 to help cover increased costs for Correctional Health and Offsite Mental Health Services at the Justice Center and Jamesville Correctional Facility. They also approved a planning grant program for local municipalities, allowing grant funds to be provided to municipalities to assist in the planning and development of comprehensive plans for local municipalities.
In July, Legislators officially adopted the county’s new comprehensive plan called Plan Onondaga. It defines a vision and goals for community success in the years ahead and includes the shared needs, goals and challenges of each of the county’s municipalities. It also facilitates a pathway to implement positive growth and change. Click here to learn more about it.
Moving on to August committee meetings, there were only a couple of items on the agenda for August’s Planning & Economic Development committee.
There was some discussion of calling a public hearing in regards to some additions of viable agricultural lands to certified agricultural districts in Onondaga County. Two county properties applied to be included feel that they have what is predominantly viable agricultural land: Dutch Hill Maple in Tully and the other smaller parcel in Elbridge.
“The Dutch Hill Maple folks are a great organization” says Legislator David Knapp who serves on the committee and is also the Chair of the Onondaga County Agriculture Council. The property is in his 12th District. “I think they're the largest maple manufacturer in the county now and are great young folks who just built a new facility.”
Secondly, the committee discussed making surplus room occupancy funding available for use in support of a public arts program. Stephen Butler, who is in his 14th year as Executive Director of CNY Arts, came to the table to share more details.
“This is a very exciting moment” “he said. “The County Executive has charged CNY Arts with activating more public art throughout the community. It’s a half-million dollar program and we’ll be working the municipalities through the Main Street program.”
Butler said CNY Arts will establish a panel of people with backgrounds in public art and architecture, plus artists, to review applications. They’ll then present their recommendations to the county.
Committee Chairperson Timothy Burtis (3rd District) asked Mr. Butler to explain exactly what public art is, and he responded by highlighting current projects like the basketball mural in downtown Syracuse, the tiger statue at the Rosamond Gifford Zoo, and an oversized chair near Rudy’s in Oswego. He says all are places that draw visitors who want to take photos of themselves and/or their children.
At the Ways & Means committee meeting, the public art proposal was discussed further.
Committee Chairperson Brian May (1st District) says he doesn’t love the idea of room occupancy tax funds going to something like this, but that the law allows for it.
“From the day I came to the Legislature, I always thought the room occupancy tax had to go to actually driving a head into a bed and I thought that so much that I actually investigated the statute in the law in all of its many iterations since it was formed way back when and what I learned is that its purpose is economic development” Chairperson May said at the meeting. “I like the fact that it's competitive and that a municipality that does view these things as a priority can pursue it.”
The resolution was advanced to Session, as was one allowing the Onondaga County District Attorney’s office to accept grant funds from the New York State Bureau of Justice Assistance Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant (JAG) Program. The money – totaling $113,243 – will be used to upgrade police radios used by the DA’s investigators, who help gather evidence and information about crimes.
Legislator Mark Olson (10th District) – who is Chair of the Public Safety committee - introduced a resolution for an Intermunicipal Agreement with Oswego County related to disaster preparedness. It allows the two counties to work together in the event of a disaster. Another element is training and exercising to ensure an effective response in the event of a nuclear incident.
The County Facilities took a tour of the Erie Canal Museum in downtown Syracuse this month. Many do not realize the building which houses the museum is actually owned and maintained by Onondaga County.
“The museum is a gem that connects us with our past, as well as a tourist attraction for travelers” says Committee Chairperson Debra Cody (5th District). “We are fortunate to count this as one of our awesome county facilities!”
Committee members first sat down for a meeting with the museum’s Executive Director, Natalie Stetson, who spoke about its history, current exhibits and their needs and desires in the near future. She said the museum has about 15,000 visitors each year and that the story of the Erie Canal goes far and wide, as they have members and receive donations from areas outside Onondaga County.
Following that, Legislators were able to tour the facility, walking through exhibits explaining how and why the Erie Canal was first created and how it evolved into an important passageway not just for people in Onondaga County, but across its entire route throughout New York State. They visited the ‘weigh chamber’ which houses the Frank Buchanan Thomson, a full-size replica line boat that is representative of a vessel that would have carried both cargo and passengers on the Canal.
Legislator Cody Kelly (14th District), who serves on the committee, says “I always enjoy learning more about our region’s history, and the Erie Canal was instrumental in shaping it. The fact that the museum sits in the footprint of the old weigh lock station only reinforced the experience, and it was great viewing the lock from the deck of the boat inside.”
“It was great to meet at the Erie Canal Museum and get a refresher on local canal history, the origins of the downtown museum and to hear about plans for new exhibits and improvements to the building” adds Legislator Cody. “It's always helpful to be able to get a firsthand look at potential investments we may be asked to make in the future.“
The Erie Canal Museum is located at 318 Erie Boulevard East in Syracuse and is open seven days a week. Admission is free but donations are appreciated. Click here to visit the Erie Canal Museum’s website.