Lansing Fire Commissioners agreed Tuesday to raise the tax rate as they began considering next year's $2.41 million budget after District Treasurer George Gesslein warned that the skyrocketing cost of new fire trucks will require more in capital reserves.  Commissioners began reviewing the 2016 budget, of which they expect to levy $1.3 million in property taxes.  While the district is in good financial shape, Gesslein warned that planning now will keep the district budget healthy for the future.

"We're getting a little tight on the dollar," Gesslein said.  "One reason is because the assessed value in Lansing hasn't increased as much as we thought it would.  Another reason is I probably recommended too much of a drop last year, that 4% drop.  And the other reason is that the apparatus is running really heavy increases compared to what we projected many years ago.  it's a budget we could probably live with.  But we're going to be boxed into a corner if we don't start kicking the rate up a little bit in the next few years, and think about what exactly what equipment we actually need."

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Senator Pam Helming announced yesterday that $1.1 million in funding will go to help residents replace aging septic systems in the Wayne-Finger lakes region.  $150,000 of that will go to residents who apply and qualify in Tompkins County.

"The Septic Tank Rebate Program will give local communities an important tool they need to protect water quality and keep our lakes clean. Our pristine lakes provide drinking water for hundreds of thousands of people. They attract many visitors to our local communities and are a driver of economic development and job creation in our region." Helming said. "Failing septic tanks not only threaten our drinking water, but also contribute to harmful algal blooms, and hurt recreational opportunities in the Finger Lakes. As the State Senator representing the beautiful Wayne-Finger Lakes region, I am proud to announce that the six counties I represent will be included in the New York's Septic Rebate Program."

The draft Solar and Wind Energy Systems amendment to Lansing's zoning ordinance is very close to being complete, but one key element will determine whether it will be feasible for large and medium-scale solar farms to locate in the Town.  The Lansing Town Board debated whether and how much to limit the size of commercial solar farms in the Town after a public hearing on the law.

"I am very concerned about the environment.  I am very concerned about the farmlands.  I am very concerned about the farmers.  I am very concerned about a variety of different things," said LaVigne. "But I'm also very concerned about the Town's tax base.  I propose we do an analysis of what the financial benefit is to the Town of Lansing.  What is the best bang for our buck?  We have to look out for the Town."

After years of decreasing value and uncertainty about the Cayuga Power Plant's future, the plant shut down for good at the end of last year.  The closing is bad news for Lansing property taxpayers, but it may not be as bad as you think.  School officials say that careful planning will help keep taxes from spiraling upward, and a New York State program specifically designed to provide relief to communities whose power plants have closed may mitigate taxes in the short run.  It also means that under the state tax cap calculation the Lansing Central School District may collect up to $425,000 more from property taxes than it otherwise could have.

"Though we know we can pull from the tax base at a higher level, we don't plan to go up to that tax cap," said Lansing School Superintendent Chris Pettograsso at Monday's Board Of Education meeting. "We will be looking at all of our resources, looking at what our needs are, where we may be able to make reductions that would not hurt our student population. Where can you be more efficient? Do we are trying to really look at the program in that manner."

The Village of Lansing Board of Trustees passed a $2.9 million budget Monday.  Mayor Donald Hartill said that the budget will keep the tax rate steady at last year's rate.  But he cautioned that expected reductions in sales tax and other revenues may mean putting some Village projects on hold.

"We're clearly going to have some challenges. One of the biggest income items is sales tax," Hartill said. "A lot of it is generated by motor fuels. Certainly my motor fuel consumption has gone way down and I'm assuming everybody else is in the same boat. So what we're going to have to do as we out more through the year, make some prioritized  decisions as to what projects we actually go forward with. We're actually in pretty good shape in terms of our roadways are in good shape. It could delay some of this stuff by a year without too much trouble."

Facing uncertain revenue cuts due to the final closing of the Cayuga Power plant and especially because of looming state aid cuts, Lansing Central School District officials are considering a raft of cuts that may save $740,500.  Many of the reductions involve staff reductions, but one potential program reduction has already ignited passionate protest in the community: $130,000 in savings by reducing aquatics instruction.  Superintendent Chris Pettograsso told the Board of Education t its April 22 meeting that misinformation about the cuts has muddied the discussion in the community, and she sought to set the record straight.

"This is our first time discussing it outside of the leadership team and with our aquatics director,"Pettograsso said. "So I'm a little disappointed in the misinformation that's gone out around this program because it's very difficult to clean misinformation than it is to allow us to share it and then get feedback.  We are looking at a lot of unknowns as we move forward. What we do know is that we have a significant reduction in our aid and tax revenue and we have to make some adjustment to that."

	EXTRA: Final Results Pat Pryor has won by 7 votes: 743 Pryor, 736 Sigler

When election day was done last week Mike Sigler (R) was 23 votes behind Pat Pryor (D).  But with 95 possible absentee ballots and 10 military votes yet to count the jury was still out on who the Town of Lansing's representative on the Tompkins County Legislature will be over the next four years.  By this past Monday 82 absentee ballots had been received, so the candidates, their representatives, and Election Commissioners Elizabeth Cree (R) and Stephen M. DeWitt (D) gathered to count the votes, hoping for a decisive count.  But that was not to be.

By morning's end Pryor was still ahead, but officially only by eight votes, and by Sigler's count there was only a 5 vote difference.  With 13 absentee ballots and 10 military ballots still out that was not enough to declare a winner.  And while DeWitt says that not all absentee or military ballots that are requested are actually mailed, Lansing will have to wait another week to learn who its county legislator will be.

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The Lansing Town Board voted to authorize a multi-jurisdictional all-hazard mitigation plan Monday.  Federal regulations require the adoption of such a plan, which was prepared by the Tompkins County Planning Department.  But the Town was not prepared to officially recognize an Emergency Preparedness Committee.  Town Supervisor Kathy Miller said she has yet to solicit representation on the committee from the School and Fire Districts before the Town Board officially appoints the committee.

"We have a number of other people who have agreed to be on the committee," she said.  "We really need someone from the school district, and I need to ask someone from the fire department.  As soon as we get those people on board we will recognize the committee."

Social distancing rules and state mandates that close down in-person public meetings during the coronavirus pandemic have presented a special challenge for municipalities.  The Lansing Town Board livestreamed its regular March and April meetings on Facebook with mixed results.  The picture was just OK, and it was very hard to hear what people were saying.  There was some improvement in sound in the April meeting, but some board members were unintelligible.  Now that a new camera and livestreaming software has been installed, Town officials are hoping the third time will be the charm.

"Picture quality and sound should be improved but it's a work in progress," says Parks and Recreation Supervisor Patrick Tyrrell, who also manages computer and technical projects for the Town. "We're still learning.  Private computers are the real issue with sound quality for the past couple meetings.  That's out of my control.  The last meeting was better with the use of speakers but one computer in particular had very poor sound quality.  Again, it's a process we are working through, we'll get better each month."

Without aid from Washington, hospitals, schools and local governments could face billions in budget cuts

The state's Enacted Budget Financial Plan anticipates a dire fiscal outlook in State Fiscal Year (SFY) 2020-21 and projects sweeping budget cuts that could affect essential services provided by the state, schools and local governments, according to an analysis released today by State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli.

As much as $8.2 billion would be cut from Aid to Localities spending, while large reductions in funding for State Operations are also planned. School children and college students, people living in poverty, individuals with disabilities, and aging New Yorkers are among those who may suffer the loss of services. Programs that help fund front-line responders, safeguard health, protect the environment, ease the burden on property taxpayers and maintain a sound transportation system could also face significant cuts.

Village of Lansing Trustees Monday set a public hearing date for an amendment to the Village firearm and bow safety law that will allow approved hunters in its deer population control program to use crossbows.  The amendment is in response to a request by the program's leader, Dr.Bernd Blossey, in August, arguing that some  of the hunters in the program are aging and finding it more difficult to use compound bows.  Mayor Donald Hartill said he supports the amendment as a way to keep responsible, qualified hunters in the program.

"We have a group of hunters who are becoming more aged," Hartill said. "A 75 pound pull on a compound bow might be a little difficult.  Crossbows are a way of enabling that continuation.  We're in a fortunate situation here where we have a good group of hunters that are continuing to be interested (in participating in the Village deer population control project).  It's important that we continue to manage the deer population."

School is closed, but some school employees are still working to provide essential services, especially preparing and delivering food and materials to students at their homes. Pettograsso told the Board of Education at an online school board meeting Monday that the plan is to keep students home until April 13th, but noted that date, along with many other things, might change depending on the progress of COVID-19 and Governor Andrew M. Cuomo's directives to school districts.

"Two areas that we really need to give a ton of gratitude towards is our food service and our transportation department cause they are here for the long haul because we are going to be feeding and transporting food and materials to students as long as we need to," Pettograsso said. "We are considered a government agency so we are exempt for many of them. So that's why we're able to have employees still come in to make sure that we have some of our essential operations occurring."

The Town of Lansing is now accepting applications for the newly-established Town of Lansing Broadband Committee, whose role will be to advise the Lansing Town Board and Planning Department on all matters pertaining to or affecting the coordination, development, mapping, and funding of broadband internet access in the Town of Lansing. Please click here to submit an application online.

High-speed broadband service is increasingly essential for education, health care, economic development, tourism, emergency management, entertainment, telemedicine, telecommuting, and support of local businesses and property values, and there is a need to develop, expand, strengthen, and maintain broadband infrastructure throughout the Town at a level that allows for education, business and industry to compete on a global level based on data capacity, speed, and reliability of service. 

This is a limited appointment through the end of 2020; further terms will be made by calendar year at the discretion of the Town Board. Please submit your online application no later than Thursday, May 14th to be considered for inclusion on the Town of Lansing Broadband Committee at the Town Board’s regular meeting on May 20, 2020.

The Lansing Town Board unanimously passed a resolution declaring freedom from domestic violence as a human right at their December meeting.  The board recognized several forms of domestic violence including physical and sexual, psychological and economic, and said that domestic violence is a human rights concern that affects individuals in every walk of life.

"I believe this resolution is similar to resolutions being put forth in towns across the County, as well as at the County," said Councilwoman Ruth Hopkins.

As of Tuesday the Tompkins County Health Department reported 32 confirmed COVID-19 (novel coronavirus) cases.  462 test results were pending, and of the 1,009 tested, 515 came have come back back negative according to a Wednesday update by the Tompkins County Health Department.  354 people in the County were being monitored in quarantine, and 526 had been released from quarantine.  State-wide there were 37,258 confirmed cases, There have been no deaths from COVID-19 in Tompkins County.

	For the foreseeable future the Lansing Star is checking the Tompkins County Health Department website regularly and updating county coronavirus statistics at the top of our front page within an hour of updates being posted.

In Lansing the Town Web Site was updated last weekend with a large graphic on the home page.  Click on the graphic and you are taken to a page with links to resources.  The Town Board meeting was broadcast live on Facebook.  The Town Board voted to install cameras in the courtroom last week in order to live stream and record public meetings not just for the Town Board, but for other boards such as the Planning and Zoning boards.  The Lansing schools closed March 14th.  Lansing School Superintendent Chris Pettograsso said Monday that the school campus will reopen April 13th unless Governor Cuomo mandates an earlier date.  Like all public officials, Pettograsso has stressed that the situation is fluid and anything can change on a day to day basis.  Monday's School Board meeting was online only, using Zoom web conferencing.

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Amid the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, Governor Andrew M. Cuomo announced last Friday that all K-12 schools and college facilities statewide will remain closed for the rest of the academic year and will continue to provide distance learning during that time. The schools will also be required to continue meal programs and child care services for essential workers. The state will make a decision about summer school programming by the end of May.

Cuomo is also directing all schools and colleges to create re-opening plans that re-imagine school facilities in light of the COVID-19 pandemic. These plans should consider how schools can monitor the spread of COVID-19; how to reinforce student safety; when and how to resume extracurricular activities; protocols for special student populations; steps to ensure student mental health; alternative academic calendars; among other considerations. All plans will be reviewed and approved by the state.

Friends of Salt Point member Susan Ruoff discovered Monday a park bench has been stolen from the north shore of Salt Point.  Thieves removed bolts that secured a security chain, then made off with the bench.  Park Superintendent Steve Colt says the theft has been reported to the Tompkins County Sheriff's Department, and he is taking other steps to ramp up security during the early park season.

"The bench was situated next to the Little Free Library on the north shore and had been a wonderful spot to sit and enjoy a book under the shade of the trees," Ruoff says.  "It is disheartening to have it stolen after all the volunteer work that went into it."

The Lansing Town Board approved a water district extension Wednesday that will provide a redundant loop in the Terpening Corners area (where several businesses including Crossroads Bar & Grill, Lansing Market, and Mirabito Gas are located).  The resolution passed unanimously after a public hearing at which nobody spoke.  Lansing Supervisor Ed LaVigne said that the project will provide a fail-safe in case the existing water main breaks.

"At a meeting today at the Bolton point, I asked (Southern Cayuga Lake Intermunicipal Water Commission General Manager) Steve Riddle and we're also working with Cricket (Lansing Highway Superintendent Charlie Purcell), as more and more waterlines are coming into play, how we can connect more of these spurs so that you have more benefit districts in case something breaks," LaVigne said. "We can that way we have continuity. One of our biggest concerns right now will be Milton Meadows cause they only have one source of water and that goes underneath that road."

The Lansing Town Board unanimously created a Lansing Advisory Committee on Power Plant Future and appointed eight initial members with terms that expire at the end of 2022.  At the October meeting a group led by Sue Ruoff, Diane Beckwith and Lauren Chambliss asked the Board to pass a resolution creating the committee, and submitted a list of potential members.  They said that many Lansing citizens want to show their support for the transitioning of the Cayuga Power Plant to a data center, arguing that a town committee would provide an official conduit for showing and providing support.  At the meeting last week Beckwith encouraged the Board to pass the resolution.

"I want to express my gratitude to this board for their support in getting the advisory committee for power plant future on this agenda tonight," she said. "I appreciate your recognition of the importance of community input and shared information. And I think this committee can be very helpful in making sure the community is well formed and possibly rallying support for any developments that are in the best interest of our town."