HomeMy WebLinkAbout2020-09-22-PH-FINAL-minutesPUBLIC HEARING
LL2 of 2020: TO OVERRIDE THE TAX LEVY LIMIT ESTABLISHED IN GENERAL MUNICIPAL LAW §3- C
Town of Ulysses
September 22, 2020
Audio of the minutes are available on the website at ulysses.ny.us.
The meeting was held via videoconference on the Zoom platform.
OPENING THE HEARING:
Ms. Zahler (Supervisor) opened the hearing at 7pm and introduced board/staff members in
attendance:
Board members- Richard Goldman, Michael Boggs, Katelin Olson, Marc Devokaitis
Town Clerk- Carissa Parlato
Second Deputy Supervisor/Budget Officer- Michelle Wright
OTHERS PRESENT: Linda Liddle, Mary Bouchard
Ms. Zahler stated that the purpose of the hearing is Local Law 2 of 2020: To Override the Tax Levy
Limit Established In General Municipal Law §3-C.
She further noted that this local law allows the Town of Ulysses government to have authority to set
the tax levy at a level it finds to be appropriate to provide the proper services that will keep residents
safe and provide for a thriving community- otherwise stated as preserving the Health, Safety and
Welfare of our community as dictated by the law.
She stated that during the budget season, from the end of September to the end of October, the
Town of Ulysses board will be reviewing expenses and revenues, and if they should find that more
funds need to be expended or put into reserves for future needs, this override gives the latitude to do
so. The Town Board fully intends to stay within the cap if at all possible, but not all costs are in the
board’s control. For example last year, health care costs increased ~10%. The cost for Fire protection
and EMS will increase nearly 11% of the tax levy. The town has no say in that decision; it is made
solely by the Village of Trumansburg. It accounts for about 1/3 of the town’s total tax levy.
Ms. Zahler went on to add that the draft law was included in the meeting materials and posted to the
website. The legal notice of the hearing was published in the Ithaca Journal on Friday, September 11,
2020.
She said that the purpose of the public hearing is to afford the general public an opportunity to make
statements and comments about the Local Law. Comments presented at this hearing will be taken
into consideration by the Town Board when it considers action on the proposed Local Law, scheduled
for later this evening.
PUBLIC COMMENTS:
Ms. Liddle noted that she did not have any comments.
2
Ms. Bouchard noted that this seems like something that is done every year.
Ms. Zahler noted that if an unexpected expense should arise, this law will give the board the option
to override the tax cap, though they have no plans to do so at this time.
CLOSING THE HEARING:
Hearing no comments, Mr. Goldman made a motion to close the hearing at 7:09pm. This was
seconded by Mr. Devokaitis and passed by all but Olson (who was una.
Respectfully submitted by Carissa Parlato on 10/6/20.