The URL can be used to link to this page

Home My WebLink About2025-11-05 Budget November 5, 2025 1 BUDGET TOWN BOARD MEETING November 5, 2025 A Budget Meeting of the Lansing Town Board was held at the Town Hall Board Room, 29 Auburn Road, Lansing, NY, and streamed live on YouTube on the above date at 6:30 p.m. The meeting was called to order by Ruth Groff, Supervisor, and opened with the Pledge of Allegiance to the flag. Roll call by Deborah K. Munson, Town Clerk, showed the following to be PRESENT: Judy Drake, Councilperson Laurie Hemmings, Councilperson Christine Montague, Councilperson Joseph Wetmore, Councilperson Ruth Groff, Supervisor ABSENT: No one absent ALSO PRESENT: Jessica Hall, Deputy Town Clerk, Ashley Workman, Administrative Assistant, Mary Ellen Albrecht, Bookkeeper, Mike Sigler, Tompkins County Legislature, Mike Moseley, Highway Superintendent/Director of Public Works, Patrick Tyrrell, Director of Parks & Recreation, John Zepko, Director of Planning, Anne Bennion, Ablyn Berg, Evan Alvarez, David Bickal, Diane Duthie, Frank White, Connie Bodner, Pete Meskill, Craig Christopher, Sandy Sweazey, Mike Sweazey, Julie Boles, Dan Boles, Joe Lovejoy, Doug Boles, Avery Ellis, Ruben Carbajal, Jerry Goodenough, Sabrina Johnston, Harold Mills, Daniel Baruch, Diane Kinne, Scott Hicks, Kathryn McKay, Fred Delfavero, Joshua Yoon, Rob Beck, Sam Keimbecker, Alex Raguso, Nikhil Sahoo, Noah Sorensen, Madi Lenhart, Kelly Warren, Michael Culotta, Melissa Zarem, Tom Swartout, Max Moses, Sarah Corning, Josh Chamberlain, Taina Moynihan, John Dennis, John Duthie, Doug Boles and a few other attendees. MOTION TO OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING ON PROPOSED 2026 ASSESSMENT ROLLS FOR TOWN WATER, LIGHTING, DRAINAGE, AND SEWER DISTRICTS Councilperson Joseph Wetmore, moved to OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING ON PROPOSED 2026 ASSESSMENT ROLLS FOR TOWN WATER, LIGHTING, DRAINAGE, AND SEWER DISTRICTS at 6:31 pm. Councilperson Laurie Hemmings seconded the motion. All in Favor – 5 Opposed – 0 No one addressed the Town Board. MOTION TO CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING All persons desiring to be heard, having been heard, Councilperson Joseph Wetmore, moved to CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING ON PROPOSED 2026 ASSESSMENT ROLLS FOR TOWN WATER, LIGHTING, DRAINAGE, AND SEWER DISTRICTS at 6:32 pm. Councilperson Laurie Hemmings seconded the motion. All in Favor – 5 Opposed – 0 MOTION TO OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING ON PROPOSED 2026 TOWN OF LANSING ASSESSMENT ROLLS AND PRELIMINARY BUDGET Councilperson Laurie Hemmings, moved to OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING ON PROPOSED 2026 TOWN OF LANSING ASSESSMENT ROLLS AND PRELIMINARY BUDGET at 6:32 pm. Councilperson Joseph Wetmore seconded the motion. All in Favor – 5 Opposed – 0 Two residents spoke about concerns of tax levy and rate of spending money: • Town tax levy has gone up 22%, 15%, and 14% for past three years • Other towns in Tompkins County have tax levies under 10% for past three years November 5, 2025 2 • New DPW building repayment is $1.2 million per year These residents expressed that the Town needs to invite businesses into the Town, get on a skeleton budget, and stop spending money. A successful business does not spend money it does not have. They stated the Town Board has lost the trust of the residents. A resident asked to see the five-year plan, in which Supervisor Ruth Groff responded that the five-year plan will be available to the public once it is approved by the Town Board. MOTION TO CLOSE PUBLIC HEARING All persons desiring to be heard, having been heard, Councilperson Laurie Hemmings, moved to CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING ON PROPOSED 2026 TOWN OF LANSING ASSESSMENT ROLLS AND PRELIMINARY BUDGET at 6:38 pm. Councilperson Joseph Wetmore, seconded the motion. All in Favor – 5 Opposed – 0 RESOLUTION APPROVING THE SPECIAL DISTRICTS BUDGET AND TOWN BUDGET FOR THE FISCAL YEAR 2026 The “Changes to Preliminary Budget for Final Adopted Budget” listed in the Resolution below were discussed. The following two (2) items from the Resolution below were removed and put in their own Resolution to be voted on separately. The Resolution below was amended prior to the vote. B1001- Real Property Taxes – Add $50,000 levy DB1001- Real Property Taxes – Add $50,000 levy Five-year plan – Councilperson Judy Drake stated it is informational, which goes with the budget, and does not need Town Board approval. Councilperson Joseph Wetmore stated the draft should be out to the public. RESOLUTION 25-125 RESOLUTION APPROVING THE SPECIAL DISTRICTS BUDGET AND TOWN BUDGET FOR THE FISCAL YEAR 2026 The following Resolution was duly presented for consideration by the Town Board: WHEREAS, the Town Board of the Town of Lansing, having duly held public hearings on November 5, 2025, upon the Preliminary Budget approved by this Board and filed with the Town Clerk for the fiscal year commencing January 1, 2026, including the lighting, water, drainage districts, and sewer Special District Budgets for 2026, and the Town Board having heard all persons desiring to be heard in the matter, and the matter of the Budget for this Town for such fiscal year having been fully discussed and considered, and WHEREAS, the Town Board, at such meeting, having discussed the changes and final updates to such Preliminary Budget, and as so amended, duly approved and established the same as the annual Budget for this Town for the fiscal year beginning January 1, 2026; and NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the said Budget approved and filed as aforesaid, for 2026, is hereby amended as follows: Changes to Preliminary Budget for Final Adopted Budget General A Fund November 5, 2025 3 Revenue 1) A1001- Real Property Taxes- Increase from $2,493,338 to $2,571,605 2) A1081- PILOT’s – Increase from $5,699.62 to $5,878.71 3) A2003- Dept Income- Youth Rec Fees- Increase from $286,500 to $300,000 due to increase in fees and participation 4) A2401 – Interest & Earnings – Increase from $48,029.20 to $55,000 5) A2401R- Interest & Earnings – Reserves – Increase from $2,500 to $3,500 Expenditures 6) A1220.200-Supervisor – Equipment – Decrease from $3,000 to $1,000 (Bookkeeper computer purchased in 2025) 7) A1410.140- Town Clerk- Admin Assistants- FT – Decrease from $48,720.29 to $44,635.33 8) A1420.400-Attorney-Townwide Fees-Contractual – Decrease to $115,000, move $50,000 to new code A1420.420 9) A1420.420-Attorney- Litigation- New code for 2026, move $50,000 from A1420.400 here 10) A1460.100-Records Management- Personnel Services- Decrease from $18,400.23 to $17,378.99 11) A1620.403-Buildings – Electric – Increase from $10,000 to $15,000 12) A1630.403 – Community Center – Electric – Increase from $4,250 to $8,400 13) A7110.403-Parks-Electric – Increase from $15,000 to $24,000 14) A9010.800- State Retirement- Increase from $159,000 to $175,071.50 15) A9030.800-Social Security- Decrease from $94,496.95 to $93,640.33 16) A9060.800-Employee Benefits-Hospital & Medical Insurance – Decreased from $394,120 to $393,796.98 17) A9089.800-Medicare- Decrease from $22,100.09 to $21,899.76 General B Fund Revenue 1) B2401- Interest & Earnings- Increase from $21,000 to $25,000 Expenditures 2) B9010.800-Employee Benefits- State Retirement- Increase from $60,000 to $61,275.03 3) B9060.800-Employee Benefits-Hospital & Medical Insurance – Increased from $59,000 to $100,298.68 Highway DA Fund Revenue 1) DA1001- Real Property Taxes- Decrease from $2,254,721 to $1,966,709 2) DA1081- PILOT’s- Decrease from $5,654.36 to $4,496.70 3) DA2401 – Interest & Earnings – Increase to $50,000 Expenditures 4) DA5130.200- Machinery-Equipment- Decrease from $68,087.30 to $58,087.30 due to removal of equipment November 5, 2025 4 5) DA5142.200-Snow Removal Town- Equipment- Decrease from $216,360.36 to $164,590.43 due to removal of equipment 6) DA9010.800-State Retirement- Increase from $80,000 to $83,158.96 7) DA9030.800-Social Security- Decrease from $38,146.48 to $33,226.69 8) DA9060.800-Employee Benefits- Hospital & Medical Insurance – Decreased from $211,220 to $162,640.93 9) DA9089.800- Medicare Taxes- Decrease from $8,921.36 to $7,770.76 Highway DB Fund Revenue 1) DB2401 – Interest & Earnings – Increase to $50,000 Expenditures 2) DB5110.200- Street Maintenance- Equipment- Decrease from $257,225.73 to $178,122.46 due to removal of equipment 3) DB9010.800- State Retirement- Increase from $70,000 to $70,028.60 4) DB9030.800- Social Security- Decrease from $39,841.87 to $37,361.87 5) DB9060.800-Employee Benefits- Hospital & Medical Insurance – Decreased from $217,120 to $200,682.85 6) DB9089.800- Medicare Taxes- Decrease from $9,317.86 to $8,752.36 Warren Road Sewer SS1 Fund Expenditures 1) SS1-8120.200-Sewer-Equipment – Increase to $74,365 2) SS1-9060.800-Employee Benefits- Hospital & Medical Insurance – Increased from $608 to $6,917.25 Cherry Road Sewer SS3 Fund Expenditures 1) SS3-8120.200- Sanitary Sewers- Equipment- Increase to $526.25 2) SS3-9060.800-Employee Benefits- Hospital & Medical Insurance – Increased from $472 to $1,370.01 Water Districts SW Fund Expenditures 1) SW8310.100-Water Administration- Personal – Decrease from $107,455.84 to $102,349.63 2) SW8340.120-Transmission & Distribution -Maintenance Supervisor- Create code and add $8,326.80 3) SW8340.200- Transmission & Distribution- Equipment- Decrease from $234,486.10 to $158,956.76 4) SW9010.800- State Retirement – Increase to $48,144.66 5) SW9030.800- Social Security Taxes- Decrease from $18,683.67 to $15,479.93 6) SW9060.800-Employee Benefits- Hospital & Medical Insurance – Increased from $55,460 to $79,222.67 7) SW9089.800- Medicare Taxes- Decrease from $4,369.57 to $3,620.31 November 5, 2025 5 RESOLVED, that the proposed Preliminary Special Districts Budget and the proposed Preliminary Town Budget, as so amended, be and hereby are approved and adopted as the Town of Lansing Final Budget for the Fiscal Year 2026; and be it further RESOLVED, that the Clerk of the Town shall prepare and certify as provided by law duplicate copies of the said annual Budget hereby adopted and deliver one of such copies to the Supervisor of the Town, and that the Supervisor shall present such copy to the Board of Legislators of the County, as required by law. The question of the adoption of such proposed Resolution was duly motioned by Councilperson Laurie Hemmings, duly seconded by Councilperson Judy Drake, and put to a roll call vote with the following results: Councilperson Judy Drake – Aye Councilperson Laurie Hemmings – Aye Councilperson Christine Montague – Aye Councilperson Joseph Wetmore – Aye Supervisor Ruth Groff – Aye Accordingly, the foregoing Resolution was approved, carried, and duly adopted on November 5, 2025. RESOLUTION APPROVING TWO TAX LEVIES BE ADDED TO THE TOWN BUDGET FOR THE FISCAL YEAR 2026 Discussion about whether to add these two tax levies for 2026. Town Board did not have much time to discuss this. These funds are funded by sales tax and have been a problem for several years. Supervisor Ruth Groff stated the B and DB funds will be “in the red” by 2028 if something is not done. RESOLUTION 25-126 RESOLUTION APPROVING TWO TAX LEVIES BE ADDED TO THE TOWN BUDGET FOR THE FISCAL YEAR 2026 The following Resolution was duly presented for consideration by the Town Board: RESOLVED, that the following two tax levies are approved to be added to the 2026 Town Budget: B1001- Real Property Taxes – Add $50,000 levy DB1001- Real Property Taxes – Add $50,000 levy The question of the adoption of such proposed Resolution was duly motioned by Supervisor Ruth Groff, duly seconded by Councilperson Laurie Hemmings, and put to a roll call vote with the following results: Councilperson Judy Drake – Noe Councilperson Laurie Hemmings – Aye Councilperson Christine Montague – Aye Councilperson Joseph Wetmore – Aye Supervisor Ruth Groff – Aye Accordingly, the foregoing Resolution was approved, carried, and duly adopted on November 5, 2025. RESOLUTION WITHDRAWING PROPOSED MORATORIUM (LOCAL LAW #7 OF 2025) The Zoning Board of Appeals, Planning Board and staff recommended no moratorium. If the Town Board chooses to go forward with the moratorium the Planning Board recommended to limit it to Type I Actions – (possible examples – Dandy Mini-Mart, Genie Solar, Mirabito, Highway Barn). November 5, 2025 6 The following concerns/recommendations brought forth by the Planning Board were discussed: • The use of undeveloped and remaining acreage in calculation of potential lots is confusing and requires clarification or removal. (Town Board (TB)-work with Guy to clarify language) • There are residential areas within Zone B and leaving those areas in the moratorium is inequitable to residential owners there. (TB-residential areas should be treated the same) • Special use permits should be allowed. • Signage should be allowed with at least temporary signs. • Home based businesses should be allowed. (TB-need clarification) • All emergency situations should be allowed. (TB-rebuilding & replacement as well as repair) • Variances allowed should be broadened and should include non-conforming lots. • Not for profit businesses, churches, recreational uses like LIFA, etc. should be allowed. • Even a change to 6,000 sq. feet from 3,000 could impact businesses that want to expand or build from scratch, so limiting the moratorium to Type 1 Actions seems to be the most appropriate way to pause large projects during the rewrite of the zoning. • If specific item of emergency concern by the Town Board are identified, they should be addressed directly in the objectives of any moratorium and the scope should be limited to such. (TB-need clarification from Guy) Town Board agreed with Planning Board recommendations. Some clarification is needed. These would be possible changes to the proposed Local Law #7 of 2025 Moratorium. Town Board comments: • Moratorium is big and it should be small • No emergency currently exists, maybe go to Type 1 Action • What is the Town targeting • What is the largest concern • Planning Board must approve allowed use – give committee time to consider making recommendations • Town Board accountable to voters • Do not rush big projects – do good planning • Is the moratorium just to make Terawulf and AI Data Center go away • Terawulf approval will be slow anyway – per zoning, currently not approved allowed use in that area • Keep focus on zoning re-write RESOLUTION 25-127 RESOLUTION WITHDRAWING PROPOSED MORATORIUM (LOCAL LAW #7 OF 2025) The following Resolution was duly presented for consideration by the Town Board: RESOLVED, that the current proposed moratorium (Local Law #7 of 2025) is withdrawn and will not be considered further by the Town of Lansing; and be it further RESOLVED, that the public hearing scheduled for November 19, 2025 be and is hereby cancelled, and the final date for any official comments respecting this moratorium (Local Law #7 of 2025) is hereby amended to become effective immediately upon the adoption of this resolution; and be it further RESOLVED, that all Town officers, staff, committees, and consultants cease all activity in furtherance of such moratorium, and no longer consider or work upon the same; and be it further November 5, 2025 7 RESOLVED, that the Town reserves all legislative rights to consider a new or different moratorium in the future, when and as warranted, including upon the express recommendation of the Town Planner or Town Planning Board. The question of the adoption of such proposed Resolution was duly motioned by Councilperson Judy Drake duly seconded by Councilperson Christine Montague, and put to a roll call vote with the following results: Councilperson Judy Drake –Aye Councilperson Laurie Hemmings – Noe Councilperson Christine Montague – Aye Councilperson Joseph Wetmore – Noe Supervisor Ruth Groff – Noe Accordingly, the foregoing Resolution was NOT APPROVED on November 5, 2025. WORKING SESSION County Program for people losing SNAP benefits • Lansing has 169 families which will be affected • Distribute food to towns in County • Food pantries do not have enough room to store the additional boxes of food • Does Town have place to temporarily store non-perishable food o Ruth is waiting to hear from Brad George, Lansing Fire Chief, for possible storage o Ruth will check with the Library, for possible storage • Need additional information MOTION TO ADJOURN MEETING Councilperson Joseph Wetmore moved to ADJOURN THE MEETING AT 8:34 PM. Councilperson Laurie Hemmings seconded the motion. All in Favor - 5 Opposed - 0 Minutes taken and executed by the Town Clerk. Respectfully submitted, Deborah K. Munson, RMC Town Clerk