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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2014 Winter NewsletterTOPICS IN THIS ISSUE INSIDE 2-3 Town of Ithaca Budget 4 Why Is My Water Bill So High? Convenient Way to Pay Bills 5 Keep DMV Funds Local Deed Copy Services Avoid Home Improvement Scams BACK PAGE History of Town Logo Volunteer Opportunities for Youth THINK SNOW! Yes, it’s that time of year again. Below are the Town’s guidelines for snow operations. The primary consideration for making the decision between snow and ice removal and plowing is traffic safety and allowance for emergency services (fire and ambulance). When the roads are lightly snow covered and begin to become a hazard, the crews are called in, and salt is applied to the roads to provide de-icing. If the situation progresses to a point where the accumulation on the roads is 1½ to 2 inches, the roads and shoulders are plowed and de-iced together. Our regular service hours for snow removal are from 6:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. weekdays and as needed on nights and weekends. County roads and rural connector roads are our first priority and all other town roads are a secondary priority. Of course, emergency vehicles and school bus routes will take priority as need arises. Since snow plowing operations start early in the morning, parking on roads and shoulders is discouraged. If a vehicle hinders snowplow operations, the vehicle will be towed at the owner’s expense. Please remind your snow removal service that snow from plowing driveways should be com- pletely cleared from the road. Snow left in roads from your driveway can create a dangerous obstacle for drivers and a liability situation for the homeowner. If a mailbox that is properly installed and initially in good repair is damaged by a town plow, the town may, at its option, replace or repair it upon timely notification being given to the Public Works Department. Repairs requiring a new mailbox will be made using a standard aluminum mailbox. Repairs to lawns or plantings damaged in the rights-of-way will be the responsibility of the homeowner. Mailboxes will be installed according to United States Postal Service guidelines, which recommend a distance of 6 to 12 inches from the edge of the pavement to the front of the mailbox, with a 44-inch clearance from the surface of the road to the bottom of the mailbox. Please plan extra time for travel and reduce speed on wet or snow-covered roads. Remove snow, frost, and ice from all vehicle windows. Not only will you be able to see, but it is the law. If you have any questions regarding the Town’s snow removal operations, call the Public Works Department at 273-1656 or e-mail us at publicworks@town.ithaca.ny.us. HOLIDAY TREE PICKUP The Town of Ithaca Public Works Department will be picking up discarded holiday trees after the Christmas holiday and will continue throughout the Town through Tuesday, January 21st, as our schedule allows. The intention of the Town’s tree collection service is for residents of the Town of Ithaca (outside the Village of Cayuga Heights) to discard their holiday trees by putting them out at the roadside for pick up by the Town’s crews. The crews will not be picking up any brush or yard debris. This collection is specific to discarded holiday trees only. Trees need to remain out of the rights-of- way; this will assure your safety and that of your neighbors. Errant trees can wreak havoc on the stormwater systems and can create a hazard for walkers and cyclists. You may also make arrangements to drop your discarded holiday trees off at the Pub- lic Works Facility at 106 Seven Mile Drive, Monday through Friday from 7:00 a.m. through 2:30 p.m. any time of the year. WINTER 2014 ISSUE BUDGET THIS TABLE SHOWS THE BREAKDOWN BY FUND OF THE 2014 BUDGET COMPARED WITH THE PREVIOUS FOUR YEARS’ BUDGETS The budget for Fiscal Year 2014 was adopted by the Ithaca town board on November 18, 2013. This budget, for the year beginning January 1, 2014 and ending December 31, 2014, totals $22,640,518 and is an increase of 6.5% over the previous year’s budget. FUND BUDGET 2010 BUDGET 2011 BUDGET 2012 BUDGET 2013 BUDGET 2014 General Fund - Townwide $4,077,501 $4,549,125 $4,560,689 $5,422,907 $4,884,003 General Fund - Part-Town 1,051,896 1,163,714 1,308,950 1,470,110 1,608,475 Highway Fund - Part-Town 2,310,876 2,855,841 2,600,500 3,777,660 3,650,300 Water Fund 5,632,380 5,779,635 4,165,730 4,016,137 5,444,650 Sewer Fund 2,283,976 2,231,667 2,410,525 2,476,540 2,592,370 Fire Protection Fund 3,333,405 3,372,500 3,473,000 3,307,500 3,435,000 Debt Service Fund 841,248 815,918 695,207 750,229 994,700 Other Funds 25,358 27,150 29,970 30,020 31,020 Total Town Budget $19,556,640 $20,795,550 $19,244,571 $21,251,103 $22,640,518 REVENUES TO SUPPORT TOWN OPERATIONS WILL COME FROM THESE SOURCES $22,640,518 PROPERTY TAX $7,049,625 - 31% SALES TAX $2,825,000 - 12% BENEFIT ASSESSMENTS $945,593 - 4% WATER SALES $3,020,000 - 13% SEWER RENTS $2,100,000 - 9%STATE/FED AID $537,350 - 2% OTHER REVENUES $756,800 - 3% BOND PROCEEDS $3,250,000 - 14% INTERFUND TRANSFERS $1,346,883 - 6% USE OF FUND BALANCE $809,267 - 4% 2014 REVENUES BUDGETED $22,640,518 PERSONAL SERVICES $3,325,090 - 15% EMPLOYEE BENEFITS $1,964,040 - 9% CONTRACTUAL SERVICES $10,390,555 - 46%CAPITAL PROJECTS $3,775,000 - 17% CAPITAL EQUIPMENT $789,500 - 3% DEBT SERVICE $989,450 - 4% INTERFUND TRANSFERS $1,406,883 - 6% 2014 EXPENDITURES BY CLASS EXPENSES FOR THE TOWN ARE DIVIDED BETWEEN THESE MAJOR CLASSIFICATIONS TOWN OF ITHACA 20142 NOTABLE EXPENDITURES FOR 2014 „Fire protection services with the City of Ithaca and Village of Cayuga Heights: $3,410,000 „Purchase potable water from Bolton Point for resale to Town residents: $2,050,000 „Transmission and treatment of wastewater: $1,360,000 „Replacement of the Coddington Road Water Main - Phase 1: $1,200,000 „Service current year principal and interest payments on long-term bonded debt: $989,450 „Rplacement of the Christopher Circle Water Tank: $850,000 „Replacement of Town vehicles, trucks, and heavy equipment: $789,500 „Pavement repairs and improvements to the lower end of Sand Bank Road: $750,000 „Contributions in support of community services and programs: $421,171 „Pavement and drainage repairs and improvements to Winners Circle: $400,000 „Rehabilitation of selected sewer lines and manholes: $150,000 „Repairs and improvements at the Town Hall building: $100,000 EXPENSES CLASSES OF EXPENDITURES Personal services are employee wages. Employee benefits include the town’s portion of retirement and insurance costs. Contractual services consist of pay- ments to outside vendors, agencies, and community organizations and purchases of minor equipment items, materials, and supplies. Capital equipment expenditures consist of the purchase of vehicles and other equipment with a value of $5,000 or more. Capital projects are expenditures for the construction, improvement, and replacement of town facilities and infrastructure assets. REVENUES: TAX LEVY Fiscal Year General Fund Townwide Highway Fund Part-Town Fire Protection Fund Water & Sewer Funds Light District Funds Total Property Tax Levy Change from Pr. Year 2010 $2,122,571 $732,568 $3,036,077 $14,783 $7,400 $5,913,399 3.66% 2011 2,133,632 737,202 3,370,837 14,834 13,150 6,269,655 6.02% 2012 2,231,555 743,000 3,630,600 16,000 11,945 6,633,100 5.80% 2013 2,276,200 999,300 3,465,500 17,000 11,325 6,769,325 2.05% 2014 2,520,000 1,000,000 3,500,000 17,000 12,625 7,049,625 4.14% THIS TABLE SHOWS THE BREAKDOWN BY FUND OF THE ANNUAL PROPERTY TAX LEVY FOR THE 2014 BUDGET COMPARED WITH THE PREVIOUS FOUR YEARS’ BUDGETS The town of Ithaca’s 2014 property tax levy will total $7,049,625. This is a 4.14% increase over the prior year’s total levy of $6,769,325. PROPERTY TAX BILL FOR A TYPICAL* PROPERTY IN THE TOWN OF ITHACA Major Components to Property Tax Bill 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 General Townwide Property Tax Rate $ 1.680 $ 1.680 $ 1.752 $ 1.777 $ 1.946 Highway Part-Town Property Tax Rate 0.830 0.830 0.830 1.109 1.094 Fire Protection District Property Tax Rate 3.230 3.570 3.800 3.602 3.536 Water Benefit Assessment Charge / Unit 90.000 90.000 90.000 95.000 95.000 Sewer Benefit Assessment Charge / Unit 20.000 20.000 25.000 25.000 25.000 Total Town Tax on Typical Property $1,201 $1,265 $1,328 $1,353 $1,369 Town Tax Increase from Prior Year $26.60 $64.60 $62.38 $25.14 $16.72 Percentage Increase from Prior Year 2.30%5.38%4.93%1.89%1.24% * A typical property in the town is a single-family residence with an assessed value of $190,000. A TYPICAL PROPERTY IN THE TOWN OF ITHACA WILL PAY $1,369.44 IN PROPERTY TAX TO THE TOWN IN 2014 — AN INCREASE OF $16.72 OR 1.24% OVER LAST YEAR. 3 WHY IS MY WATER BILL SO HIGH? CHECK FOR LEAKY FAUCETS Just a slow drip can waste 15 to 20 gallons a day. How can you tell if you have a leak? Read your water meter. If possible, turn off any water-using appliances such as an ice-maker or humidifier. Take a meter reading before going to bed and do not use any water overnight. Then take another reading in the morning. The readings should be the same. If they are not, you have a leak. CHECK THE TOILETS Toilet leaks are notorious for contributing to very high water bills. Make sure the water level in the toilet tank is about 1/2” to 1” below the top of the overflow pipe. Otherwise, water could be draining continuously down the pipe. It pays to check toilets periodically, and if you find you have a toilet leak, repair it as soon as possible. Put some food coloring in the tank and wait 30 minutes. If the food coloring appears in the toilet bowl, then you have a leak. After flushing, check to see if the water shuts off after the tank has filled. If you continue to hear water running, then you have a leak. INSTALL FLOW RESTRICTORS IN SHOWERHEADS AND FAUCETS A shower without a flow restrictor can use 4 to 5 gallons per minute. A ten minute shower would use 50 gallons of water. Installing flow restrictors would reduce the flow to 2.5 gallons per minutes. The savings will add up over time. USE FULL LOADS IN YOUR APPLICANCES When washing clothes, wait until you have a full load. The same applies for using a dishwasher: run it only when full. LIMIT USE OF YOUR HOSE When cleaning sidewalks, driveways, and garages, use a broom or leaf blower to remove debris rather than a hose. We are fortunate to have Cayuga Lake to draw water from. It costs money to pump the water up the hills to the customers. We should all be environmentally conscious and help conserve one of our most precious natural resources. CAN’T GET TO TOWN HALL ON TIME? USE OUR CONVENIENT DROP BOX FOR PAYMENTS OR DROP THEM IN THE MAIL We realize many people can’t make it to Town Hall during our office hours, so for our residents’ convenience, there is a drop box on the wall to the left of the Buffalo Street entrance to the building for after-hours payment of water and tax bills and traffic tickets. Payments are collected in the morning and considered on time for the previous day. And while the box is locked and secure, we don’t recommend depositing cash. People have expressed concern that if they send their bills to us by mail, they might arrive late. Not to worry: bills that are postmarked by the due date are considered on time. Please call the Town Clerk’s Office at 273-1721 if you have questions. 4 AVOID HOME IMPROVEMENT SCAMS Assistant Attorney General Discusses How To Avoid Problems with Home Improvements Issues regarding home improvements will be the topic of Cornell Cooperative Extension’s Monthly Consumer Issues Program on Thursday, April 11th at 11 a.m. at Cornell Cooperative Extension. Mike Danaher, Consumer Fraud Attor- ney from the New York State Attorney General’s Office, will present informa- tion on what typical home improve- ment scams look like, how to avoid them, and what to do if they happen to you. Following the presentation, members of the public will have the opportunity to consult individually with Attorney Danaher regarding any consumer problem they have been unsuccessful resolving locally. Individuals should arrive by 12:30 p.m. for a consulta- tion. This is a free event, open to the public, and no advance registration is neces- sary. Cornell Cooperative Extension is located at 615 Willow Avenue, Ithaca, NY. For more information, please call the Consumer HelpLine at 272-2292. COUNTY CLERK REMINDS THE PUBLIC OF LOCAL DEED COPY SERVICES A Delaware-based company is contacting Tompkins County homeowners by mail, offering to provide copies of their deeds for a cost of $83. In light of the information being circulated by this out-of-state firm, Tompkins County Clerk Aurora R. Valenti informs citizens that her office can quickly provide a copy of a home- owner’s deed at little or no cost. Clerk Valenti says that the Office of the Tompkins County Clerk can give same-day service and provide a printed copy of the homeowner’s deed at a cost of 65 cents per page (the State-required copying charge). If the homeowner requests a copy of the deed via e-mail, the Office will provide the elec- tronic copy at no charge to the customer. To request a deed copy or for more information, contact or visit the Office of the County Clerk, located on the ground floor the County Courthouse, 320 N. Tioga Street, Ithaca. Call us at 607-274-5431 or send an e-mail to countyclerkmail@tompkins-co.org. KEEP DEPARTMENT OF MOTOR VEHICLES FUNDS LOCAL Did you know that the Tompkins County Department of Motor Vehicles is self- supporting and you can help keep it that way? Tompkins county DMV receives 12.7% of all transactions handled by their staff. All counter transactions and payments mailed to their local address help earn them money for opera- tions instead of going to the state. This means when you receive your pink envelope with your registration renewal notices, you can help keep funds locally by mailing your renewal to the local office at 301 Third St. instead of to the state. This small act can mean a lot of support for our local office and keep them self-sufficient. The state collects all funds and monies for any online transactions. Our DMV has received many compliments as changes have been made over the years. The location is convenient, just off Route 13 in the Hancock Plaza, with plenty of parking, no stairs to navigate and short wait times. The staff strives to be efficient, pleasant, and sensitive to the needs of the public. If you have any questions, contact Roxanne Iacovelli at 273-7187 or Aurora Valenti at 274- 5433 or email us at riacovelli@tompkins-co.org. 5 ATTENTION 6TH, 7TH, AND 8TH GRADERS! ARE YOU LOOKING FOR SOMETHING FUN AND DIFFERENT TO DO THIS SPRING? Join the Volunteer Community Service Group with The Learning Web! Make new friends, have fun, and help the community. We volunteer with hands-on projects all over town: at the Tompkins County SPCA, the Family Reading Partnership, in community gardens, and more. The program begins in early February and runs for 10 weeks. To find out more or to get an application, contact Isha Tohill at 275-0122 or isha@learning- web.org. Also, check out our Facebook page: www.facebook.com/TheLearningWebJYC This program is sponsored by the Joint Youth Commission of Tompkins County. It is open only to youth who reside in the town of Ithaca, the village of Lansing, and the village of Cayuga Heights. HISTORY OF THE TOWN LOGO The town of Ithaca’s logo, pictured here, was created by Michael Ocello in 1980 when he was the draftsman for the town (the logo is dated 9/30/80). Noel Desch was the town supervisor at the time. The town board adopted it as the official logo through a resolution thirty years ago on January 9, 1984. The logo’s symbolism graphically represented what the town was known for at that time. The buildings represent residential and commercial components while the trees denoted open space. The barn is a nod to the town’s agricultural past. Cayuga Lake is prominent in the foreground. The date that the town was incorporated is in the book.