HomeMy WebLinkAboutAgenda 03-20-2023TOWN OF ITHACA
BUDGET COMMITTEE
Monday, March 20, 2023 - 12:00 p.m.
Town Hall – Aurora Conference Room
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AGENDA
• Review and approve meeting minutes from February 13, 2023.
• Continue discussion regarding Projected Fund Balance for 2022 and potential reserve
accounts.
• Update on 2022 Sales Tax collections.
• Update on current investments and proposal from Community Bank.
• Discuss dissolution of Light Districts.
• Discuss potential contribution to TCAT.
• Discuss potential increase in the income limit for Disabled and Senior Citizen Property
Tax Exemptions.
• Other items.
Next Meeting: Monday, April 10, 2023 - 12:00 p.m.
1
BUDGET COMMITTEE
Meeting Minutes - February 13, 2023
Committee present: Eric Levine - Chairman, Pam Bleiwas, Rod Howe
Staff present: Donna Shaw, Debby Kelley, Judy Drake, Joe Slater, Marty Mosely, Dan Thaete, CJ Randall
Meeting was called to order at 12:01 p.m.
AGENDA ITEMS:
Set 2023 Budget Committee meeting dates.
The consensus of the Committee was that meetings will be held at 12:00 p.m. on the second
Monday of the month. Due to vacation schedule, the March meeting will be on Monday, March 20
at 12:00 p.m.
Discuss 2023 Budget Committee priorities.
The committee identified the following topics as priorities for 2022:
- Review Reserve Funds and Accounts.
- 2023/2024 Bond Issue.
- Review Town’s Long-Term Debt and Debt Service Schedules.
- Consideration / Recommendation for the Town's contribution to:
Reconsider contribution to TCAT.
- Review / revision of the Town’s Investment Policy and Investing of Town Funds.
- Review / revision of the Town’s Procurement Policy.
- Review voluntary payments to organizations.
- Five-Year Financial Projections 2024 - 2028.
- Property Tax Cap for FY-2024 and recommend 2024 Property Tax Levy.
- Five-Year Capital Improvement Plan 2024 - 2028 and 2024 Capital Budget.
- 2024 Ithaca Town Budget.
- Prioritizing Town’s Weatherization Project.
Discuss Town's Reserve Funds and Accounts.
The committee reviewed and discussed the report on the Town’s reserve funds and accounts as of
December 31, 2022. All funds and accounts are in good condition as of year-end 2022.
There was some activity in the Open Space Plan account with the NYS Parks reimbursement received
for the Culver Road property purchase. There is also a pending purchase of the Cortright Property
for $316,000 for future trail extensions.
The Highway Equipment Reserve Account is $400,000 in case of untimely heavy equipment failure
that needs to be replaced. Currently, there are supply chain delays with delivery of some current
year heavy equipment purchases being delayed 18-24 months. The current fleet and future
2
replacement needs is being evaluated and one option may be to use this reserve to order equipment
now for 2024-2025 replacement.
The SJC Account in Sewer Fund has three parts and includes $63,228 designated to pay the Town’s
share of jointly owned sewer interceptor lines. The 2022 budget included $86,205 for the Stewart
Park Pump Station Rehabilitation which will deplete this fund. This project has been delayed. We
will look to allocate additional funding for jointly owned sewer interceptor lines. There is $496,465
designated for the Town’s share IAWWTF bonded debt. There is $755,363 remaining for capital
projects after the Town’s $265,720 contribution to the Boiler Replacement Project at the IAWWTTF.
A copy of this report is attached.
Update on Sales Tax Collections through October 2022.
- Sales Tax Collections: The Committee reviewed the Sales Tax Collections Report for 2022.
Through October, Sales Tax collections are 112.2% of budget. Sales Tax collections through
October 2022 total $3,646,700 compared to collections of $3,243,753 for the same period in
2021, which is an increase of 12.4%. We increased the sales tax budgeted in 2023 to $3,750,000
from $3,250,000 (sales tax budget from 2020-2022).
Update on 2022 Interest Revenue and Investments.
Interest earnings for 2022 totaled $284,978 which was $188,612 over the $96,366 budgeted. We
currently have two certificates of deposit earning between 3.85 and 4.50%. A third certificate of
deposit was set up to secure the line of credit required by NYSEG for the streetlight conversion. The
certificates are laddered and mature every few months. We will be opening a fourth certificate with
Tompkins Community tomorrow earning 4.6% for 12 months. Currently there isn’t any investments
with First National Bank of Groton.
The interest rate on our savings account increased from .11% in January to 3% in December. NYCLASS
is earning 4.35%.
Review and Discuss Property Tax Exemptions (Capital, Infrastructure and Volunteer
Firefighter/EMS).
The committee discussed the property tax exemptions on the Town Board agenda that evening. The
capital and infrastructure exemptions were discussed last year. The Volunteer Firefighter/EMS
exemption is new and the Village of Cayuga Heights encouraged it’s passing to benefit their
volunteers. The County also recently passed this exemption as well.
Review and Discuss Projected Fund Balance for 2022.
A full report wasn’t available yet. In General Fund we budgeted to use $575,000 in fund balance in
2022 plus there was an additional $450,000 in encumbrances that rolled forward. Combined, we
should have used $1,025,000 in fund balance in 2022 but we only used approximately $88,000 in
General Fund. We will continue to analyze and discuss setting up capital reserve funds in the coming
months. We can set up a Debt Service Reserve fund to make the bond payments on the PWF
expansion and/or set up capital reserve fund for future building improvements (weatherization).
General Part Town Fund gained $517,000 in fund balance in 2022. That was due to increased fee
collections and sales tax. We will want to consider moving this to the Highway Part Town Fund to
be used for Road Improvement Projects. It’s my understanding that we can move money from
General Part-Town to Highway Part Town because they have the same tax base.
3
Other Items.
Mr. Howe reminded Committee members that we will be looking at dissolving the Light Districts
later this year.
The meeting was adjourned at 12:44 p.m.
Next Meeting: Monday, March 20th at 12:00 p.m., Town Hall - Aurora Room or Zoom
General Fund General PT Highway Highway PT
Fund Balance Ending @ 1/1/2022 7,109,128.28 1,804,201.72 893,445.00 3,625,570.30
Add: Revenue & Other Sources 5,177,506.83 2,145,309.48 727,478.76 3,891,414.26
Deduct: Expenses & Other Uses (5,267,595.93) (1,637,007.68) (932,006.62) (3,289,990.05)
Fund Balance Ending @ 12/31/2022 7,019,039.18 2,312,503.52 688,917.14 4,226,994.51
Less: Amount of Additional Fund Balance
Appropriated and Assigned in the
Adopted 2023 Budget - 914 (1,118,368) - - (781,000)
Encumbrances (26,182) (41,541) - (52,365)
Less: Reserved Portion of Fund Balance
Non Spendable:
Prepaids - 806 (81,875) (57,684) (7,560) (68,950)
Restricted:
Preserve Maintenance Reserve - 870 (42,174)
Land Stewardship - 870 (10,209)
Parks & Open Space - 878 (970,343)
Committed:
Gen'l Benefit Purposes - 867 (154,000) (77,000) (80,500)
Cemetary Maintenance - 867 (4,550)
Equipment (400,000)
Maple Ave. Rehab -
Assigned:
Assigned Unappropriated (R Fund)(149,978)
Unassigned Fund Balance 12/31/2022 4,461,360 2,136,279 681,357 2,844,180
2023 Budgeted Expenditures 6,327,193 2,138,661 765,773 3,623,754
Target - 40% of 2023 Budgeted Expenditures 2,530,877.20 855,464.40 306,309.20 1,449,501.60
Fund Balance % of Budgeted Expenditures 70.51%99.89%88.98%78.49%
Fund Balance Over 40%1,930,482.51 1,280,814.23 375,047.94 1,394,678.12
Potential Uses
Transfer (1,280,815.00) 1,280,815.00
Reserve for Payment of Bonded Indebtedness (1,064,150.00)
Reserve for Capital Road Improvements (1,000,000.00)
Reserve for Capital Highway Equipment (375,000.00)
Potential 2024 Uses
2014 Bond Payoff (Sandbank $ in V reserve)-
CIP - Roads ($$ over $700,000)(1,342,000.00)
866,332.51 (0.77) 47.94 333,493.12
2022 Fund Balance (unaudited)
15Industrial Development AgenciesLocal Government Management Guide • Reserve Funds
Reserve Fund for Payment of Bonded Indebtedness (GML Section 6-h)
Purpose
To pay or purchase one or more issues of certain bonds of a town, village, city, county or fire district;
however, such a bonded indebtedness reserve fund may not be established for, or used to pay,
obligations payable in the first instance from assessments or from taxes levied on an area smaller
than the entire town, village, city, county or fire district.
Expenditures may be made only for the payment of the principal and interest on bonds issued by
such municipality or fire district and forming a part of an issue having a maximum maturity of not
less than five years or for the purchase of bonds issued by such municipality or fire district and
forming a part of an issue having a maximum maturity of not less than five years, subject to certain
additional restrictions as to purchase price and terms. If the current budget provides for payment
of principal and interest on bonds or the purchase of them from sources other than a reserve fund,
moneys of the bonded indebtedness reserve fund may not be used to pay debt service or purchase
the bonds during the current fiscal year.
Who May Create
Municipal corporations (counties, towns, cities, villages) and fire districts.
How to Create and Use
Created by resolution of the governing board. Appropriation pursuant to resolution of the governing
board to expend money on permitted uses. No referendum is required to establish or expend
moneys from the bonded indebtedness reserve fund.
Sources of Funds
Budgetary appropriations and revenues not otherwise appropriated or required by law to be paid
into any other fund or account (e.g., transfers from unexpended balances of existing appropriations,
surplus moneys).
Special Provisions
In any town located wholly or partly within the Adirondack Park (see Appendix B) that has State
lands subject to taxation assessed at more than 30 percent of the total taxable assessed valuation
of the town, a bonded indebtedness reserve fund may not be established unless the State
Comptroller consents, and no expenditure or transfer may be made unless the State Comptroller
consents.
Use of Unexpended Funds
The governing board of a municipal corporation may, subject to a permissive referendum, authorize
the transfer of all or a portion of a bonded indebtedness reserve fund to a capital reserve fund. In a
fire district, subject to voter approval at a regular or special election, the board of fire commissioners
may authorize a transfer of all or a portion of the fund to a capital reserve fund.
6 Local Government Management Guide • Reserve Funds
Capital Reserve Fund (GML Sections 6-c, 6-g)
Purpose
To finance all or part of the cost of construction, reconstruction or acquisition of:
• A “specific” or “type” capital improvement
• The acquisition of a “specific” or a “type” item(s) of equipment.
The term “capital improvement” means: any physical improvement and any related preliminary
studies and surveys; lands or rights in land; any furnishings, equipment, machinery, or apparatus
for any physical improvement acquired at the time when such improvement is constructed,
reconstructed or acquired.
The term “equipment” includes any equipment, machinery or apparatus not included in the definition
of capital improvement and for which a period of probable usefulness has been provided by law.4
Some examples of specific and type capital reserves are as follows:
Capital Improvements Equipment
Specific
City Hall
Town Garage
County Jail
Firehouse
Sewage Disposal Plant
Off-Street Parking Lot
Pumper Truck
Sanitation Truck
Bulldozer
Snowplow
Ambulance
Type
Land
Buildings
Building Alterations
Snow Removal Equipment
Street Cleaning Equipment
Highway Equipment
Fire Apparatus
Reserves Authorized by the General Municipal Law
(GML)
7Industrial Development AgenciesLocal Government Management Guide • Reserve Funds
Who May Create
Counties, cities, villages, towns, fire districts, and town or county sewer and water improvement
districts may create both specific and type capital reserves.5
One exception is that capital reserve funds may not be established for capital improvements
constructed, reconstructed, or acquired or equipment acquired as follows:
• On behalf of an improvement district or other similar district (other than a sewer and/or water
district) located within a municipality
• Where all or part of the costs are borne by assessments for benefit or ad valorem taxes upon real
property within the area of benefit in a municipality (other than a sewer and/or water district).6
How to Create and Use
Specific Capital Reserves
A governing board’s authorization (resolution) establishing a specific improvement or equipment
capital reserve must state the estimated maximum cost of the item(s) of equipment or improvement.
A sample resolution for establishing a specific capital reserve is included in Appendix C.
The action of a governing board establishing a specific capital reserve is subject to permissive
referendum if an authorization to issue indebtedness for the same improvement or equipment is
subject to either a permissive or mandatory referendum, except for fire districts. For fire districts,
action of the board of fire commissioners establishing any capital reserve fund may not take effect
until approved by a vote of qualified electors of the fire district (i.e., a mandatory referendum),
effective January 1, 2007.
There are no referendum requirements for expenditures made from a specific capital reserve fund.
However, expenditures from specific capital reserve funds can only be made upon authorization of
the governing board.
Type Capital Reserves
The governing board should authorize (by resolution) the establishment of a type improvement
or equipment reserve but, there is no requirement to state an estimated maximum cost of the
equipment or improvement in the resolution. A sample resolution for establishing a type capital
reserve is included in Appendix D.
A referendum is not required when establishing a type capital reserve fund, except in fire districts.
For fire districts, action (resolution) of the board of fire commissioners establishing any capital
reserve fund may not take effect until approved by vote of qualified electors of the fire district (i.e., a
mandatory referendum).
8 Local Government Management Guide • Reserve Funds
For certain municipalities, expenditures made from a type capital reserve are subject to permissive
referendum. If an authorization to issue indebtedness for the purchase of such improvement or
equipment is subject to either permissive or mandatory referendum, then the expenditure of type
capital reserve funds for the same purpose is generally subject to permissive referendum.
Permissive and Mandatory Referendum Requirements
There are two types of referendums that apply to the establishment of or the expenditure of capital
reserve funds. In this guide, the terms permissive and mandatory referendums are defined as
follows:
• Generally, an action subject to permissive referendum requires the municipality to publish and
post a legal notice informing taxpayers of the board’s planned action (e.g., the establishment
of a specific capital reserve). The legal notice also informs eligible voters of their right to file a
petition to require the matter to be subjected to voter approval.
• For a mandatory referendum, no petition is filed and in all cases eligible voters of the
municipality must approve the proposed action or question before the action can take place.
Permissive and mandatory referendum requirements for capital reserves are associated with the
referendum requirements for bond issues. Referendum requirements vary depending on the type of
municipality involved.
9Industrial Development AgenciesLocal Government Management Guide • Reserve Funds
The following chart summarizes the referendum requirements for the establishment and
expenditure of specific and type capital reserve funds.
Type of
Locality
Referendum
Requirements for Bond Issues
Referendum Requirements for Capital Reserves
Specific Reserves Type Reserves
Fire Districts
Bond resolutions must be
approved at a regular or
special election of district
voters.
Establishment is subject to
a mandatory referendum.
Expenditures can only be
made following the adoption
of a resolution by the board
of fire commissioners.
These resolutions are not
subject to referendum.
Establishment is subject to
a mandatory referendum.
Expenditures can only
be made following the
adoption of a resolution,
subject to permissive
referendum.
Villages
Bond resolutions are subject
to permissive referendum
unless the proposed maturity
of the bonds is five years or
less, or unless the bonds are
issued to finance judgments
and claims, sewers and
capital improvements
financed by benefit
assessments, certain street
and highway improvements,
and incinerators and refuse
disposal facilities.
Bond resolutions may also be
submitted to referendum by
motion of the board.
With certain exceptions,
generally a permissive
referendum is required
upon establishment, unless
the period of probable
usefulness of the specific
capital improvement or
equipment is less than five
years.*
No referendum requirements
for expenditures.
No referendum
requirements for
establishment.
With certain exceptions,
generally a permissive
referendum is required
prior to expenditure, unless
the period of probable
usefulness of the type
capital improvement or
equipment is less than five
years.
Town With certain exceptions,
generally same as villages.
Same requirements as
villages.**
Same requirements as
villages.
City
Referendums are not required
unless specified in the city
charter or required by local
law.
Generally not required.Generally not required.
County
Bond resolutions are not
subject to any referendum
requirements, except for bond
resolutions for appraisals for
equalization purposes, which
are subject to permissive
referendum.***
Generally not required.Generally not required.
* See Local Finance Law Section 36.00(a) (1), which provides that bond resolutions in villages are not subject to
referendum when bonds have a proposed maturity of not more than five years.
** See Local Finance Law Section 35.00 (b) (1), which provides that bond resolutions in towns are not subject to
referendum when bonds have a proposed maturity of not more than five years.
*** Certain bond resolutions in excess of $10,000,000 are subject to mandatory referendum in Westchester County
(Local Finance Law Section 33.10).
10 Local Government Management Guide • Reserve Funds
Source of Funds
Capital reserve funds may generally be funded with:
• Budgetary appropriations7
• Revenues not required by law to be paid into any other fund or account (e.g., transfers from
unexpended balances of existing appropriations and surplus moneys).
Highway fund moneys (in towns) may be used for the establishment of a capital reserve, so long
as the moneys are expended for the purpose for which they were levied or received, and provided
the town highway superintendent and town board consent and the county highway superintendent
approves. Such moneys may be expended from the capital reserve only on order of the town
highway superintendent, upon audit, and with the consent of the town board.
Special Provisions
If a town is located wholly or partly in the Adirondack Park (see Appendix B) and has State lands
subject to taxation assessed (at more than 30 percent of total taxable assessed valuation of the
town), the State Comptroller must consent to the establishment of, and expenditures or transfers
from, a capital reserve fund in the town, or in a fire district located wholly or partly within such a
town.
Use of Unexpended Balances
Generally, unexpended balances in a capital reserve fund may be transferred to another capital
reserve having the same tax base.
a) Capital Reserve Balances Remaining After Completion or Acquisition If there is an unexpended
(residual) balance remaining in a specific or type capital reserve after the capital improvement
or item of equipment has been completed or acquired, the governing board may appropriate all
or any part of such remaining balance to another capital reserve fund without referendum. An
amount sufficient to satisfy all outstanding claims arising from the construction, reconstruction,
or acquisition of the improvement or the acquisition of the equipment should remain designated
for such claims until they are satisfied.
Additionally, in a municipality, all or part of the unexpended balance of a capital reserve
established for a specific improvement or item of equipment that has been completed or
acquired (less amounts required to satisfy all outstanding claims related to such improvement
or equipment) may be appropriated for:
• An object or purpose for which bonds may be issued
• The payment of interest on and principal of indebtedness (except indebtedness for
assessable improvements and certain indebtedness excludable from constitutional debt
limits) (GML Section 6-c [9-a]).
b) Capital Reserve Balances Never Utilized Where a specific capital reserve has been established,
and the improvement or item of equipment has not been acquired or completed, any transfer is
subject to permissive referendum if the authorization for the creation of the reserve was subject
to permissive referendum.8 While subject to a public hearing with 15 days’ notice, unexpended
balances may also be transferred to a Retirement Contribution Reserve Fund.9
General Highway
Part-Town Part-Town TOTAL
Liability Month B1120 DB1120
Month Collected 1,618,000.00$ 1,632,000.00$ 3,250,000.00$ 0.4978 0.5022 1.0000
January April 174,047.04$ 175,553.00$ 349,600.04$
February April 149,584.22 150,878.52 300,462.74
March April 197,517.17 199,226.22 396,743.39
April June 174,664.44 176,175.76 350,840.20
May June 182,274.67 183,851.83 366,126.50
June August 164,462.76 165,885.80 330,348.56
July August 191,593.39 193,251.18 384,844.57
August November 178,515.29 180,059.93 358,575.22
September November 228,503.86 230,481.02 458,984.88
October December - 350,174.18 350,174.18
November February - 340,396.99 340,396.99
December February - 496,300.24 496,300.24
TOTAL COLLECTIONS:1,641,162.84$ 2,842,234.67$ 4,483,397.51$
TOTAL - 2022 BUDGET:1,618,000.00$ 1,632,000.00$ 3,250,000.00$
% of 2022 Budget Collected:101.4%174.2%138.0%
COMPARISON
PERIOD 2019 2020 2021 2022 TO PRIOR YEAR
January 269,396.32$ 266,756.00$ 241,976.77$ 349,600.04$ 144.48%
February 225,039.78 241,529.18 220,287.15 300,462.74 136.40%
March 310,009.67 294,969.05 392,202.28 396,743.39 101.16%
1st Quarter 804,445.77$ 803,254.23$ 854,466.20$ 1,046,806.17$ 122.51%
April 256,261.09$ 193,919.94$ 281,825.36$ 350,840.20 124.49%
May 268,201.64 181,781.59 284,332.00 366,126.50 128.77%
June 418,808.26 279,411.53 431,611.13 330,348.56 76.54%
2nd Quarter 943,270.99$ 655,113.06$ 997,768.49$ 1,047,315.26$ 104.97%
First 6 Months 1,747,716.76$ 1,458,367.29$ 1,852,234.69$ 2,094,121.43$ 113.06%
July 295,250.32$ 254,742.19$ 314,638.93$ 384,844.57 122.31%
August 287,577.63 248,307.40 312,514.79 358,575.22 114.74%
September 335,180.68 437,518.95 472,220.61 458,984.88 97.20%
3rd Quarter 918,008.63$ 940,568.54$ 1,099,374.33$ 1,202,404.67$ 109.37%
First 9 Months 2,665,725.39$ 2,398,935.83$ 2,951,609.02$ 3,296,526.10$ 111.69%
October 273,032.77$ 269,331.84$ 292,143.63$ 350,174.18 119.86%
November 303,027.78 231,274.86 302,394.38 340,396.99 112.57%
December 355,376.48 381,304.49 436,657.63 496,300.24 113.66%
4th Quarter 931,437.03$ 881,911.19$ 1,031,195.64$ 1,186,871.41 115.10%
ANNUAL TOTAL 3,597,162.42$ 3,280,847.02$ 3,982,804.66$ 4,483,397.51 112.57%
COMPARISON
PERIOD 2019 2020 2021 2022 TO PRIOR YEAR
April/May 202,754.85$ 100,391.42$ 158,060.48$ 134,965.47$ 85.39%
October/November 198,192.03 196,709.44 224,517.51 269,365.59 119.98%
ANNUAL TOTAL 400,946.88$ 297,100.86$ 382,577.99$ 404,331.06$ 105.69%
TOWN OF ITHACA
SALES TAX COLLECTIONS
For the Year Ending December 31, 2022
2019 - 2022 COMPARISON OF SALES TAX COLLECTIONS
Mortgage Tax Collections
NYCLASS CD CD CD
Interest Rate 4.43%3.85%4.50%4.60%
Term-Maturity Date N/A 1 yr - 7/4/2023 1 yr - 12/28/2023 1 yr - 2/14/2024
Institution NYCLASS Tompkins Comm Tompkins Comm Tompkins Comm
General Fund 4,238,806.11 1,316,658.77 2,418,442.93 2,000,000.00
Open Space Plan Reserve 508,255.31 258,974.93
Land Preserve Maint. Reserve 42,439.32
Land Stewardship Reserve 10,165.11
Inlet Valley 4,574.30
General Benefit Reserve - A 156,542.64
General Part-Town Fund 958,014.38 508,255.31 500,000.00
General Benefit Reserve - B 78,271.32
Highway Fund 477,708.20 508,255.31 100,768.45 200,000.00
Highway Part-Town Fund 2,012,138.81 1,524,765.94 403,073.82 400,000.00
Highway Equipment Reserve 406,072.61
General Benefit Reserve - DB 81,829.11
Water Fund 1,457,383.85 813,208.50 302,305.36 600,000.00
General Benefit Reserve - F 21,346.72
Sewer Fund 1,023,195.52 508,255.31 - 400,000.00
Sewer - SJC Account 678,172.48 508,255.31 400,000.00
General Benefit Reserve - G 17,788.94
Risk Retention Fund 151,460.08
Fire Protection Fund 2,663,195.69 609,906.38 1,511,526.82 500,000.00
Debt Service Fund 100,427.25 355,778.72
Lighting District Funds -
Custodial Accounts:
Stormwater 100,630.18
Cayuga Lake Watershed 236,260.36
LVC Excrow - Perm Maint 31,238.22
LVC Escrow - Ferris Memorial 12,092.21
TOTAL - ALL FUNDS 13,945,932.83 8,132,085.00 5,038,422.74 5,000,000.00
Fund
Town of Ithaca
Investment Report
February 28, 2023
March 15, 2023
Donna Shaw, Finance Officer
Town of Ithaca
215 N. Tioga Street
Ithaca, NY 14850
Dear Ms. Shaw:
On behalf of Community Bank, N.A. we are pleased to present our Municipal Money Market and CD Specials
to address the banking needs of the Town of Ithaca.
At this time Community Bank, N.A. would like to offer the Town
the following liquid Money Market and CD options:
Money Market Account earning 4.50% with a minimum
balance of $100,000.
CD 3 month with a rate of 4.50% with a minimum balance
of $100,000.
We appreciate the opportunity to service the Town of Ithaca and
look forward to a fruitful working relationship as we move
forward.
Respectfully submitted,
Stacey Tyler Kate Whitney Cherry Merrill
Stacey Tyler Kate Whitney Cherry Merrill
Municipal Banking Officer Municipal Banking Officer Branch Manager, Ithaca
P: (802) 859-3114 P: (802) 865-1810 P: (607) 272-2211
Stacey.Tyler@cbna.com Kate.Whitney@cbna.com Cherry.Merrill@cbna.com
What does it mean to Bank Happy?
It means that we are committed to
providing you with the highest level of
customer service in everything we do.
It’s a smile and a friendly hello when
you walk in the door.
It is the local decision makers who
understand your goals and know how
to get you what you need.
Forest Home -
SL1 Glenside - SL2
Renwick Heights -
SL3
Eastwood
Commons - SL4
Clover Lane -
SL5
Winners Circle -
SL6
Burleigh Drive -
SL7
Westhaven Road -
SL8
Coddington Road
- SL9 Total
Fund Balance Beginning Detail
Total Fund Balance @ 12/31/2021 6,263.22 969.00 1,287.28 2,034.31 257.39 683.21 1,189.33 2,913.67 2,177.94 17,775.35
Add: Revenue & Other Sources 6,441.35 2,061.71 2,869.71 3,598.60 565.88 1,263.68 1,922.27 5,608.34 3,288.08 27,619.62
Deduct: Expenses & Other Uses (2,745.15) (698.44) (1,003.10) (1,445.97) (184.12) (414.03) (714.02) (2,417.70) (1,448.84) (11,071.37)
Total Fund Balance @ 12/31/2022 9,959.42 2,332.27 3,153.89 4,186.94 639.15 1,532.86 2,397.58 6,104.31 4,017.18 34,323.60
Add: Revenue & Other Sources 444.65 1,712.22 2,216.45 769.28 378.23 206.92 1,011.71 3,981.60 2,100.16 12,821.22
Deduct: Expenses & Other Uses (454.26) (114.05) (177.09) (221.44) (31.08) (47.85) (117.49) (430.71) (258.60) (1,852.57)
Est Fund Balance @ 3/10/2023 9,949.81 3,930.44 5,193.25 4,734.78 986.30 1,691.93 3,291.80 9,655.20 5,858.74 45,292.25
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9
2023 Estimated Expenses 3/11/2023:
Maintenance Contract 4/1-12/31 750.00 300.00 412.50 337.50 75.00 112.50 262.50 750.00 435.00 3,435.00
Estimated conversion cost net rebates 7,718.71 3,087.49 4,245.29 3,473.42 771.87 1,157.81 2,701.55 7,332.78 4,631.23 35,120.15
10 mos. NYSEG & Constellation (estimated)1,400.00 400.00 500.00 500.00 100.00 200.00 250.00 1,100.00 700.00 5,150.00
Total Estimated 9,868.71 3,787.49 5,157.79 4,310.92 946.87 1,470.31 3,214.05 9,182.78 5,766.23 43,705.15
Estimated annual cost after conversion:
Maintenance Contract 1,000.00$ 400.00$ 550.00$ 450.00$ 100.00$ 150.00$ 350.00$ 1,000.00$ 580.00$ 4,580.00$
NYSEG & Constellation 1,680.00 480.00 600.00 600.00 120.00 240.00 300.00 1,320.00 840.00 6,180.00$
2,680.00$ 880.00$ 1,150.00$ 1,050.00$ 220.00$ 390.00$ 650.00$ 2,320.00$ 1,420.00$ 10,760.00$
2023 Assessed Value/Tax Basis Light Districts 45,814,600 6,248,100 16,269,600 20,679,900 3,280,000 3,123,000 3,851.10 9,038.12 8,930.11
2024 Estimated Tax Rate - Light Districts 0.05850 0.14084 0.07068 0.05077 0.06707 0.12488 0.16878 0.25669 0.15901
2023 Assessed Value - General Fund 1,817,584,024.00
2024 Estimated Tax Rate Impact - General 0.005920
Typical $300k home 1.77598392
Local Option ExemptionsTompkins County3/6/2023421-F Capital
Improvements
444-a - Historic Property
457 - 1st Time Home
buyers
458 - Vets
458a- Alt Vets War
458- a Alt Vets Scale
458a- Gold Star Parent
Exemption
485 b Cold War Veterans
458 b -CW Vet scale
459a - Improvements for
disabled
459c- disability
459 c-income
466-a Vol FF/Ambulance
467 - Senior
467-income
Lowest Percent
School Aged Children
Exception
467-j Housing Trust469 - Living Quarters Grandparent or Parent470 - Green BuildingsRP 483b -Historic Barns485b - Business485b-percent485-g - Infrastructure Exemption487-Solar/Wind Energy SystemsTax Agland for Special Levies
Candor$0 Yes $15,700 20% Yes 50%CortlandYes $14,700 20% Yes 50%DrydenYes $27,900 Yes $27,900 5% Yes Yes 50% Opt OutGroton Yes $22,700 20% Yes 50%HomerYes $16,200 20% Yes 50%Ithaca No Yes $43,400 Yes $43,400 5% No Yes No 0% No Opt OutLansing Yes $6,000 Yes $36,400 Yes $36,400 5% Yes 50% Opt OutMoraviaYes $16,700 20% No Yes 50%Newark ValleyYes $12,900 20% No 0%NewfieldYes Yes $43,400 Yes $43,400 10% Yes Yes 50% Opt OutOdessa-MontourYes $10,000 50% No 0% Opt OutSouthern CayugaYes $37,400 5% Yes 50%Spencer-Van EttenYes $14,700 20% Yes 50%Trumansburg Yes $12,000 Yes $43,400 Yes $43,400 5% No No 0%City of Ithaca Yes Yes No Yes $12,000 Yes $37,400 Yes $37,400 5%YesNo 0% N/aTown of Caroline Yes No Yes $15,000 Yes 15% of $12,000 Yes Yes $43,400 Yes Yes $43,400 5% Yes Yes Yes Yes 50% Caroline OnlyTown of Danby No Yes $18,000 Yes 15% or $12,000 Yes $34,400 Yes Yes $34,400 5% Yes 50% YesVillage of Dryden No Yes $12,000 Yes $36,400 Yes $36,400 5% Yes 50% YesVillage of Freeville No Yes $15,000 Yes $30,400 Yes $30,400 5% Yes 50%Town of Dryden Yes No Yes $18,000 Yes $43,400 Yes Yes $43,400 5%YesYes 50% Yes - includes ambulanceTown of Enfield No Yes $12,000 Yes $43,400 Yes $43,400 5% Yes 50% Opt Out YesVillage of Groton No Yes $12,000 No Yes $37,400 5% Yes 50%Town of Groton No Yes $12,000 Yes 10% or $8,000 Yes $34,400 Yes Yes $34,400 5% Yes 50% Opt Out Groton Yes - Mclean YesVillage of Cayuga Heights No Yes $12,000 Yes $36,400 Yes $36,400 5% No 0%Town of Ithaca Yes No No Yes $12,000 Yes Yes $36,400 Yes Yes $36,400 5%YesNo Yes No 0% Yes YesVillage of Lansing No Yes $15,000 Yes $37,400 Yes $37,400 5% Yes 1%Town of Lansing No Yes $15,000 Yes 15% or $12,000 Yes $43,400 Yes $43,400 5% Yes Yes 50% Opt Out YesTown of Newfield No No Yes $12,000 Yes No Yes $28,900 Yes Yes $28,900 5% No Yes 50% YesVillage of Trumansburg No Yes $12,000 Yes $43,400 Yes Yes $43,400 5% Yes 50%Town of Ulysses No No Yes $15,000 No Yes $43,400 Yes Yes $43,400 5%YesNo Yes 50% Yes - included ambulanceCounty of Tompkins Yes Yes No No Yes $15,000 No No Yes Yes $43,400 Yes Yes $43,400 5% Yes Yes Yes Yes No 0% Yes *** N/a
Not applicable
Not applicable
This list is for informational purposes only. All attemps to update this list are made however, please contact the Dept of Assessment directly to verify.
DIRECTOR OF ASSESSMENT
Jay Franklin
ASSISTANT DIRECTOR
Irene Kehoe
128 E. Buffalo St, Ithaca, N.Y. 14850 | Phone: (607) 274-5517 | Fax: (607) 274-5507 | tompkinscountyny.gov/assessment
To: Town of Ithaca
From: Jay Franklin
Date: March 16, 2023
Re: Increased Low-Income Senior/Disabled Exemption Limits
On August 8th, Governor Hochul signed into law bills which allows for a taxing jurisdiction to increase
the Low-Income Senior (RPTL 467) and the Low-Income Disabled Persons (RPTL 459-c) income scales
up to a maximum set by law. For Tompkins County (along with the majority of NYS), that limit is now
$50,000 when previously it was $29,000.
The last time that NYS allowed for an increase in the exemption scales was in 2007. It is long past due
that NYS revisited this exemption statute. The Town of Ithaca did just recently increase the income
limits to the prior state maximum (M=$29,000 for a 50% exemption).
I have run an analysis of the potential impact that this exemption will have on the remaining tax base.
Due to the changes that NYS has made regarding the Enhanced STAR exemption, I don’t have access
to as much income information as I used to so this analysis gets us in the “ballpark” of what the
potential effect is of increasing the “M” to $35,000. Ithaca has 194 seniors who receive this exemption.
Current Exemption Scale Proposed Exemption Scale
UP TO 29,000 50% UP TO 35,000 50%
EQ/MORE LESS THAN EQ/MORE LESS THAN
29,000 30,000 45% 35,000 36,000 45%
30,000 31,000 40% 36,000 37,000 40%
31,000 32,000 35% 37,000 38,000 35%
32,000 32,900 30% 38,000 38,900 30%
32,900 33,800 25% 38,900 39,800 25%
33,800 34,700 20% 39,800 40,700 20%
34,700 35,600 15% 40,700 41,600 15%
35,600 36,500 10% 41,600 42,500 10%
36,500 37,400 5% 42,500 43,400 5%
29,000 37,400 35,000 43,400
Based upon the income information we have on record, if the new scale was in place for the 2023
Town Taxes, an additional 57 people (Total = 251) would see an exemption reducing the tax base by
$3,679,350. The General Levy tax rate would increase by $0.004213, the Part Town Highway tax rate
would increase by $0.001626, and the Full Town Highway would increase by $0.000801.
These increases in the tax rate would result in a:
• $2.01 tax increase to the average assessed home in Cayuga Heights
• $1.75 tax increase to the average assessment home in the Town Outside the Village (TOV).