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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2024-03-01 enewsletter lVi ma i I Deputy Clerk<ulysses.deputy.clerk@gmail.com> Ulysses Updates for 3/1/24 1 message Carissa Parlato, Town Clerk <ulysses.clerk@gmail.com> Fri, Mar 1, 2024 at 4:10 PM Reply-To: ulysses.clerk@gmail.com To: Google Groups <town-of-ulysses@googlegroups.com> Happy March! We're that much closer to spring. See updates below and enjoy your weekend! IN THIS WEEK'S ULYSSES NEWSLETTER: Update from Supervisor Olson Property Assessments Ag Committee Mtg Planning Board Mtg Job opening: Recreation Activity Specialist Citizen Preparedness Training Bee City News Updated Guidance for COVID Village Election Town Comp Plan Info UPDATE FROM TOWN SUPERVISOR OLSON: Greetings, Ulyssians! Although we do not have a Town Board meeting next week, I wanted to drop into your inbox to assure you that the Town Board is aware of the new property assessments that arrived this week from Tompkins County Department of Assessment. I have heard from many of you that these numbers came as a surprise, and understandably there are concerns about how this will impact your tax rates. More information in the newsletter below explains how to challenge your assessment, which was also provided on the letters from the Department of Assessment. The Ulysses Town Board establishes its annual tax levy each fall as part of our budget season. The levy is the amount of money that it is necessary for the town to collect in property taxes to fund town operations. We have other sources of funds, but in New York State, property taxes are used to fund a range of local services, including fire protection, ambulance services, road repairs/maintenance, and general government services. Other elected boards, including the Village, County, and School Districts, set their own tax levy. As Town Supervisor, I am responsible for the Town Budget, and I remain deeply committed to keeping our property tax levy as low as possible, while still maintaining high quality services and investing in future, identified and unexpected needs. Since starting my term as Town Supervisor in 2022, 1 have led a transition towards a more progressive model of assessing and adjusting fees for specific services, working to ensure that special projects are supported by the entities deriving the direct benefit. This is particularly true in our planning and zoning, water, and recreation departments, and the tax base benefits by increasing revenue through a reasonable, progressive fee structure. remain very proud that we delivered a 2024 budget, a process led by Budget Officer Michelle E. Wright, that again resulted in the lowest tax rate in Tompkins County or in our neighboring towns (Hector @ 2.43% per $1000 and Covert @ 3.32% per $1000.) Town of Ulysses properties were levied (based on the 2023 assessment, not the ones delivered this week) at a rate of 1.167706% per$1000. Because the town's Taxable Assessed Value of all properties increased in 2023, we were able to lower the tax rate for 2024 . In simple terms, a property assessed for$300,000 paid approximately $350.31 in Town of Ulysses taxes in 2024. Additional money was charged to those properties outside of the Village of Trumansburg that are in our special fire, water, and ambulance districts, as required by New York State Law. If, for instance, you experienced a 25% increase in the assessed value of your home, it does not translate into a 25% increase in your Town taxes. The 2024 tax levy was a 3.5% increase over 2023, largely related to the realities of inflation. As the tax base has grown, we have been able to lower the tax rate in Ulysses. In 2024, the tax rate dropped 3.35%for properties not paying into fire and EMS through the Town, and 6.51%for those properties paying into fire and EMS through the town. (Those not paying for fire and EMS through the town are instead paying for those services through their village taxes.) I know this all may be of little comfort for a household wondering if they can afford to continue to live in Ulysses, and I recognize that Town taxes constitute the smallest part of your overall property tax bill. Taxation absolutely impacts affordability---for families trying to stay here or move here, seniors hoping to age in place, and every household in- between. As we collectively navigate the financial realities of 2024, 1 will continue to work with the Town Board and Budget Officer to support the health, safety, and wellbeing of our citizens, and strive to deliver another Town budget in 2025 that is reasonable, responsible, nimble, and in service to our great town. PRELIMINARY PROPERTY ASSESSMENT UPDATES: Tompkins County Assessment has released the 2024 Preliminary Assessment Roll. It is preliminary in that if you feel it is not a fair representation, you may request that the county do an informal review. The form is online at https://www.tomiDkinscountynygov/assessment/informal. For questions or if you would like to request a paper copy, call (607)274-5517. AG COMMITTEE MTG: The Town of Ulysses invites farmers, landowners whose land is used for agricultural, those involved in the farming industry or just interested in farming issues to attend the meeting scheduled for 5:30pm on Monday, March 4, 2024 at Trumansburg Fire Hall, 74 W. Main Street, Trumansburg. The Town is re-establishing the Ag Committee to give input on the future of agriculture in Ulysses as part of the comprehensive plan update. The committee is led by Town Board members Mary Bouchard (bouc lard(cDtownofulyssesnygov) and Liz Weatherby (weather by__@townofulyssesny_.gov) . PLANNING BOARD MTG: The Planning Board will meet for its regularly scheduled meeting at 7pm on Tuesday, March 5. View the agenda at https://townofulyssesnygov/calendar/?cmd=view&event=3870&category=1498 JOB OPENING- RECREATION ACTIVITY SPECIALIST: The Town is actively seeking a Recreation Activity Specialist. The position is a year-round, part-time (15 hours/week.) The Recreation Activity Specialist will primarily provide important, free and direct positive youth development programming to 5th - 8th graders after school and during the summer. Positive youth development focuses on providing an inclusive, supportive environment for youth. Programmatic priorities and specific activities will be developed in cooperation with youth, the Youth Commission, and Town staff. Administrative assistance will be provided to this position, allowing the employee to primarily focus on direct service provision. Experience working with and engaging youth is strongly preferred and additional training and support will be provided. View job posting on Tompkins County website here. To apply, visit https://www.tompkinsciviIservice.org/account, then go to https://www.tompkinscivilservice.org/ civi Ise rvice/apply/8383 and complete the application. CITIZEN PREPAREDNESS CORPS TRAINING: Citizen Preparedness Corps (CPC) training is scheduled for Thursday, March 14th at 6pm at the Trumansburg Fire Department, 74 W. Main Street, sponsored by the Village of Trumansburg and the Trumansburg Volunteer Fire Company. The training gives residents the tools and resources needed to help prepare for any type of disaster or emergency, respond accordingly, and recover as quickly as possible to pre-disaster conditions. CPC trainings are led by New York National Guard members working with experts from the state Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services (DHSES) in coordination with local emergency management personnel. A key component of the training is the distribution of NYS Disaster Preparedness Kits to attendees (one per family). The training is offered free of charge, but all participants must register in advance at: www.prepare.ny..gov. BEE CITY USA: The Town of Ulysses Bee Friendly Community Committee is sponsoring an informational table in the fireplace room of the Ulysses Library from March 1 through 15, highlighting a collection of books on pollinators that were recently purchased by the library with a grant from the Trumansburg Rotary Club, as well as pollinator-themed books for both adults and children that were already in the library's collection. Along with the book display, there will be information about pollinator-friendly practices that anyone can implement at home, a beautiful poster highlighting insect pollinators of the local area, and information about what you can plant in your garden to support pollinator health. The Town is now an affiliate of the Bee City USA initiative of the Xerces Society, and the display will have more information on what that means for our town and its residents. Look for our Bee City sign to be installed in the near future! UPDATED ISOLATION GUIDANCE FOR COVID-19 INFECTIONS (ITHACA, NY, March 1, 2024)—Tompkins County Whole Health is alerting the community to updated guidance from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) regarding COVID-19 isolation periods. This change aligns COVID-19 guidance with previous guidance for other common respiratory illnesses such as the flu and RSV. This update is for the general public and does not reflect guidance for healthcare settings. Prior Guidance: The previous COVID-19 guidance recommended a minimum isolation period of 5 days plus a period of post-isolation precautions. Revised Guidance: Stay home and away from others (including people you live with who are not sick) if you have respiratory virus symptoms that aren't better explained by another cause. These symptoms can include fever, chills, fatigue, cough, runny nose, and headache, among others. You can go back to your normal activities when, for at least 24 hours, both are true: • Your symptoms are getting better overall, and • You have not had a fever (and are not using fever-reducing medication). For additional information, visit https://www.tompkinscountynygov/health/covid-19-update-cdc-updates- isolation-guidance-covid-19-infections VILLAGE OF TRUMANSBURG ELECTION: An election to fill 2 seats on the Village of Trumansburg board will take place on Tuesday, March 19. View a sample ballot at https://tompkinscountyny.gov/files2/boe/2024/TrumansburgSample.pdf Polls will be open from 12 noon to 9pm at the Village Hall meeting room- accessible through Main St. or Elm St. COMPREHENSIVE PLAN NEWS: The Town of Ulysses has begun to update its Comprehensive Plan, a critical summary of the vision and strategies needed to guide the Town's development in a direction our community wants to go. The Comprehensive Plan Steering Committee (CPSC) invites all stakeholders, including residents, business owners, youth and visitors to share their important perspectives on what makes our Town great, and where we should be headed. Join the Comp Plan Steering Committee's Listsery The listsery is intended to help keep community members informed about upcoming meetings, news, and events related to the Town's 2025-2045 Periodic Comp Plan Update. And please take a couple minutes to answer a few check-in questions. Consultant Sought for Plan Update The Town of Ulysses is soliciting a qualified consultant from a multidisciplinary consulting firm to assist in the development of the 2025-2045 Comprehensive Plan Periodic Update and associated Environmental Impact Statement. Visit the following link for more information: https://www.townofuIyssesny_ggv//pages/uI sses2045/rfq/. If you are receiving this as a forwarded message and would like to sign up to receive it directly, visit httos-.-Llgroups.google.com g town-of-ulysses PLEASE NOTE: Please update my email address to clerk@townofulyssesny.gov Thx Best, Carissa Parlato, CIVIC (Certified Municipal Clerk), RMC (Registered Municipal Clerk) Ulysses Town Clerk, Tax Collector, Records Manager, Notary Public 10 Elm St. Trumansburg NY 14886 (607)387-5767, ext. 221 Hours: M-F, 10am-3pm (or by appointment) https://townofulyasesny.gov/ Get the latest updates on the town- sign up for the e-newsletter! Click here. 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