(Binghamton, NY). The Broome County Legislature held its fifth Regular Session of 2010 on Tuesday, May 18, 2010 in the Broome County Office Building in Downtown Binghamton.

 

The Legislature considered resolutions concerning a local law establishing a partial property tax exemption for county property tax payers, accepting funding for energy efficiency improvements, and urging the state to honor Officer Aldo Rossi Jr., among numerous other items.

 

An effort to offer property tax relief to homeowners who make home improvements was tabled to the September session in order to receive more input from the public.  The legislature delayed a vote on this local law establishing a partial county property tax exemption on the increased assessment resulting from home improvement projects ranging between $3,000 and $80,000 and completed between March 1, 2011 and March 1, 2012. Legislators received letters of support from the Greater Binghamton Chamber of Commerce and the Greater Binghamton Association of Realtors regarding this issue. Legislators would like to ask elected officials from the constituent municipalities and school districts of Broome County to consider adopting similar legislation to maximize the benefit of this tax exemption for residents. More information on this tax exemption can be found on the county’s website.

 

In order to meet the need for replacement and upgrade of its emergency communications systems to meet federally mandated narrow-banding requirements by 2013 and to develop a fully interoperable radio system serving the needs of the first responders throughout the County, the legislature is in the process of asking the State Legislature to authorize Broome County to increase the monthly E911 landline telephone surcharge from 35 cents to up to $1.00 to support the cost of E911 emergency communication systems. Without the increase in the landline surcharge, the cost of this project would result in an unacceptable burden on property owners as similar systems in other counties have cost between $21 and $42 million. This resolution was held-over and will be considered at the next legislative session.

 

The legislature accepted funding from the New York State Energy Research and Development Agency (NYSERDA) in the amount of $150,000 which will fund an energy manager who will assist in reducing energy consumption and the related expenses for county facilities as well as other local governments, school districts, hospitals and residents. The funding will also be used to develop a county-wide greenhouse gas inventory, goals and plan. NYSERDA will also provide $87,045 to the county-operated Willow Point Nursing Home to upgrade lighting at the facility with energy efficient fluorescent fixtures.

 

An advisory resolution was adopted urging  New York State to act on a petition to designate a portion of the Brandywine Highway in the Village of Port Dickinson as the Officer Aldo Rossi Jr. Highway in honor of Officer Rossi who succumbed to injuries sustained in July of 2008 when he was struck by a drunk driver.

 

A local law creating a requirement for a special hauling permit for use of county roads by certain vehicles that exceed the weight or dimensional limits in State Vehicle and Traffic Law was discussed but not acted on. The local law was substantially amended in a previous committee after much public discussion over concerns raised by the business community. A draft of this proposal is available online at: www.gobroomecounty.com/legis/local-laws

 

Draft resolutions, meeting notices, agendas, minutes and all other legislative business are available on the legislature’s website under the Legislative Business tab at: www.gobroomecounty.com/legis  

 

For more information, please feel free to visit the site or contact the legislative staff by phone at 778-2131 or on Facebook.