Fulton Mayor Perturbed About Losing Tax Revenue

FULTON, NY – Cayuga Community College’s relocation into the former P&C store property in Fulton’s River Glen Square could be a major financial thorn in the side for Fulton.

On Wednesday, the college’s board of trustees unanimously approved buying the property, located off Route 481, for an estimated $11.23 million.

Recently, the Fulton Common Council voted to cancel the PILOT (Payment In Lieu Of Taxes) agreement with the River Glen property, putting it back on the tax rolls.

The college would, however, remove the property from the tax rolls.

“My feeling is Fulton certainly doesn’t need another $12 million taken off its tax rolls,” Mayor Ron Woodward Sr. said Thursday. “I don’t know how this is going to sake out, but I don’t like the looks of it right now.”

Fulton has already passed its budget for 2010.

“This will hurt us, the school district and the county,” Woodward said.

According to Woodward’s view of the deal, the Cayuga County Legislature and SUNY would split the funding 50-50; the county would own the building and lease it to the college.

“I don’t know all the details yet. But if this takes the property off our tax rolls, I’m not in favor of it,” Woodward said. “I know that there are other, cheaper options (for the college). Is there no end to the number of people who are getting a free ride at the expense of Fulton residents?”

He said he was going to check with the New York State Office of Real Property to see exactly what the tax situation will be.

Woodward expressed surprise at hearing about the plan from the media.

About three or four months ago, he had a meeting with officials from Cayuga Community College, members of the Cayuga County Legislature and others to discuss the college’s future locally. Some other options were brought to the table, he added.

“I’m a little surprised that they didn’t at least call me to tell me about this,” Woodward said.

“We didn’t have a tax increase in our budget this year. But our costs continue to keep going up,” Woodward said. “How much more are they going to try and squeeze put of the (Fulton) homeowners before they start going belly up?”

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4 Comments

  1. Wow, the mayor of Fulton is really upset. Why is this? Mr Woodward seems to have been left out by Cayuga County i wonder why? There would have been no problems if the city had left the mall in Volney to begin with. Be careful what you wish for it might come true and you will end up with nothing in the end. Now what is Fulton saving bank going to do? the new Dunkin donuts whoops, and Subway are going to be in trouble with out the college. Mr mayor we need the college even if you do not use it maybe the people who do can get out of this one horse town and get a future away from the city of the future.

  2. Right on Valerie. Where have you been mister Mayor? We’re going belly up now!!! You pushed the new assesment through when you knew our home prices weren’t going up. That didn’t seem to bother you then. Just check the resale prices in Fulton. They are all less than the last assessment. So much for no tax increases in the last six years. We live next to some of the worst animals this city has ever seen and you do nothing. Code enforcement does nothing, the alderman do nothing and the police department does nothing. Now your prepping the single family residents for a tax increase in 2011. You better look for ways to cut because if you don’t, I’m putting my house up and getting out too.

  3. Mayor worry wow, He hasnt worried about spending money on all the new floors at city hall or buying the new city garage for over one million dollars. Fulton New York City with the highest tax rate in all of upstate New York. Why worry.

  4. well mr. mayor, why should they call you, don’t we live in a free enterprise system, if i’m wrong then let me know would you, there are several thousand other people that i’m sure would like to hear what you have to say.

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