Tompkins County Legislature Discusses New Ithaca Conference Center and Agricultural District Changes

The Tompkins County Legislature met on May 7, 2024, discussing several important community matters. Suzanne Smith-Jablonski, Executive Director of the Downtown Ithaca Local Development Corporation, updated on the new Ithaca Downtown Conference Center, set to open in June 2024. The center, which is the first fossil fuel-free facility of its kind in the country, is expected to support local businesses by hosting conferences during the week. It is funded partly by the county's hotel room tax.

In legislative matters, the legislature amended Agricultural District No. 2, removing 465 acres and adding over 1,200 acres on the west side of Cayuga Lake. However, a proposal to exclude a 62-acre parcel within the Town of Ulysses’ Conservation Zone was not approved. The zone is near Taughannock Falls State Park, highlighting the conflict between agricultural expansion and conservation.

Pete Angie from the Town of Ulysses Planning Board expressed opposition to including the 62-acre parcel in the Agricultural District. Crystal Buck from Cornell Cooperative Extension discussed the farmland protection process, emphasizing the thorough procedures of the Tompkins County Agriculture and Farmland Protection Board.

Legislator Klein addressed inappropriate social media comments directed at the County’s Assessment Department. He differentiated between property assessment values and tax levies, directing tax-related questions to his office. County Administrator Lisa Holmes spoke on the challenges of limiting the tax levy increase to 2%, which requires about $2 million in budget cuts. This reflects the county's effort to balance fiscal responsibility with maintaining essential services.

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