April 8th, 2022 Daily Headlines
The Ithaca City School District budget has been submitted with an over $148 Million price tag. According to the Ithaca Voice, the budget must be approved by a public referendum on May 17th and would represent a 2.59 percent increase over the previous budget. The budget proposal would not increase local tax rates, but would make up funds through increased property tax revenue due to increases in property assessments. Property value assessments are expected to increase an average of 16 percent for Tompkins residents this year.
——-
The Schuyler County sheriff’s office and the Schuyler County Coalition on Underage Drinking and Drugs are encouraging residents to participate in national drug takeback day. On April 30th community members will be able to drop off their unused, expired, or unwanted medications from 10 am to 2 pm at the Odessa and Tyrone fire departments. The Odessa Fire Department is located at 300 East Main Street and the Tyrone Fire Department is at 3600 State Route 26.
——-
As of this recording New York lawmakers remain deadlocked over the state budget. According to Spectrum News a proposed expansion of “Kendra’s Law” a measure to require those in mental health crises to receive treatment has become a sticking point for legislators. Some state Democrats as well as mental health advocates have expressed concern the bill’s expansion would have unintended consequences such as putting people into mental institutions unnecessarily. The New York Association of Psychiatric Rehabilitation Services has publicly opposed the amendment saying it would lower standards for court-ordered treatment that are “far below the initial intent and language of the bill, which largely referred to some form of harm or dangerousness,"
——-
The New York State Board of Electric Generation Siting and Environment has approved the creation of a 280 Megawatt solar farm in Genesee County. According to Buffalo News, the project will be built by Excelsior Energy Center. In a statement Board Chairman Rory Christian said projects like this one were vital in meeting the state’s Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act commitments. The project is estimated to cost $345 Million and provide $117.5 Million in economic impact.