Ithaca · Local digest

Tompkins County Administration is recommending an 11.96% increase in the property tax levy for 2027, bringing the countywide levy to $63.67 million from $56.87 million. The increase reflects rising personnel and operating costs, and the administration's decision to stop using the county's fund balance to offset recurring expenses after years of relying on one-time resources. If approved, owners of median-value homes around $290,000 would pay approximately $168 more in county property taxes annually, while median-value commercial properties around $460,000 would pay about $250 more. County legislators are now scrutinizing the budget during Expanded Budget Committee meetings, with some calling for further reductions. The Legislature approved a resolution allowing up to $1.60 million from the Tax Stabilization Reserve to potentially reduce the levy, though officials acknowledge this is a one-time solution. The county faces additional pressures including a projected $740,000 cost from reduced federal reimbursement for the SNAP program and a backlog of deferred infrastructure needs. Legislators have until December 10 to adopt the final budget.

The Trump administration filed a 30-page statement of interest in a New York court case supporting Micron's $100 billion semiconductor manufacturing hub near Syracuse, arguing that delays would pose national security risks. Local residents and advocacy groups challenging the project in state Supreme Court say it should have undergone more rigorous environmental review before receiving state and county approval. Micron has already cleared 300 acres and spent $675 million on the first phase of construction, with plans for four massive manufacturing facilities in Clay and Cicero expected to create 9,000 permanent jobs. The federal government has invested $6.4 billion in CHIPS Act funding for the project, and a judge recently ruled that the national advocacy group Jobs to Move America could not remain a plaintiff, though the local group Neighbors for a Better Micron continues the legal challenge over environmental permits.