County Data

How do we preserve our status as a desirable place to live without becoming exclusive? How do we adjust our actions and expectations in the face of economic and social change? How do we safeguard our interests and investments while putting people and planet first? The answer is GET INVOLVED. Start here to understand the issues and wield your influence in county politics.

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The Tompkins County Housing Strategy was endorsed by unanimous vote of the County Legislature in July 2017
Development Focus Areas

 

Trumansburg is an “established node”

Goal of establishing 50-100 units annually

County Resources:

 

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Commerce Data

Comprised of local business people whose mission is “making our community a great place to live, work and visit,” our local Chamber of Commerce members were recently polled on a variety of village issues. Their responses support increased population and construction of new and affordable homes as economic success indicators for the future of our local businesses.

 

Trumansburg Area Chamber of Commerce Representation Questionnaire – Fall 2017

Trumansburg Area Chamber of Commerce membership includes approximately 600 full, part time, and contract employees (that estimate does not include the school or municipal employees).

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Tax Data

There is much speculation about what the tax impact of the proposed Affordable Housing Development at 46 South Street will be. As announced in the Village Board meeting on 1/8/18, Village Planner, Matt Johnston, asked the village board for funds to get an independent assessment the tax impact of the project, including village and school taxes and service costs.

Letter of no significant impact from Trumansburg EMS Manager – Brian Snyder


Letter of no significant impact from Trumansburg Fire Chief – Jason Fulton


Letter of no significant impact from Trumansburg Superintendent – Michael McGuire 


“The DPW commissioner states that there will be savings when additional billing units are added. The revenue from those billing additions will be attributed to the water/sewer budgets and will decrease the overall billing rate of water and/or sewer.” -Debbie Watkins: Trumansburg Village Trustee, Water and Sewer Commissioner July 17, 2017 Post on Nextdoor.com


Property taxes do not fully cover cost of village services for existing homes.

Based on the revenue lines in the proposed 2017-18 budget  property taxes make up ~60% of village revenue while ~30% comes from sales taxes and ~10% comes from departmental income (after removing revenue from other governments).

Real Property Taxes $901,618.00 61.05%
Sales / Franchise Taxes $400,000.00 27.09%
Departmental income $175,150.00 11.86%

 

Project Data

On December 14, 2017, Ithaca Neighborhood Housing Services (INHS) and Claudia Brenner submitted applications for Preliminary Site Plan and Preliminary Subdivision Review to the Village Planning Board for a proposed mixed-income residential development at 46 South Street that will include a brand new facility for the Trumansburg Community Nursery School. The site is a prime location for smart growth infill development, as it’s an old farm field that’s no longer in use within walking distance to the schools and Main Street. Details can be found here.

46South

 

The newly revised plans include a public road entrance from Pennsylvania Ave and private road entrance from South St. There will be a wooded pedestrian path entrance from South Street as well.

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The density of this project has been raised as a concern. To help put it in perspective, the project is half as dense as the Juniper I and II development down the street.

This design includes 73 housing units and the Trumansburg Community Nursery School (TCNS).

  • 17 market rates units on 9 lots to be developed and sold by Claudia Brenner,
  • 10 affordable for-sale homes sold by INHS,
  • 6 affordable rental townhomes owned and managed by INHS,
  • 40 rental apartments in a 2 story elevator building owned and managed by INHS.

The two-story central apartment building will have a community lounge with kitchenette, laundry, and outdoor community gathering and play space. It has been designed to be senior-friendly, with an elevator and central corridor. There are several handicapped accessible units, and all units in the building will be adaptable for aging in place.  

Affordable For-Sale

  • First-time homebuyers
  • INHS typically sells homes between $110,000 and $150,000
  • INHS homes are sold to homebuyers making between $30,000 and $65,000 a year

Affordable Rentals

  • Intensive tenant screening
    • credit check
    • criminal background check
    • income verification
    • landlord reference
    • homes visit
    • in-person interview
  • INHS property manager and maintenance on site 5-days a week, 24-hr emergency maintenance.
  • Yearly inspections by investors
  • Approximate rent ranges without utilities:
    • 1-bedroom: $300-$820
    • 2-bedroom: $400-$1,100
    • 3-bedroom: $475-$1,150
  • Approximate income ranged for rentals:
    • 1-bedroom: $14,000-$49,590
    • 2-bedroom: $19,800-$59,490
    • 3-bedroom: $22,800-$68,715

Projected residents decreased from 188 to 140 at project completion (8 yrs). This also means a reduction in the total projected additional cars, down to 90.

Trumansburg Community Nursery School (TCNS)

  • Not for profit, parent cooperative preschool
  • Business in Trumansburg since 1959
  • Preschool classes for children ages 2-5 years.

More details on the project and its history can be found here:  https://www.southstreetproject.org/

 

 

School Data

With our current trend of declining enrollment, our 1,002 K-12 students are vulnerable to a merger, due to taxes being too high and the students too few. While such mergers make sense from a purely financial perspective, many residents choose Tburg for its small, well-ranked schools and statistics show that parental involvement can suffer in larger consolidated districts.

 

The Board of Education Meeting 11-13-17  – Video with direct question to the school board about the impacts from the influx of students  – “We’re in good shape”

 


Letter to INHS from Superintendent on the school’s capacity to absorb the potential influx of students


Declining Trumansburg School District Enrollment over the past 20 years

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