(Photo Source: Little York Preservation Society).
Unofficial voting results show support for the creation of a special taxing district for property owners along the Little York Lake shore, but elections officials say they still need to count absentee ballots in order to certify results.
The taxing district, which would impact 114 residents who own property along the lakeshore in the towns of Preble and Homer, would go into effect in 2023 and is dubbed by residents as the “Protection and Rehabilitation District.”
Following lengthy discussions by proponents and opposers of the taxing district at Cortland County Legislature and committee meetings, the legislature moved to issue a permissive referendum on the matter. On Tuesday, 47 residents voted in favor of the creation of the taxing district, and 28 residents voted against it (for a total of 75 votes).
“We will be opening absentee ballots on Feb. 15,” said Cortland County Elections Commissioner Tom Brown. “We will certify following the opening. There were 19 absentee ballots issued and 14 have been received so far.”
Collections from the district would go toward funding lake revitalization projects, and to shore up overall maintenance and preservation expenses.
“While the election results are not finalized, pending absentee ballots, we are pleased with the positive support that the community has expressed for this initiative,” said Little York Lake Preservation Society Treasurer Don Fisher. “With a stable funding source now in place we can turn our energies to long-term management strategies, as well as expanding our fundraising efforts beyond the lake community.”
