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sales tax revenue

Treasurer: Gas prices fueling sales tax revenue increase

By Mike Pettinella

Genesee County sales tax revenue is trending in the right direction, County Treasurer Scott German said on Wednesday afternoon.

“Sales tax revenue is doing well,” said German, speaking at the Genesee County Legislature’s Ways & Means Committee meeting at the Old County Courthouse.

Supported by Excel spreadsheets showing fund balances and tax revenues over the past 15 years or more, German reported that sales tax revenues in 2021 totaled $48.95 million, an increase of approximately 19 percent from the previous year.

As for the first quarter of 2022, sales tax revenues are up by 31 percent from the same time period in 2021.

“Much of that can be attributed to the increased gas prices,” German said, noting that sales tax on gasoline accounts for about 18 percent of the county’s sales tax revenue. It also must be noted that sales tax revenue was down in 2020 and 2021 due to the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The county shared $6,852,960.75 (14 percent) of its sales tax received with the City of Batavia and $5 million – as a voluntary revenue distribution – with the towns and villages last year, as well as an additional $5 million in sales tax to the towns and villages.

Bed tax revenues (from hotel stays) rebounded from the COVID-19 ravaged 2020, German said, increasing from $180,000 to almost $400,000. Three-fourths of that amount was allocated to the Genesee County Chamber of Commerce.

Mortgage tax revenue also increased by 38 percent from 2020 to 2021, he reported.

German said key points of his financial outlook are as follows:

  • As part of the $70 million jail borrowing, the County maintained a bond rating of AA- with a stable outlook from S&P Rating Agency.

However, he noted, the rating could have been higher if not for the county’s low per capita income level.

  • The county’s self-insurance (medical) reserve has grown for two straight years, increasing by $385,498 in 2021 to a total of $1.8 million.
  • The county received approximately $5.5 million in American Rescue Plan Act funding in 2021 and another $5.5 million payment is scheduled for 2022.

Looking at the county’s fund balances, German said the general fund balance of $16.9 million represents 14 percent – “a good number,” he said – of 2021’s budgeted expense.

Other fund balances, such as self-insurance ($1.8 million), county road ($385,000), road machinery ($574,000) and water fund ($4.2 million), are adequate, he said.

On the real property tax side, Director Kevin Andrews said sales of property has increased by 11 percent in 2021 – up from 6 percent the previous year.

Andrews said the county supported reassessment projects in the City of Batavia and the Towns of Alexander, Batavia, Bergen, Bethany, Byron, Darien, Elba, Oakfield, Pembroke, and Stafford for the 2021 assessment rolls.                                       

Saving Frostridge Brings Revenue to Local Small Business in Our Community

By lucie griffis

As I think of all that is going on with Frostridge I am frustrated at the lack of open mindedness at the revenue that their growth has brought to small business around Le Roy.  Those campers and concert attendees shop in our Village for groceries, propane, and other essentials while at the campground.  Local take out eateries deliver out there or they come into shop.  

We have lost revenue from this weekends Music show to Caledonia Fireman who openly took over where we were not able to.  The next show is John Michael Montgomery, I believe and they have been talking to Genesee County Fairgrounds to have it there if still cease order on.  

Why are we losing out on much needed revenue when our Zoning Board of Appeals states they made a decision on this in 1998 and again in 2013?  Why are we paying a attorney for the Town to sue and retaining one for the ZBA to stand by what they already made a decision on?

WHEN DO WE STEP UP TO THOSE ELECTED OFFICIAL AND STOP BEING A  BEDROOM COMMUNITY?  WHEN DO WE LIVE HERE, INVEST HERE, AND MAKE THEM LISTEN TO WHAT THE WHOLE COMMUNITY WANTS?  Not just a select few?  

 

Did anyone realize that the Town Board changed the noise ordinance in the Town from 11pm to 9 pm last year?  The Village is still 11pm.

Just so my Village and Town friends realize this~we pay Town and Village taxes, we have the ability to vote for the officials. That means both Town & Village residents need to speak up , sign the petition, and go to the mtg June 12@7pm. Our zoning board of appeals is standing by their decision that Frostridge is already been grandfathered in as non conforming and those were all pre-existing buildings. I am a lifelong resident here and watch how we need more small business here and we are always told how we can't do things! That small business brings people from all over who travel into our Village to support our small businesses. LET'S SUPPORT LOCAL SMALL BUSINESS AND BECOME A WE CAN DO THIS COMMUNITY! They didn't want to give us the pool back and look we are at capacity everyday!

 

Please read below the information that is open to all to read on the Save Frostridge Campground on Facebook.  Contrary to what everyone believes this is a neighbor and small business owner in our community that just happened to be at a board meeting for separate issue and heard what was happening running this page.

Copied from Saving Frostridge Campground on Facebook:

My first post this morning I want to do things a little differently. I want to point out what LeRoy does have to offer. We live in a community that is absolutely beautiful. LeRoy is a great village, and town to be involved in. There are many things we have. We have many fine dining establishments. We have the Jello museum,
Oatka Creek (which I heard the village board is working on some projects that would be great.) We have some of the best Farm markets (Pullys, Crinkovich, and McPhersons) and also a great weekly Farmers Market. We have some of the best volunteer organizations any town could ask for LeRoy Volunteer Fire Department(and I thank you one and all), LCCP, LeRoy Healthy Community, LeRoy Main Street Revitalization. In all my years I have been in LeRoy may favorite thing is the Woodward Memorial Library. They have so much to offer. If you live in LeRoy and can't find something that the Library offers to you, you need to look again. You can download music, books and you can even borrow a fishing pole and fish the Oatka. One of the best things LeRoy also has is FrostRidge. Take the time and look around and enjoy some of the beautiful scenery. Most of all "See ya around town." Embrace the beautiful things we have to offer but stand up for what is right also.

 

Copied from Saving Frostridge Campground:

Morning everyone. I want to say first and foremost that I for one like to look at the facts. I started out not having a side or a vested interested on Frost Ridge. It didn't take long after looking at all of the information to realize that someone had to get involved. If we all sit back and watch one thing after another get shut down soon there will be nothing left. 

Fact of the matter is that Frost Ridge was bought by David and Greg pretty much how it sits today. The Town Board puts it out there as they have done all of the upgrades. That is simply not true. They now say that when the swimming pool was put in it makes them non-compliant. Then my question would be why would they have passed all of the inspections and been issued more permits for everything if they were non-compliant. 

They say they were to get a special use permit. It was advised to them they didn't need one. They tried 3 different times to obtain that goal. Oops one time their paperwork even got lost only to be found later and told once again they didn't need one. 

Fact, they went through the proper channels and were given permits and permission to do everything they were doing. The Zoning Board of Appeals has looked at this different times and always found that they are a Pre-exisiting non conforming campground. Meaning in short that they were there before zoning laws. 

Fact, when they went to court their attorney asked why the ZBA was not there to argue their side of the case. The Towns attorney then stated that they chose not to be and he would represent them,

Fact, the ZBA didn't even know that there was a lawsuit against them nor that they should have been in court that day.

Fact, the ZBA still stands behind that Frost Ridge is operating in a legal fashion and should not have to do anything else to continue to operate.

Fact, the Town Board went over the ZBA ruling and filed a lawsuit against Frost Ridge.

There are many more arguments that I could state but the fact of the matter is that Frost Ridge has operated in a legal fashion, unlike some of the Town Representatives would have you believe.

Fact, they bring much more to the community than the things they take away. They are not a cancer to the town and it only takes a minute to get to know these guys to see what a well run operation they have. I would invite each and every person to just take the time to stop out there say hello and really look around at how the campground it run. 

So I would say to all of this stand up for what is right. I for one am a taxpayer in the town of LeRoy and do believe that they should be able to continue to operate within a mannerly fashion just as they have done in the past.

Thanks for the vent time. Keep Smilin' and "See ya around town."

 

Just so my Village friends realize this~we pay Town and Village taxes, we have the ability to vote for the officials. That means both Town & Village residents need to speak up , sign the petition, and go to the mtg June 12@7pm. Our zoning board of appeals is standing by their decision that Frostridge is already been grandfathered in as non conforming and those were all pre-existing buildings. I am a lifelong resident here and watch how we need more small business here and we are always told how we can't do things! That small business brings people from all over who travel into our Village to support our small businesses. LET'S SUPPORT LOCAL SMALL BUSINESS AND BECOME A WE CAN DO THIS COMMUNITY! They didn't want to give us the pool back and look we are at capacity everyday!

Sign both the petition to have our elected officials withdraw the lawsuit and to change the Town noise ordinance to what the Village is.  

Invest where we live, support small business in our community, show what a great place that people can open a business and grow- not be told this is not allowed.  How can we fill all those empty homes or store fronts on Main St. or develop that Thruway exit if a profitable business  for all is not allowed to operate?  (REMEMBER THOSE PEOPLE COME INTO THE VILLAGE TO SHOP.)

It is not just as simple as them getting the right permits.  By the way would they really change the zoning and give those permits if it was?  Probably not, that is why we are in this situation as a community!

County's sales tax revenue up so far, but nobody's celebrating

By Howard B. Owens

In May, the county's share of sales tax was up $116,000 over May 2010, according to County Treasurer Scott German. So far this year, sales tax revenue is up $755,000.

German presented the figures to the Ways & Means Committee on Wednesday afternoon, and Mary Pat Hancock, legislative chairwoman, was quick to point out the county shouldn't start rejoicing just yet.

The year isn't over and most of increase stems from the run up in food and gas prices, two inflationary factors that may yet reduce consumer spending in other areas.

"There's going to be some pain associated with it," Hancock said. "Maybe I'm wrong, but I'm not going to depend on that continued upswing."

County sales tax revenue still hasn't caught up with 2008 levels, German said, when the total exceeded $34 million, but his best guess -- and he emphasizes it's just a guess -- is that 2011 revenue will be more than $33 million, which would beat the 2009 figure of $32 million.

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