Thursday, April 25, 2024 | St. Lawrence County, NY
BY ANDY GARDNER North Country This Week MASSENA -- Massena’s mayor said he thinks the county should change the way it distributes sales tax to have a heavier emphasis on population. Mayor Tim …
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BY ANDY GARDNER
North Country This Week
MASSENA -- Massena’s mayor said he thinks the county should change the way it distributes sales tax to have a heavier emphasis on population.
Mayor Tim Currier raised the issue during a discussion at the Tuesday, Jan. 21 Board of Trustees meeting.
Currently, the formula for distributing sales tax to municipalities is 50% based on total assessed value and 50% population.
While acknowledging that the current formula has Massena as the highest recipient of sales tax from the county, he pointed to a municipality like Colton that is the ninth largest recipient. That’s based on Colton having the highest assessed value in the county but the 25th highest population, Currier said.
“When you consider what's likely the biggest things, car dealers, hotels and restaurants that likely generates sales tax, population tends to" lead to more sales tax revenue, Currier said.
Deputy Mayor Matt Lebire said he also thinks they should change the sales tax calculation.
"I don't appreciate the tough position they're in. There's no easy answer. I don't think I'm at the point where I'd support a resolution supporting no change,” he said.
He added that he believes "any neg
