Your Morning Edition for Tuesday, Nov. 19th presented by Canandaigua Dentistry!

Notable sales tax collection decline in the Finger Lakes. Plus, fire erupts at vacant Seneca Falls home, and latest on Penn Yan cupola, Ontario Co. budget, and Trumansburg youth report.

Nov 19, 2024

Sales tax collections in the Finger Lakes region fell by 2.3% in the third quarter of 2024, making it one of the few regions in New York State to see a year-over-year decline. The drop contrasts with the statewide average increase of 1.4% during the same period, according to data from the New York State Comptroller’s Office.

Full Story

Finger Lakes Forecast: Presented by GoNetSpeed!

Change is coming. Partly sunny skies with highs in the low to mid 50s with warmer temps tomorrow and a slight chance of showers before things really change beginning Thursday. Snow showers will even be in the forecast once we get to Friday, Saturday, and Sunday.

FingerLakes1.com Weather Center

Fast 5: What’s happening in the Finger Lakes?

Ontario County has approved a $338 million budget for 2025, marking a 3.46% tax increase. Finance Director Mary Gates attributed a $45.7 million spending rise to changes in health insurance funding, which inflate the overall budget by $20 million. The tax levy for 2025 stands at $83.6 million, with a 40-cent drop in the tax rate to $5.58 per $1,000 of assessed value. [More]
The iconic cupola, once perched atop the Empire State Wine Co. building, has found a permanent home thanks to Gorham developer Chris Iversen. According to the Finger Lakes Times he donated land near the Hampton Inn in Penn Yan after securing approval from the village Planning Board. [More]
Students in the Trumansburg Central School District report higher rates of substance use than county and national averages, according to a survey by TST BOCES. The survey revealed that, over a 30-day period, 16.7% of respondents consumed alcohol, 6.3% smoked cigarettes, 15% used marijuana, and 11.7% vaped nicotine—all above regional and national figures. [More]
A fire broke out at a vacant residence on Clinton Street Saturday evening, prompting a significant response from multiple local emergency teams. The Seneca Falls Police Department, alongside fire departments from Seneca Falls, Waterloo, and Geneva, as well as North Seneca Ambulance, arrived to find flames and smoke emanating from the rear porch and exterior wall of the home. [More]
The village of Aurora is moving forward in its collaboration with Wells College, aiming to preserve the college’s history and expand local assets. Mayor Jim Orman announced progress on acquiring the college’s stagecoach and omnibus through a memorandum of understanding. [More]

Learn More!

BILLS WEEKLY: The biggest victory Monday!

MORE SPORTS

Cornell study advocates ‘beneficiary pays’ strategy for modernizing U.S. power grid

A new Cornell University study suggests that the fairest way to finance upgrades to the nation’s aging electrical grid is to allocate costs to those who directly benefit from new power lines. The research, published in the Energy Law Journal, argues that this “beneficiary pays” strategy promotes investment in critical infrastructure while reducing disputes over cost-sharing.