Tax assessment reduction
approved for Seldon Square project

By a vote of three to two, a 35 percent tax reduction was granted for the Seldon Square Park Phase II project in the Town of Clarkson.

The resolution exempts the project from local and municipal taxes including school taxes other than assessments for local improvements. The exemption is for a 30 year period. Seldon Square is a low income housing project on East Avenue.

Board members Christa Filipowicz and Duane Marshall voted against granting the exemptions because of the state of the economy at the board meeting April 9. "I’m against a tax reduction because of the general economic conditions in the area and because of the challenges facing the school district with their budget process," Filipowicz said. "The timing of this request is poor."

Marshall said no matter when the request occurred, the timing would be poor. "I don’t like taking this chunk of money from the school district," he said. "If we are going to do this, we should do it for 100 percent of the town’s people."

Supervisor Paul Kimball explained in order to make the project viable, it was necessary to grant the tax exemption. "From my own research the student population in those residences will double when the project is completed," he said. "We will gain in the long run."

Kimball and board members Harlan Purdy and Alan Hoy approved the exemptions.

In other matters, the board approved the change in the date of Clarkson’s Good Neighbor Days. Normally held in September, this year’s event would take place August 24 and will feature demonstrations by the New York State Lumberjack Association.

Questions arose on the participation by the Clarkson Horsemen’s Association and Kimball said the change in dates had been discussed with them and "in some ways they are excited about the change," he said.