Broome County Changes Sales Tax Split

Broome County officials voted to change the formula used to divide the sales tax revenue between the county and its twenty-four municipalities. The county takes in over $120 million each year in sales tax, and in 2009, the county changed the formula to allow the county to take in more of that money than the village, town, and city governments in Broome. Broome County Legislature unanimously approved County Executive Debbie Preston’s plan to gradually dismantle the 2009 change, and revert back to a 50/50 split between county and municipalities. Broome is projected to earn slightly more than $127 million in sales tax revenue next year, with the county government projected to keep $84.2 million, and the twenty-four municipalities receiving $43.3 million. Democrats in the legislature were pushing for an immediate repeal to the 50/50 split, but with Republicans controlling 10 of the 15 seats, legislature approved Preston’s seven-year plan instead, saying an immediate repeal would cause an economic jolt in the county’s finances.