Tioga Legislature Expects To Keep Sales Tax Static

Tioga County Legislature expects to pass a local law this summer which would keep the county’s share of sales tax revenue intact for two more years. The legislature met on Tuesday and took the first step by passing a resolution which authorized Tioga County to impose an additional one percentage point of sales tax, pending approval from the state Senate and Assembly. Counties throughout the state pass similar resolutions every two years in order to be able to collect an additional percentage point of local sales tax. In New York, the sales tax is split equally between state and local governments. Tioga County collected $20.2 million in sales tax in 2012, a six percent increase from 2011. Of that total, Tioga County towns and villages received a collective $4.8 million. Legislators plan for the increase sales tax revenue to help offset debt the county has accumulated over the years, such as $9 million the county borrowed in 2012 for road repairs and bridge replacements. The legislature will schedule a public hearing on the sales tax resolution by mid-summer.