New York has turned down a request to increase its payment to Yates County for a shared services radio tower on the west side of Seneca Lake.
This collaboration with Cayuga County is aimed to enhance communication on the west side of the Lake but has instead led to a significant financial dispute. In September, the Yates County Legislature decided to appeal the state’s decision, which has resulted in the forfeiture of over $250,000 in matching state funds. The radio tower in question, located in Ovid, is owned by Cayuga County. Yates County officials opted to use this existing tower, which they found met their needs, rather than constructing a new one. This decision was projected to save Yates County $298,000 in initial first-year expenses.
County Administrator Jessica Mullins said despite turning down the county’s request for reevaluation, the state did adjust a change order in the application to be amortized over 10 years, which will bring the county’s match to $26,664.
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