Published: May 15, 2008 12:02 pm         

County panel OKs payments to Cooperstown

By JIM AUSTIN
Cooperstown Crier

Otsego County’s Intergovernmental Affairs Committee adopted a resolution Tuesday that would, for the first time, provide county financial support to the village of Cooperstown, whose residents and infrastructure shoulder much of the impact of tourism.

“It is very clear that Cooperstown is the crownjewel in Otsego County tourism,” committee chairman James V.

Johnson said, “and all of the residents of the county benefit from the visitors the village draws each year. It is only fitting that the County reinvest some of the tourism- related Occupancy Tax revenue to help relieve some of the financial burden to Cooperstown property tax payers.”

Mayor Carol Waller said Wednesday morning that she was thrilled at the news.

``I hope it will be the beginning of a long-term partnership with the county,’’ Waller said. ``It’s a move in the right direction.’’

Waller, who has sought financial support from the county on numerous occasions, said the plan sounds promising, and hopes the financial assistance will be an annual benefit to the county. “Tourism is a big part of the both the village’s and county’s economy, and it is important for visitors to have a good time when come to Cooperstown and Otsego County,” Waller said.

But before village officials will see any of that long-sought after money, the plan will need to be approved by the county’s Administration Committee and the full board of representatives, Johnson said. The measure would direct $50,000 of immediate relief to village taxpayers, and wuld supply another $50,000 for targeted tourism infrastructure projects.

“I have and continue to work closely with village trustee Eric Hage on obtaining and directing this money to the most important places,: said Johnson. “Eric was instrumental in making this come together.”

“It may be the best example yet of how the county and village can work together for the betterment of all,” said Hage, who is chairman of the village Planning Committee. “Representative Johnson and I saw a need and went full steam ahead to get something done.”

Representative Sam Dubben, of Middlefield, who also represents part of the village, was pleased with Tuesday’s vote.

“I have endorsed this all along. In my meetings with Representative Johnson, I had told him he has my full support,” Dubben said. Last December, the Otsego County Board of Representatives agreed in principle to give Cooperstown $100,000 in bed tax money to help offset the cost of tourism, and in February, Waller and trustees Jeff Katz, Paul Kuhn, Eric Hage and Lynne Mebust along with village clerk Teri Barown went to the Intergovernmental Affairs Committee meeting to make a case for why the village should receive the bed tax funds.

And to do that, village treasurer Mary Ann Henderson created a spreadsheet from last year that shows almost $600,000 in annual tourism-related expenses. The expenses cover everything from trash receptacles and disposal to overtime for the DPW and police.

The IGA Committee, whose members include Johnson, Betty Ann Schwerd, of Burlington, Keith Mc- Carty, of Richfield, and Cathy Rothenberger, of the City of Oneonta, unanimously approved the resolution. The committee’s discussion preceding the vote addressed concerns regarding how the money should be spent, and the belief that a portion of it should directly relieve the tax burden of village residents. Johnson added, “This Committee is fully appreciative of the contribution Cooperstown makes to the economic vitality of the region, and I am pleased the County government is finally making steps to acknowledge the fact by making an investment in it. Our work is not done, however. We need to get this through one more committee and then the entire Board of Representatives.”