Municipalties continue to battle 50/50 tax split

11/1/2012 (Updated 10:07:53 PM)

With only days before Tuesday's election, local Democrats and Republicans are once again sparring over the county's split of sales tax with municipalities.

County executive Debbie Preston is proposing a gradual return to a full 50/50 split between the county and municipalities.

Democratic leaders said the county is in line for $3.2 million dollars more in sales tax revenue than originally estimated.

They said if municipalities don't see a share of that money, they'll be forced to cut services.

"The bottom line is that the money is there and it's huge, They are reaching into pockets of all the municipalities to flatten their budget," said Town of Vestal Supervisor John Schaffer.

"$3.2 million at a minim is bonus money that's come out of the sky falling down like saw dust off a wood table.  It was never there before," said Village of Endicott Deputy Mayor Dave Baker.