Auburn City Council moved through a slate of consequential financial and infrastructure decisions Thursday night, formally adopting 2026 tax rates, advancing long-term water and wastewater projects, and opening the door to a potential expansion of property tax relief for senior and disabled homeowners.
The meeting, held at Memorial City Hall, included public comment focused on affordability, detailed updates from city staff on major capital projects, and a series of resolutions tied to taxes, budgeting, procurement policy, and professional engineering services.
Public calls for expanded senior and disability tax exemptions
During the public-to-be-heard portion of the meeting, city resident James Udall urged the council to raise income eligibility limits for the city’s senior and disability property tax exemption program, arguing that current thresholds have not been adjusted since 2020 and exclude many residents who would otherwise qualify.
Udall said the city currently caps eligibility at $37,400 in household income, despite state guidelines allowing exemptions for households earning up to $55,000 annually. He said roughly 400 households currently receive the exemption and suggested that number could more than double if Auburn aligned its limits with the state.
City Manager Jenny Haines responded that staff could compile data showing how many additional households might qualify under higher income limits, as well as the potential impact on the rest of the tax base if exemptions were expanded. Council members acknowledged that increasing exemptions would likely shift some tax burden onto other property owners.
City manager outlines progress on bridges, water, and wastewater projects
Haines provided an extensive update on several major infrastructure projects underway across the city.
She said the Lake Avenue bridge rehabilitation project remains out to bid, with engineering staff preparing a presentation for council next week focused on schedule, budget, and next steps. The bid period has been extended to Feb. 10 following contractor feedback that could result in project savings through revised repair details.
At the wastewater treatment plant, Haines said construction continues on the city’s overflow retention facility, with crews pouring concrete for the tank’s lower slab and floor over the coming weeks. She also outlined upcoming work to bring new digesters and a solids dewatering facility online, a process expected to take 60 to 90 days and require sludge deliveries from Ithaca to seed the system.
Haines also described a coordinated effort with the Cayuga County Soil and Water Conservation District to reuse large stone excavated from the wastewater project for streambank stabilization and watershed improvement projects across the region.
Wholesale water rate discussions with neighboring municipalities are continuing into 2026, with the goal of developing a comprehensive, transparent agreement that fairly allocates costs as water is shared across the regional system.
With extreme cold weather forecast, Haines cautioned that road salt will be largely ineffective and that roads are expected to remain snow-covered despite ongoing plowing. She urged residents to drive cautiously and report water leaks or pressure loss as freezing temperatures increase the risk of water main breaks.
Council adopts 2026 library levy and county tax rate
Council unanimously approved a resolution establishing the 2026 Seymour Public Library tax levy, setting Auburn’s share at $639,575.68. Half of that amount will be advanced to the library in February, reducing the payment due later in the year. Mayor James Giannettino thanked library staff for their ongoing programming and community services.
The council also adopted the 2026 Cayuga County tax rate for the city, which reflects Auburn’s county tax share of more than $10.3 million, an increase of roughly $1.68 million from 2025. The resolution also included the city’s share of Cayuga Community College charges.
Councilor Craig Diego questioned the county’s practice of charging municipalities a fee to mail county tax bills, calling it difficult to justify given the size of Auburn’s overall contribution. City officials said the charge applies uniformly to all towns and has been standard practice for years, though council members said they could raise concerns with county legislators.
Budget calendar, policies, and contracts approved
Council adopted several administrative resolutions, including the city’s investment policy, procurement and surplus policy, and the official budget calendar for preparing the 2026–2027 city budget. Officials said most policies were unchanged from the prior year, with minor updates to reflect recently adopted capital asset rules.
Council also approved awarding a professional services contract for engineering work tied to transmission main replacement and reservoir rehabilitation, advancing planning for future water infrastructure upgrades.
Community updates and adjournment
Council members also shared brief community updates, including attendance at a recovery-focused community event, a Martin Luther King Jr. Day ceremony, and volunteer efforts at a local school.
With no ordinances or local laws on the agenda, the meeting concluded after completing the resolution package.
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