Auburn City Council will consider selling the Schine Theater for $70,000 Thursday, alongside budget changes for firefighter staffing, parking kiosks and electricity costs.
The business session begins at 5 p.m. Oct. 22 at Memorial City Hall, 24 South St., with six proposed resolutions and an Auburn Industrial Development Authority presentation on the council's agenda.
Schine Theater sale would come with an inspection period
Land Sale Resolution 114 would authorize a purchase agreement with Schine On! Inc., the nonprofit represented by Bree Kishman, for the city-owned theater at 16 South St. The council authorized negotiations Aug. 20; Thursday's proposal would approve the contract and authorize the mayor to complete the sale under its terms without another council vote.
The agreement covers an approximately 1.8-acre parcel, its buildings and improvements, including the bowling lanes. The city describes the transfer as a historic preservation and economic development project tied to its Downtown Revitalization Initiative and Brownfield Opportunity Area plans and a partnership with the state's Restore NY program.
Schine On! would put down $2,500, credited toward the purchase price at closing. It would have 180 days from the agreement's effective date to investigate the property and decide whether to proceed. During that period, the buyer could terminate for any reason and receive its deposit back.
The buyer could extend that review by 90 days with timely written notice if it is diligently pursuing due diligence. A structural inspection would still have to be completed within the initial 180 days. Closing would generally occur about 30 days after the review period ends, unless the parties agree otherwise.
The city would have to turn on all utilities and remove standing water, including water under the stage pit, before the agreement's effective date. The buyer would be responsible for insurance and liability associated with its inspections, and invasive environmental testing would require the city's written permission.
Apart from the city's stated warranties, Schine On! would acquire the property in its existing condition. The proposed contract limits the city's remedy for a buyer default to retaining the deposit. A separate compensation addendum calls for the buyer to pay the city's broker $3,000 and its own broker under another agreement.
Fire staffing, parking kiosks and electricity drive budget changes
Financial Resolution 116 would amend the fiscal 2026-27 budget to account for two additional firefighters already hired to reach 65 positions and a replacement for a retiring firefighter to maintain that staffing level.
The proposal would use $216,799.47 in general fund reserves for the staffing changes. That includes $98,346 in salaries, $69,360 in health insurance, $23,720 in training and additional equipment, supplies, services, Social Security and compensatory-time costs.
Four additional parking kiosks would be supported by shifting $19,217.53 in salary savings from retired staff into supplies, services and fees.
Higher electricity supply costs would also require adjustments across city funds. The water fund would use $94,125 from its reserves, the sewer fund $51,750 and the power utility fund $9,475. General fund changes would move money from contingency and other existing accounts into electricity budgets, including $13,500 for the Fire Department and $12,750 for parking operations, and transfer $20,250 to enterprise recreation for electricity.
A separate measure, Financial Resolution 115, concerns fiscal 2025-26 year-end accounting. Comptroller Mary Beth Leeson says the changes are needed under governmental accounting rules. It would adjust budgets for expenses accrued before the books close, including payroll, utilities, retirement, insurance and debt costs. The general fund schedule includes $417,643.15 in police retirement accruals, $581,963.38 in fire retirement accruals and $621,997.82 from fund balance, along with transfers from other expense accounts.
Water, sewer, refuse and power utility adjustments are also included in Resolution 115.
Firefighter mental health grant would rise to $17,000
Grant Acceptance Resolution 117 would add $2,000 to the Fire Department's CARES UP funding, increasing the amount from $15,000 to $17,000.
The money comes through the Research Foundation for Mental Hygiene Inc., which administers the grant under a state Office of Mental Health Suicide Prevention Center contract. Fire Chief Mark Fritz says the increase would support suicide prevention, mental health services and peer support for department members.
Council would authorize Fritz to sign the amendment and the comptroller to add the money to the city's CARES budget line. The contract amendment covers services from July 1 through Dec. 31, 2026, and leaves the other agreement terms in place.
Halloween sponsorships and police vehicle repairs
Financial Resolution 118 would recognize $2,000 in sponsorship funding and matching expenses for Home Run Halloween at Falcon Park, listed for Oct. 17.
The resolution credits Unity House of Cayuga County, Hipkens Law Office, Nucor, Dunkin Donuts, Home Depot and FLX Local Media with sponsorships or services. The funding would help cover event costs.
Financial Resolution 119 would accept $1,477.10 in insurance proceeds for repairs to an Auburn Police Department vehicle damaged in a crash. It would increase both insurance recovery revenue and the police vehicle maintenance budget.
Development authority will explain incentives and marketing plans
The Auburn Industrial Development Authority is scheduled to present its role in business investment, the incentives it can offer and a proposed marketing strategy.
Its overview describes construction-related sales tax exemptions, mortgage recording tax abatements, property tax agreements and tax-exempt bonds. It also explains limits on retail incentives and says the authority cannot provide grants or loans from its own funds to individual businesses.
The presentation uses past projects to illustrate investment, anticipated tax abatements and employment. For Tessy Plastics' 2020 project, it lists $18 million in investment, an anticipated $1.7 million abatement over 10 years and 192 full-time jobs in 2025. For Prison City's North Street brewery, it lists $4.248 million in investment, an anticipated $460,342 abatement over 10 years, and 19 full-time-equivalent jobs plus five seasonal jobs at that location in 2025.
Other examples are the Hilton Garden Inn, with $11 million in investment and an anticipated $6.1 million abatement over 25 years; Logan Lofts, a $6.2 million redevelopment into 35 apartments with an anticipated $1.7 million abatement over 20 years; and Plaza of the Arts, with $3 million in investment and an anticipated $1.7 million abatement over 15 years.
The authority's marketing committee outlines an initial 90-day effort to inventory its assets and communications, identify target industries, improve its website and property information, build referral procedures and submit a measurable 12-month marketing plan.
How to participate
The council's public comment period allows speakers three minutes to address city government matters. Speakers are asked to state their name and address after being recognized by the mayor. The meeting is also scheduled to stream through the city's Channel A page.
Other agenda business includes approval of the Sept. 24 meeting minutes, a notice about NYSEG and RG&E bill assistance for eligible veterans, and the city's annual tree planting. The planting is scheduled for 8 a.m. Oct. 31 at Lincoln Playground, 149 N. Fulton St.; volunteers are asked to bring shovels, rakes and gloves. Information is available from Urban Forestry at 315-515-7284 or rseamans@auburnny.gov.
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