Santa Brings
Early Gifts

Looks like it will be a holly, jolly Christmas for some folks in Tioga County. Santa got an early start making that list and checking it twice and brought some early gifts to:

Community Pool Project received a state grant of $62,000 (obtained by Santa's helper, Senator Thomas Libous) and reached their $1,000,000 goal. "Our project is under way," said Dr. Ed Reid, Owego-Apalachin School Superintendent. The project should be started in April 1998 and finished and ready for a ribbon cutting and a big splash by September 1999.

Teachers in the Owego-Apalachin School received a pay raise. The school board approved a contract with the teachers' union. The teachers get a yearly increase of 3.35% for last year and this year; 3.4%, 3.45%, and 3.75% increase through the year 2000.

Lockheed Martin Federal Systems in Owego got a tax break and a refund. After a four-year battle, the Town of Owego and Lockheed Martin agreed to a settlement over the real property tax assessment dispute. The settlement gives Lockheed a reduction of approximately 39% on their property assessment for 1998, 1999, and 2000, and $2,063,828.88 in refunds for overpayments for years 1994 - 1997 (Lockheed waived interest on the refund). The reduction through the year 2000 amounts to a tax revenue loss of over $4,000,000 for Tioga County, the Town of Owego, the Owego Fire District, and the Owego-Apalachin School District.

Tioga County Legislatures approved the 1998 budget - they increased the tax rate just a bit and gave themselves a $1000 salary increase!

Hope Santa is as good to you!