The Town of Owego:

1998 in Review, Looking Ahead to 1999
by Carol Sweeney, Town of Owego Supervisor


During 1998, there was much positive activity in our town. Many businesses in our town have been hiring, and Tioga County's request for an Economic Development Zone (EDZ) was approved this year by New York State. This will help businesses in the town to continue to expand and should also attract new businesses.

A new motel is under construction at Exit 66 in Apalachin and is due to open in late spring.

A new neighborhood park in the Woodwinds Subdivision (Eric Alzate Memorial Park) is nearing completion, with the playground just installed in late fall.

In 1998, a lot of attention was given to maintaining and improving the sewer infrastructure in the town. A major upgrade to Sewer Treatment Plant #1 (located behind Hadco) is currently under construction and will allow for continued industrial, business, and residential growth in our town. The treatment plant should be finished and operational in late spring. A $200,000 grant has been secured to help pay for the expansion of sewer service into the Old Owego Road area of the town. This sewer service will be installed during 1999, bringing new sewer service to over 200 residences.

In 1999, roadway and bridge infrastructure improvements in our town will continue. The Route 434 Westbound Safety Widening project was completed in 1998. The Route 434 Eastbound Safety Widening project will be done in 1999 in conjunction with the start of the construction of the new Apalachin/Campville Susquehanna River bridge at Exit 66. The bids on the new bridge are scheduled to be opened on July 22, 1999, with construction to start in September. This new bridge is scheduled to be completed by the end of the year 2000.

The New York State Department of Transportation study on the Court Street Bridge should be completed early in 1999 as the DOT looks at preliminary designs for the three different options proposed for this bridge. There will be public input meetings this year as the DOT moves toward deciding on one final design option. The bridge is currently scheduled to have bids opened for it in December 2000, with construction in 2001-2002.

The State implemented the STAR Program for Seniors in 1998 and will implement the first phase of Basic STAR for all other homeowners in 1999. All seniors need to reapply every year by March 1 due to the income requirements. All other homeowners only need to apply once and by March 1, 1999, to qualify for this school tax break. Please do not miss out on this opportunity to save on your taxes!

Also, the town just recently passed a change in the Income Limit for town taxes for the Senior Citizen Exemption. The limit has been raised from a flat $9,200 to a sliding scale income limit from $9,200 to $17,600. If you are a senior and fall into this income limit, make sure you apply for this exemption. If you have any questions about the STAR program or the Senior Exemption, please contact our Assessor's office and get this done by March 1.

A major challenge in 1999 will be dealing with a decreased tax base and doing everything possible to contain the budget and the tax rate for our residents. The town's tax base has decreased approximately 5% since it peaked in 1996. We will be looking at ways to equalize and stabilize our tax base along with constantly reviewing the budget for cost savings.

As I continue my second term as Town Supervisor I want to thank you for your input - both constructive criticism and encouragement! As we work toward making the Town of Owego a better place to live, work, and raise a family, I encourage you to contact me with your ideas and suggestions at the Supervisor's office at 687-3535. My best wishes to you for a wonderful 1999!


©1999 APALACHIN COMMUNITY PRESS