With an overwhelming “no,” the Syracuse Common Council shot down a plan to have businesses along the Connective Corridorpay a special maintenance tax.
The council did not feel that small businesses should have to pay for the corridor’s upkeep. Councilor Pat Hogan says the responsibility should fall on other institutions.
“The burden of this should be born on the people who championed for it. This should be Syracuse University which is the largest tax exempt institution in the county. It should not be on the backs of the Liberty Deli and Franco’s and the other small businesses along the corridor that never had any kind of real input in this project.”
Hogan says some businesses can use that tax money to better assist the clients they serve. Councilor Bob Dougherty was the only member to vote yes, and says that vote was a reluctant one. He says turning down the plan doesn’t provide a solution.
“I just have no idea how this maintenance will get done on this for the next year. And the fact that we are out of time because the tax bills had to go out, I am normally a person that says “Let’s meet, let’s come up with something,” but there is just no time left for that.”
Both business owners and council members say they see this as a short-term decision for a problem that needs much more discussion.
