Committee advances resolution to expand Tompkins County Industrial Development Agency board to include school and rural representation

The Tompkins County Legislature’s Housing & Economic Development Committee on a February 2025 afternoon voted unanimously to advance a resolution (ID 13085) asking the state to permit the county to expand the Tompkins County Industrial Development Agency (TCIDA) board from seven to nine members and to consider adding seats that could represent school districts, organized labor and rural towns.

The resolution was moved by Chair Greg (Legislator) and seconded by Veronica Pillard (Legislator). The committee recorded a roll-call vote of six yes votes — Travis Brooks (Legislator), Deborah Dawson (Legislator), Mike Sigler (Legislator), Anne Corman (Legislator), Veronica Pillard (Legislator) and Chair Greg — and the measure “passed unanimously out of committee” and will go to the full legislature and then to the state for the home-rule approval needed to change the IDA’s membership.

Why it matters: the TCIDA issues tax abatements and other incentives for development projects; committee members and public commenters tied the change to concerns about how those incentives affect local taxing jurisdictions, particularly Ithaca City School District, and to the desire to broaden the board’s perspectives. Supporters said adding representation would give impacted constituencies “a seat at the table” and improve project review. Opponents and skeptics warned that adding seats should not shut down economic development or institutionalize opposition to projects.

Public commenters and committee members described specific motivations and concerns. Jill Tripp, a member of the Ithaca City School District Board of Education, urged support for the resolution so the IDA would include voices familiar with school funding. Catherine Cinera, president of the Ithaca Teachers Association, said: "I am here today to strongly encourage you to seat a school district representative on the Tompkins County Industrial Development Agency Board." Robert Lynch, representing the Enfield Town Board, and others urged adding rural representation; several legislators and commenters also called for a labor representative or codified consideration of labor interests.

Committee debate summarized key points and proposals. Mike Sigler (Legislator) expressed concern drawn from public emails that some applicants might join the IDA "with the mindset of we're gonna be a no vote on projects," and said that would defeat the purpose of the body. Veronica Pillard (Legislator) and others pushed back on the premise that school district representatives would be appointed solely to block projects, saying most appointees would seek to be heard and to improve proposals. Rich John (Legislator; IDA chair) defended the IDA’s record and warned against actions that might weaken local economic development, saying the IDA “has helped the schools fundamentally in gigantic ways.”

Several committee members proposed interim and parallel steps if the legislature supports the change. Rich John and others suggested the IDA adopt a policy to notify and invite the relevant school superintendent to discuss potential housing projects affecting a district before a final vote; Deborah Dawson (Legislator) said the county could pursue such procedural changes while the home-rule request moves through Albany. Rich John also asked whether a formal school-district seat would carry fiscal responsibilities and whether school districts should contribute funding to the IDA; that question was raised for follow-up discussion but not decided.

What the resolution does and does not do: the resolution asks the county legislature to seek a state home-rule law permitting the size change and to encourage including school, labor and rural representation as potential at-large slots. Committee members repeatedly noted the resolution itself does not unilaterally add members to the TCIDA or guarantee a specific seat to any particular school district; several speakers referenced the state statutory language saying member categories "may include" representatives of local government, school boards and organized labor. The committee also directed that the item not be placed on the legislature’s consent agenda so full discussion can occur at the legislature level.

Next steps: the measure will go to the full Tompkins County Legislature and, if approved there, will be forwarded to the New York State Legislature and the governor for the home-rule action required to change the TCIDA charter. Committee members asked staff and the IDA to prepare follow-up materials, including a plan for how new seats would be filled if the change is approved and consideration of interim policies to increase school-district engagement on housing projects.

Ending: supporters framed the change as widening representation on a body that issues long-term tax abatements and shapes development across Tompkins County; critics urged safeguards to preserve the IDA’s capacity to attract projects. The committee’s unanimous vote sends the question to the full legislature for further debate.