www.cnyinternet.com/

As the past year has shown, reliable access to broadband internet is no longer a luxury. Covid-19 forced many aspects of our daily lives online; virtual learning, working from home, online shopping, telemedicine, and simply staying connected with those we care about. It has also shown how prevalent the digital divide is in parts of Central New York.

To help address this issue, the Central New York Regional Planning and Development Board (CNY RPDB) has partnered with Cayuga, Cortland, Madison, Onondaga, and Oswego Counties to complete a study that will identify areas within each County that lack access to reliable broadband internet. Assisting with this study is ECC Technologies, a private consulting firm based in Rochester, NY that has a successful history of working with counties and municipalities across Upstate New York to identify and solve broadband internet access issues.

As part of this study, ECC Technologies has created a website and survey material that will allow us to collect data about broadband access in the region, called the Broadband Availability and Adoption Toolset (BAAT).  The BAAT survey is being used to reach residents and businesses to learn about their current internet access issues, service reliability, and the affordability of their internet access options. 

A website with the community survey launched on Friday April 30^th and will run through July 31^st. The survey is accessible on any device with internet connection. 

The confidential information collected from this survey will be used to identify areas in the County most in need of improved internet access service.  The information will also provide the basis for developing a plan to improve broadband internet access in Oswego County and across Central New York. The plan will be completed by October 2021. 

Please feel free to contact the CNY RPDB at (315) 412-5966 for assistance in filling out the survey over the phone or to request a survey be mailed directly to your home or business. 

Thank you for being an important part of this initiative. Your assistance in helping to facilitate community engagement in the survey will provide the basis for improving broadband internet service in the Central New York. Please feel free to contact the CNY RPDB, if you have any questions about the survey and the broadband internet study.

https://covidhotspotlookup.health.ny.gov/#/home

 In the 2020 New York State Budget, it was enacted that BASIC STAR BENEFITS WILL BE DENIED to property owners who are delinquent on their County, Town, Village, City or School property taxes for more than one year. 

All delinquent taxpayers who are behind on their taxes and all delinquent installment contract holders who are behind on their payment schedules must bring their accounts current by JUNE 22, 2020 to keep their STAR in 2021. 

Delinquent taxes and delinquent installment contract payments should be paid to the Oswego County Treasurer’s Office.  Payments are not accepted on Foreclosed properties.

If you pay your taxes late but pay your taxes in full (being current), you may become eligible to get BASIC STAR in the future year.  Once a taxpayer loses the reduction from the school tax bill (STAR EXEMPTION), the taxpayer can only receive a STAR check with future eligibility if prior taxes have been paid in full.  (This means that the Town & County Tax Bills – issued in January, as well as applicable City Taxes which are issued in April – must be kept current at all times to keep Basic STAR.  Unpaid Village and School Property Taxes, as well as other Relevies are accounted for the on the January Tax Bill.)

 All inquiries regarding STAR and ENHANCED STAR should be directed to the NYS Department of Taxation and Finance.  Their phone number is 518-457-2036 and their normal office hours are Monday through Friday, 8:30 am – 4:30 pm.  More information may be obtained at:  https://www.tax.ny.gov/star/