Syracuse (WSYR-TV) -- The cash strapped city of Syracuse has convinced another non-profit to make annual payments for services like police, fire and public works.
Crouse Hospital has reached an agreement to make yearly payments of $50,000 for the next four years. Syracuse University, last year, agreed to pay half-a-million dollars annually for five years.
It’s long been a struggle for the city of Syracuse, more than half of its properties are tax exempt, leaving $4-billion off the tax rolls. Mayor Stephanie Miner says she understands the tough economic climate facing non-profits, but says it’s time the larger ones step up with some financial help for the city.
"They make great contributions to the city, to the regional economy and we want to continue to help them grow, but it’s a double edged sword for us because as they grow they require more services and those services are paid for largely through property taxes,” Miner said.
Miner confirms she has reached out to University Hospital, which is the single biggest non-profit in the City of Syracuse. In all, she's touching base with the five biggest tax exempt entities in Syracuse, including SUNY ESF and St. Joseph’s Hospital.
"And as cities across the United States, and Syracuse in particular, face a completely different economic model we need people to stand with us to show our partners, in Albany in particular, but in Washington as well, that we are forward looking and we want to approach this together,” Miner continued.
Miner says almost more important than the dollar amount from these agreements is the fact that community leadership is standing up and saying they want to be part of a new model for the future of cities.
Miner says while these agreements are not common in New York, they are in cities like Boston and Providence.
