OGDENSBURG, New York (WWNY) – A state Supreme Court judge has temporarily banned the city of Ogdensburg from implementing a local law to shift the burden of uncollected property taxes to the county.

State Supreme Court Judge Mary Farley issued the order on Friday.

The city says it deserves the same treatment as villages and towns, where the county repairs them for uncollected taxes. But, the county says state law gives it different obligations when it comes to a city. City officials say the lawsuit is yet another attempt by the county to discriminate.

“The premise of our argument is that the city acted beyond its authority under the New York State Constitution and the laws of the State of New York,” said the St County District Attorney. Lawrence, Stephen Button.

“What they’re saying is that they don’t want to continue consolidating local government. They don’t want to keep reducing redundancy of service. And they don’t want to help the taxpayers of St. Lawrence County, which includes residents of the town of Ogdensburg, pay less taxes and have less government, ”said Stephen Jellie, City Manager of Ogdensburg. .

Jellie called the order “irrelevant” because local law does not come into effect until January. A hearing is scheduled for December 10.

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