Government of Ithaca

The name “Ithaca” actually designates two governmental entities in the area. The Town of Ithaca is one of the nine towns comprised by Tompkins County. (”Towns” in New York are something like townships in other states; every county outside New York City is subdivided into towns.) The City of Ithaca is surrounded by, but legally independent of, the Town of Ithaca.

As of December, 2005, the city and town governments have begun discussing opportunities for increased government consolidation, including the possibility of joining the two into a single town or city. This topic was last discussed in 1963 and 1969.

The possibility of consolidation is controversial for Town residents who could be forced to pay higher taxes as they help shoulder the higher debt burden that the City has taken on. Some Town residents also worry that consolidation could lead to increased sprawl and traffic congestion. However, most of the Town’s population is already concentrated in hamlets in close proximity to the City’s borders and Town residents take advantage of City amenities.

Other non-municipal areas within the Town of Ithaca identified by the US Census Bureau as census-designated places are:
East Ithaca
Forest Home
Northeast Ithaca
Northwest Ithaca
South Hill

In addition, the Town of Ithaca contains the Village of Cayuga Heights, a small incorporated upper-middle class suburb located to the northeast of the City of Ithaca.

The Town of Ithaca is bordered by other towns of Tompkins County as follows:
Enfield to the west
Ulysses to the northwest
Lansing to the northeast
Dryden to the east
Danby to the south
Newfield to the southwest

The majority of local property taxes are actually assessed by an entirely independent agency with entirely different borders, the Ithaca City School District.

The name “Ithaca” actually designates two governmental entities in the area. The Town of Ithaca is one of the nine towns comprised by Tompkins County. (”Towns” in New York are something like townships in other states; every county outside New York City is subdivided into towns.) The City of Ithaca is surrounded by, but legally independent of, the Town of Ithaca.

As of December, 2005, the city and town governments have begun discussing opportunities for increased government consolidation, including the possibility of joining the two into a single town or city. This topic was last discussed in 1963 and 1969.

The possibility of consolidation is controversial for Town residents who could be forced to pay higher taxes as they help shoulder the higher debt burden that the City has taken on. Some Town residents also worry that consolidation could lead to increased sprawl and traffic congestion. However, most of the Town’s population is already concentrated in hamlets in close proximity to the City’s borders and Town residents take advantage of City amenities.

Other non-municipal areas within the Town of Ithaca identified by the US Census Bureau as census-designated places are:
East Ithaca
Forest Home
Northeast Ithaca
Northwest Ithaca
South Hill

In addition, the Town of Ithaca contains the Village of Cayuga Heights, a small incorporated upper-middle class suburb located to the northeast of the City of Ithaca.

The Town of Ithaca is bordered by other towns of Tompkins County as follows:
Enfield to the west
Ulysses to the northwest
Lansing to the northeast
Dryden to the east
Danby to the south
Newfield to the southwest

The majority of local property taxes are actually assessed by an entirely independent agency with entirely different borders, the Ithaca City School District.