Small N.Y. Town Clashes with Colleges Over Service Costs

Alfred, N.Y., a small upstate village with two colleges that account for 90 percent of its assessed property value, is taking a more aggressive tack in seeking payments in lieu of taxes from the institutions, The New York Times writes.

The town-gown financial dispute culminated last year with village officials threatening to turn off water supplies to Alfred University and Alfred State College unless they paid more for water services. Fights over nonprofit contributions to local government budgets have become common in recent years but have typically involved major institutions such as Princeton.

Alfred University, a private institution, pays the town $135,000 a year under existing agreements, including $65,000 to help maintain the six-member local police force, but Alfred State, a part of the State University of New York system, has balked at making payments.