In 2011, Cornell School District participated in the development of local comprehensive plan. The report identified several problems, including that 50% of local properties were vacant industrial properties and the local economy has been in decline for years. It also reported a local resident population decline: from 1970 to 2000, the population dropped 40 percent, from 23,000 to 14,000. Neville has 1,200 residents, and the other towns each have 6,500 to 6,600 residents. One proposal in the report called for the district to forgive back taxes on vacant properties in order to encourage people to purchase them