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News and Highlights

2027 Budget Information and Documents

Published on September 01, 2026

Visit the budget page tcgov.co/budget to find 2027 budget information and documents.

LEAD POISONING PREVENTION WEEK: OCTOBER 25 - OCTOBER 31, 2026

Published on October 20, 2026

For this year’s National Lead Poisoning Prevention Week, TCWH invites the community to join us for an educational event in partnership with Eco-Testing and Finger Lakes ReUse. The event will take place on Saturday, October 24, from 12:00 pm - 2:00 pm at the ReUse Center’s new location in the former Big Lots building (2309 North Triphammer Road, Ithaca). This event is free and open to the public.

Understanding local elections: How the County prepares for disruptions

Published on October 20, 2026

Election preparedness is a Countywide effort. Before voting begins, the Board of Elections and partner agencies use exercises and operational planning to test roles, communications, and backup procedures. The Sheriff's Office coordinates with local police agencies and State partners, so help can be dispatched quickly if needed.

Highlights of the Oct 2026 Expanded Budget Committee voting meetings

Published on October 19, 2026

The Administrator’s Recommended Budget began with a property tax levy increase of 11.96%. After the EBC’s amendments, the proposed Tentative Budget includes a $61.24 million property tax levy, an increase of about 7.69%.

Highlights of the 10/06/26 Tompkins County Legislature meeting

Published on October 19, 2026

Topics included:
📑Community Justice Center contract extended
👩‍🎓Capital funding for TC3 appropriated
🦌Youth deer hunting pilot program approved
🔍Tax exemptions for Cornell-owned fraternity properties to be examined
⚖️Call for changes to New York's sexual assault laws
📜Proclamation of Indigenous Peoples' Day
🗣️Public hearings

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Health Alert: Local Rise in Whooping Cough & Walking Pneumonia Cases (11/6/2024) Tompkins County Whole Health (TCWH) is alerting the community to a recent increase in the number of people becoming ill from two different bacterial respiratory illnesses: Pertussis (commonly known as Whooping Cough), and M. pneumoniae (commonly known as Walking Pneumonia).
Health Alert: E. coli Outbreak Linked to Organic Carrots (11/19/2024) Tompkins County Whole Health (TCWH) is alerting the community to a recall on multiple sizes and brands of organic whole and baby carrots which were sold at grocery stores in our region (including Wegmans, Trader Joe’s, Tops and GreenStar Food Co-op). The carrots have been linked to an outbreak of E. coli from bagged organic whole and baby carrots from a single supplier.
TCWH Celebrates One-Year Anniversary of the C.A.R.E. Team (11/4/2024) In August 2023, the C.A.R.E. Team (Crisis Alternative Response and Engagement), a co-response partnership between Tompkins County Whole Health (TCWH) and the Tompkins County Sheriff’s Office, was launched as an effort to divert community members from the criminal justice system in response to crisis calls.
Health Alert: TCEH Seeks Info About a Dog Bite (11/12/2024) Tompkins County Whole Health’s Environmental Health Division (EH) must locate a dog that bit a person on Monday, November 11, 2024, at approximately 3:15 PM, near the UPS Store at 407 College Avenue, Ithaca. The person was bit on their hand and ankle when they retrieved a glove they had dropped. EH seeks to verify the biting dog’s vaccination status.
TCEH Seeks Information About a Dog Bite at Taughannock State Park TCWH EH must locate a dog that bit a person on Wednesday, October 23, 2024, at approximately 10:30AM, in the North Point area of Taughannock State Park (1740 Taughannock Blvd, Trumansburg). The person was bit as they assisted in capturing a dog that had escaped the dog’s sitter.
Breast Cancer Screening & Early Detection Saves Lives Tompkins County Whole Health (TCWH) is sharing with the community about low or no-cost breast cancer screenings available in Tompkins County this month as part of Breast Cancer Awareness month.
LEAD POISONING PREVENTION WEEK: OCTOBER 20 - OCTOBER 26, 2024 For this year’s National Lead Poisoning Prevention Week (NLPPW), Tompkins County Whole Health (TCWH) invites the community to join us for an educational event in partnership with Eco-Testing and the Ithaca ReUse Center. The event will take place on Tuesday, October 22, from 2:30 pm-5:00 pm at the ReUse Center’s downtown location (214 Elmira Road, Ithaca). This event is free and open to the public.
Health Alert: Say “Boo” to the Flu! Early Fall Vaccination Recommendat Tompkins County Whole Health (TCWH) is alerting the community of the importance of prioritizing flu (influenza) vaccinations in early fall and invites the community to join us in saying “BOO to the FLU!” this year.
Foster Care Recruitment & Retention, Adoption and Post-Finalization
Food Assistance (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program)
Youth and Family Services
Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP)
Temporary Assistance
Financial and Emergency Assistance
Medicaid
Emergency Assistance
Child Care Assistance Program
Fire & EMS For Fire & EMS Training Schedule, please visit:
https://sites.google.com/view/tcemstraining/home
911 Emergency Communications Center
Long Term Care Ombudsman Program
CAPS Evaluations and In Home Fall Safety Assessments
Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP)
Property Taxes How to pay property taxes
Tompkins County Hotel Room Occupancy Tax
Local Mental Health Resources Local mental health resources and providers support people in our community who are experiencing mental health crisis or mental health-related distress. Whole Health's Mental Health Services has compiled a listing of Mental Health Resources.
Personalized Recovery Oriented Services (PROS) Personalized Recovery Oriented Services (PROS) is a comprehensive recovery-oriented program for adults with severe mental illness.
Finance Department The Finance Department contains the Treasury Division, Accounting Division, and Purchasing Division.
County Road Projects
County Bridges
County Roads
Soil and Water Conservation District The Tompkins County Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD) is one of 58 Soil and Water Conservation District's located across New York State.
2027-2037 Housing Strategy
Emergency Preparedness
Highway Department The mission of the Highway Department is to provide highway and bridge construction, maintenance, and emergency services safely, effectively, and efficiently for our local and traveling public customers, while promoting self-esteem and growth as individuals.
Procedure for Obtaining a Permit to Construct an OWTS
Temporary Food Permit
Employment Opportunities Find the right career for you and be invited to apply for jobs based on your interest and experience
Fair Housing
Drinking Water
Climate Adaptation and Resiliency
Energy and Greenhouse Gas Emissions
Transportation
Water Resources
Job Seeker Services
Disability Services
Employer Services
Pistol Permits
District Attorney The Tompkins County District Attorney’s Office is responsible for the promotion of public safety through the prosecution of criminal offenses defined under State law, committed within Tompkins County.
Find a Job
Youth Employment (Ages 14-24)
Youth Services The Tompkins County Youth Services Department invests time, resources and funding in communities to enable all youth to thrive in school, work and life.
Immunization & Vaccines
Oral Health At Tompkins County Whole Health, we believe in the power of a healthy smile. Our mission is to improve your health by providing you with oral health tips, resources, and information about dental care providers and dental insurance options. Your smile matters, and we are here to support you every step of the way.
Healthy Neighborhoods Program The Healthy Neighborhoods Program (HNP) provides free home safety visits to promote healthy homes. HNP is part of the Health Promotion Program at the Tompkins County Health Department, and is funded by a grant from the New York State Department of Health.
Women, Infants and Children (WIC) Program The Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) improves the health and nutrition of parents and their children during pregnancy and early childhood.
Moms PLUS+ Moms PLUS+ — Parent Pregnancy & Lactation United Services — is a home visiting nurse program that provides maternal child health supportive services, free of cost, to residents of Tompkins County regardless of insurance status. Moms PLUS + is designed to improve equitable access to quality maternal child health care, increase lactation support for parents choosing to breast and chest feed.
Children with Special Care Needs (CSCN)
Health Insurance Information, Counseling, and Assistance Program
Mental Health Services The Mission of Tompkins County Mental Health Services is to meet the needs of the residents of Tompkins County in the areas of mental health, developmental disabilities, and chemical dependency by providing prevention and early detection, comprehensively planned care, treatment, and rehabilitation services.
Public Health Preparedness
Construction and Hauling Permits
Assessment This office was consolidated in 1970 to provide the highest possible service at the lowest possible cost to the residents of Tompkins County. Our office is dedicated to ensuring that all properties are assessed at a uniform percentage of market value.
Whole Health Our mission is to build a healthy, equitable community in Tompkins County by addressing the root causes of health disparities and integrating mental, physical and environmental health.
Housing
Sheriff's Office Stay informed about the Tompkins County Sheriff's Office and its commitment to community safety! Discover resources, crime prevention tips, and services designed to keep our community secure.