Highlights of the 10/6/25 Expanded Budget Committee (EBC) meeting

Published on October 10, 2025

Below is a list of amendments that were voted on during the October 6 meeting. After this second voting session, the budget amendments changed the tax levy increase from 4.5% as proposed in the Administrator’s Recommended Budget to 5.34%.

Amendment 26 – Downtown Ithaca Daycare Service

Legislator Black (D-Ithaca Town) proposed to restore $16,075 in funding for the Downtown Ithaca Children’s Center (DICC) administered through the Human Services Coalition, which was approved unanimously.

Amendment 21 – Office of Human Rights (OHR)

Legislator Champion (D-Ithaca Town) proposed to remove $89,723 in funding for an education and outreach position that was added in the Recommended Budget. Legislators discussed hiring an OHR director first before adding another position. The amendment was approved 13-1, with Legislator Mezey (D-Dryden) opposed.

Amendment 20 – Tompkins Community Action

Legislator Dawson (D-Lansing, Cayuga Heights) moved to restore $27,038 in funding, which passed unanimously.

Amendment 39 – Emergency Response

Legislator John (D-Ithaca City) proposed to allocate $200,000 to the Contingent Fund for the countywide security team and remove the four FTE security positions ($358,892) proposed in the Recommended Budget. The amendment was later withdrawn.

Amendment 42 – Social Services

Legislator John (D-Ithaca City) proposed allocating $106,000 to the Contingent Fund for armed security services, which was later withdrawn.

Amendment 24 – Planning and Sustainability

Legislator Koreman (D-Ulysses, Enfield, Ithaca) moved to restore $333,000 in funding for replacing 11 county fleet vehicles and maintaining the suggested rotation schedule. Legislators discussed the advantages of purchasing versus leasing vehicles and the use of capital funds versus fund balance. Legislator Mezey’s (D-Dryden) amendment to fund six vehicles for the Sheriff’s Office for a total of $175,000 passed 10-4, with Legislators Shurtleff (R-Groton, Dryden, Lansing), Sigler (R-Lansing), Black (D-Ithaca Town), and Champion (D-Ithaca Town) opposed.

Amendment 33 – Human Resources

Legislator Klein (D-Danby, Caroline, Ithaca) proposed to restore $20,494 for countywide travel and training that was cut in 2025. This funding would support professional development and skills training on a case-by-case basis for departments that don’t have a training budget. Mandated training costs are typically included in a department’s budget. The amendment was approved 10-4, with Legislators Shurtleff (R-Groton, Dryden, Lansing), Sigler (R-Lansing), Black (D-Ithaca Town), and Champion (D-Ithaca Town) opposed.

Amendment 16 – Planning and Sustainability

Legislator Koreman (D-Ulysses, Enfield, Ithaca) moved to increase the department’s travel and training budget by $4,000 as proposed, which failed 3-11, with Legislators Koreman (D-Ulysses, Enfield, Ithaca), Pillar (D-Ithaca City), and Klein (D-Danby, Caroline, Ithaca) in favor.

Amendment 34 – Information Technology Services

Legislator Klein (D-Danby, Caroline, Ithaca) proposed to increase the department’s travel and training line by $11,000, which failed 7-7. Legislators noted the importance of keeping up with cybersecurity threats. Legislator Mezey (D-Dryden) moved to add $5,500 instead, which passed 9-5, with Legislators Shurtleff (R-Groton, Dryden, Lansing), Sigler (R-Lansing), Champion (D-Ithaca Town), Legislator Koreman (D-Ulysses, Enfield, Ithaca), and Dawson (D-Lansing, Cayuga Heights) opposed.

Amendment 27 – Tompkins County Public Library (TCPL)

Legislator John (D-Ithaca City) moved to restore $96,570 in funding for TCPL to fund a senior clerk and a clerk position. TCPL would cover the fringe costs for these positions. Legislators discussed TCPL’s 2024 audit and its increased fund balance, which, according to the interim director, is slated to cover new computer equipment, security cost increases, and contractual increases. Legislator Brooks (D-Ithaca City) amended to fund a senior clerk position with $49,250, which passed 8-6, with Legislators Mezey (D-Dryden), Shurtleff (R-Groton, Dryden, Lansing), Brown (R-Newfield, Enfield), Sigler (R-Lansing), Black (D-Ithaca Town), and Dawson (D-Lansing, Cayuga Heights) opposed.

Amendment 11 – Finance

Legislator Black (D-Ithaca Town) proposed adding $123,364 for an accountant position in the Treasury division. It was noted that the department is short-staffed with an increased workload. The amendment passed 12-2, with Legislator Shurtleff (R-Groton, Dryden, Lansing) and Legislator Sigler (R-Lansing) opposed.

Amendment 32 – Facilities

Legislator Klein (D-Danby, Caroline, Ithaca) moved to add $40,000 to replace a tractor used for snow and ice removal operations at downtown county buildings, which failed 4-10, with Legislators Klein (D-Danby, Caroline, Ithaca), Pillar (D-Ithaca City), Koreman (D-Ulysses, Enfield, Ithaca), and Mezey (D-Dryden) in favor.

Amendment 4 – Food insecurity

Legislator Black (D-Ithaca Town) proposed to set aside $50,000 in the Contingency Fund to address food insecurity in the county, offsetting budget cuts to Human Services Coalition agencies. The funds would be administered through various county departments. The amendment passed 12-2, with Legislators Lane (D-Dryden) and Champion (D-Ithaca Town) opposed.

Amendment 35 – Clerk of the Legislature

Legislator Klein (D-Danby, Caroline, Ithaca) moved to add $1,500 for printing costs, which passed 13-1, with Legislator Mezey (D-Dryden) opposed.

Next EBC voting meeting

The next voting session of the Expanded Budget Committee is scheduled for October 8 at 5 pm in the Legislature Chambers. The meeting will be livestreamed and recorded.

Understanding the 2026 budget process

In the Recommended Budget, the county administrator delineates for each department which enhancement requests could be supported and which ones could not due to fiscal constraints. Departments and agencies can detail these requests during presentations to the Expanded Budget Committee (EBC), and they are for the legislature to consider when voting on the budget. Any increases to the recommended budget, if not offset by reductions in other areas, will result in a tax levy increase. Highlights of the EBC meetings, especially the voting sessions, focus on enhancement requests or significant changes proposed by departments, agencies, and legislators during the budget process. In addition to these discussions, the legislature can also add or reduce programs that are not included in the county administrator’s recommendation. For more information on the budget process and how to share public comment, visit the county’s budget web page and review previous highlights of the Expanded Budget Committee meetings.

###