Highlights of the 8/4/26 Tompkins County Legislature meeting
Published on August 06, 2026
Watch the meeting recording on YouTube
Jump to discussions on specific agenda items on the Meeting Portal
Topics included:
- State Code Blue funding reduced
- “Understanding Your County Budget” series
- Epidemiologist position for Whole Health
- Airport snow-removal equipment building
- Public review of NYSEG and RG&E actions
State Code Blue funding reduced by nearly $1.2 million
Deputy County Administrator Bridgette Nugent reported that the New York State Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance allocated $841,000 to Tompkins County for the 2026–27 Code Blue season. The allocation represents a reduction of nearly $1.2 million from the prior year.
Code Blue programs provide emergency shelter during periods of extreme winter weather. County officials said the reduction will have a significant effect on the services the county can provide during the coming winter. County Administration and the Department of Social Services are reviewing the allocation and plan to present an impact and service plan to the Health and Human Services Committee in September. County Administrator Korsah Akumfi has contacted State officials seeking additional information about how the allocation was calculated.
Legislator Greg Mezey (D-Dryden) questioned the scale of the reduction, noting that the county spent approximately $2.1 million on the program during the previous season.
Legislature Chair Shawna Black (D-Ithaca) said she would contact Assemblymember Anna Kelles and State Senator Lea Webb to request additional information and assistance.
County launches “Understanding Your County Budget” series
Communications Director Monika Salvage presented a new public information initiative developed by the county’s Communications and Budget teams to help residents better understand the county budget before formal deliberations begin.
The four-part “Understanding Your County Budget” series addresses what Tompkins County does and who pays for its services, why developing the county budget is challenging, how the county budget is built, how the property tax cap works, and what happens when the County Administrator presents the Recommended Budget.
The first installment explains how property tax dollars are distributed among county, municipal, school, and other taxing jurisdictions; provides sample tax bills from the City of Ithaca and Town of Newfield; describes county services; and introduces commonly used budget terms.
Residents may also submit budget questions, with answers to selected questions included in future installments. Information is being distributed through the county’s email newsletters and published on the county budget webpage.
Legislator Christy Bianconi (D-Town of Ithaca) praised the effort to make County financial information more accessible.
“It’s so well done, and I really appreciate the effort to clearly explain our budget and the process to the public,” said Bianconi. “I think it goes above and beyond.”
The County Administrator is scheduled to present the 2027 Recommended Budget to the Legislature on September 1.
Legislature approves Epidemiologist position for Whole Health
The Legislature approved the creation of a full-time epidemiologist position in Tompkins County Whole Health. Funding for the position was included in the county’s adopted 2026 budget, but hiring had been delayed while the department reviewed and restructured its public health operations. The position is eligible for New York State reimbursement covering 36% of salary and benefit costs.
Whole Health Commissioner Jennifer Sutcliffe explained that the epidemiologist will analyze local health data, measure the effectiveness of county programs, monitor emerging public health concerns, and help department leaders make data-informed decisions. Potential areas of work include opioid use and overdose deaths, maternal and child health, tick-borne illnesses, measles and vaccination rates, chronic disease, suicide, harmful algal blooms, teen vaping, communicable diseases, and implementation of the county’s Community Health Improvement Plan.
Legislator Judith Hubbard (D-Ithaca) described the position as an opportunity to prevent illness and reduce future costs.
Legislator Veronica Pillar (D-Ithaca) said the position would also help answer questions frequently raised by community members about health trends and personal risk.
The resolution passed with 14 legislators voting in favor and Legislator Mike Sigler (R-Lansing) voting against. Legislator Wakeman (D-Dryden) was excused.
Legislature approves Airport snow-removal equipment building
The Legislature unanimously approved the award of a construction bid and the acceptance and anticipated receipt of Federal Aviation Administration and New York State Department of Transportation grants for the second phase of the new Snow Removal Equipment and Airport Rescue and Firefighting building at Ithaca Tompkins International Airport.
The revised resolution states a total project cost of approximately $9.8M, with $9.6 million from federal and state grant funding. The local share of $246,640 will come from passenger facility charges rather than the property tax levy. The grants are reimbursement-based, requiring the county to initially pay project costs and seek reimbursement.
Legislator Judith Hubbard said the grants represent a significant investment in local airport infrastructure.
“It’s a huge amount of investment that we’re getting from the feds and the state,” said Hubbard. “It’s a small amount of money for us, but it’s a big investment in the community.”
Legislator Randy Brown (R-Newfield) expressed concern about the ongoing operating costs of the new building and the future use of space that will be vacated when airport equipment is relocated.
“When we build this building, we’re going to have to heat it, and there’s going to be an ongoing expense. We have to clean it. So, this isn’t free,” said Brown.
Legislator Greg Mezey said the project is being driven largely by Federal Aviation Administration requirements and is not a discretionary project initiated solely by the legislature. Mezey added that storing additional snow-removal equipment indoors is expected to improve equipment longevity and readiness during winter storms.
Legislature calls for public review of NYSEG and RG&E actions
The legislature approved a resolution requesting greater public review of New York State Electric and Gas and Rochester Gas and Electric’s management audit implementation plan and the settlement of a notice of apparent violation.
Legislator Irene Weiser (D-Caroline) introduced the resolution following a management audit that included approximately 128 recommendations related to the companies’ governance, staffing, purchasing, financing, customer service, reliability, and relationships with parent and affiliated companies.
Weiser said the audit raised substantial concerns about whether decisions affecting the utilities were being made locally or directed by corporate parent companies.
“The most significant thing that was raised is that it seemed as though NYSEG and RG&E were puppets to their holding companies and parent companies and affiliates,” said Weiser.
The resolution asks the New York State Public Service Commission to provide meaningful public access and an opportunity for comment before approving the utilities’ implementation plan or finalizing the regulatory settlement. It also requests continued public reporting on implementation of the audit recommendations.
Additional legislative actions and updates
The Legislature unanimously approved consent-agenda resolutions that:
Deputy Director of Finance Drew Braman reported that sales tax collections were approximately on pace with the county’s budget through the first half of 2026, although monthly figures continued to fluctuate. Braman also reported that the county’s annual real property tax auction had opened with 14 properties, down from 23 properties previously scheduled for review. Most properties remaining in the auction were vacant.
County Administration reported that Workforce Development and Assigned Counsel are expected to relocate to Seneca Place by mid-September. The Board of Elections is also preparing to move to the Human Services Annex. Public information will be distributed when dates are finalized. The County Office for the Aging (COFA) continues to settle into its new location at 31 Dutch Mill Road. Communications staff are working with the department to distribute wayfinding, accessibility, and transportation information. COFA encourages anyone in need of assistance to call their office, and they will work with individuals to best meet their specific needs.
County Attorney Maury Josephson reported that Freedom of Information Law requests are becoming broader and more complex, requiring more staff time to locate and review records. He noted that while the number of requests has not necessarily increased, their scope has. He shared that artificial intelligence tools may be making it easier for requesters to generate detailed and expansive records requests.
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