Highlights of the 9/11/25 Expanded Budget Committee (EBC) meeting

Published on September 15, 2025

The following department budgets were presented during this 3^rd EBC meeting:

Director Arel LeMaro outlined Facilities’ role in maintaining 17 county buildings, noting staffing will increase by one full-time equivalent in 2026 with a deputy director beginning next week. Maintenance-of-effort items discussed included making a prior over-target request for a project manager II a permanent target line (supported in the Recommended Budget), restoring $40,000 to service contracts (supported), and restoring $30,000 to building repairs.

Enhancement requests that were supported included adding a maintenance worker position ($76,257), management salary adjustments to address compression ($31,307), and $5,000 to migrate work-order data into OpenGov Asset Management. Replacing a tractor ($40,000) and purchasing 10 tablets could not be supported. Legislator Randy Brown (R-Newfield, Enfield) asked about the tractor purchase. Legislator Amanda Champion (D-Ithaca Town) asked what services are covered under the restored service-contracts line (HVAC, elevator, and other regulatory maintenance).

Veterans Services

Director J.R. Clairborne described a maintenance-of-effort budget with small reductions ($5,200) in printing and office supplies and no new enhancements requested. He noted the program’s local-share funding is supplemented by the Joseph P. Dwyer Veterans peer-to-peer state grant. He also reviewed the memorial celebrations line, which funds flags placed at veterans’ graves by local veteran organizations. Legislator Travis Brooks (D-Ithaca City) asked about equipment and vehicle needs. Legislator Shawna Black (D-Ithaca Town) asked about links to mental-health services, with Clairborne pointing to the peer-to-peer model and coordination with providers.

Highway

Interim Director Nick Ensign reviewed maintenance-of-effort changes driven by utilities, insurance, and materials. He noted the shift to the OpenGov asset-management platform (full annual cost $57,500): last year’s $30,000 over-target request plus $27,500 requested this year was treated as maintenance of effort in the Recommended Budget. He cited increases in drug/alcohol testing, an insurance premium for the underground storage tank, materials costs aligned with state aid, and a small contract for weather cameras/road-condition monitoring.

Enhancement requests included advanced training for two staff at the OpenGov conference and one-grade promotions for a fiscal coordinator and an engineering technician III. The Administrator’s Recommended Budget also reduced the town-services line ($100,000) and overtime to help manage countywide priorities ($25,000). Legislator Amanda Champion (D-Ithaca Town) asked about safety/response impacts from lower overtime. Legislator Mike Sigler (R-Lansing) asked about using fund balance to offset price hikes. Dan Klein (D-Danby, Caroline, Ithaca Town) asked how OpenGov will improve planning. Ensign said storm response remains the priority, state formulas and commodity prices drive many costs, and OpenGov ties work orders, assets, and condition data to capital planning in one system.

Weights & Measures

Director Heather Chappell presented a maintenance-of-effort budget with no new requests. She noted an expected inspection fee revenue of roughly $23,000. Legislator Amanda Champion (D-Ithaca Town) asked about potential future work inspecting EV chargers. Chappell said the state may add such inspections, which would require planning for training and equipment. Legislator Shawna Black (D-Ithaca Town) questioned the increase in the annual revenue projection and suggested lowering the estimate to better align with actual annual collections.

District Attorney

District Attorney Matthew Van Houten reported on the office’s participation in the Centralized Arraignment Program (CAP), where prosecutors appear at scheduled 8 a.m./8 p.m. arraignments alongside judges and defense counsel. New requests tied to CAP centered on equitable stipends for prosecutors were supported ($29,629). Van Houten said the practice keeps police on patrol rather than waiting hours for late-night town-court arraignments, benefiting public safety. The grant-funded crime victim advocate position was supported as well. This position will be the point of contact for crime victims and will fill the gap felt by many crime victims between prosecutors and the court, law enforcement officers and the court, and provide a voice for victims at all stages of the prosecution.

The next EBC meeting is scheduled for Monday, 9/15 at 5 pm at the Legislature Chambers and will be livestreamed.