Highlights of the 9/14/26 Expanded Budget Committee meeting

Published on September 17, 2026

Watch the video recording

The meeting included presentations from Finance, Legislature & Legislature Clerk, Weights & Measures, Highway, and the Capital Program.

The table below provides a snapshot of the budgets presented during the meeting, followed by summaries of the presentations and key discussion.

“Local share” is the portion of a department or agency budget supported by county dollars after outside revenues such as state and federal aid are applied. Comparing local share helps show how each budget affects the county’s overall funding needs and property tax levy.

Approximately $569,000 in additional local share is equivalent to a 1% increase in the county’s property tax levy. Budget figures shown below are rounded.

Amounts marked with * are General Fund contributions from unallocated revenues, including property tax, sales tax, and mortgage recording tax.

Finance

Deputy Director of Finance Andrew Bramann described a growing workload driven by increasingly complex federal grants, reporting requirements, capital projects, and governmental accounting standards. Although the department’s authorized staffing has grown in recent years, Finance had three vacancies among its 17 authorized positions at the time of the presentation. One Purchasing vacancy was expected to be filled by the end of the month.

Finance requested an additional employee with higher-level analytical and technical skills to help manage increasing compliance, grant, and capital-accounting responsibilities. County Administrator Korsah Akumfi did not include the position in the Recommended Budget. Finance acknowledged that the department is undergoing transitions but encouraged legislators to recognize the longer-term need for additional capacity.

A number of apparent changes among individual budget lines resulted from new accounting requirements rather than new expenses. For example, approximately $118,000 in software and subscription costs, including the county’s accounting system and other financial-management programs, are now identified separately rather than included within service contracts.

Discussion also addressed declining foreclosure-related revenue. Finance said fewer properties are going through foreclosure as more property owners enter installment agreements. Changes in state requirements governing surplus funds from tax foreclosure sales are also affecting the amount the county retains.

Legislature & Legislature Clerk

Clerk of the Legislature Katrina McCloy stated that the Legislative Clerk’s Office supports the 16-member legislature and its committees, processing more than 300 resolutions and organizing more than 150 public meetings annually. The office reported that approximately 93% of its budget consists of salaries and fringe benefits. Because the office does not have outside program revenue, essentially its entire budget is supported locally.

The 2027 budget increases by $76,000, primarily from salary and fringe costs. Other increases include travel and training, local mileage reimbursement, software and membership dues. The office also resumed membership in the National Association of Counties at an annual cost of $2,115, citing benefits available to several departments, particularly Information Technology Services.

The office submitted a $7,000 enhancement for legislator travel and training. Legislator Mezey (D-Dryden) suggested that the legislature consider foregoing the enhancement given the difficult budget year, saying legislators should consider “leading by example.” Other legislators expressed interest in taking a closer look at higher-cost travel, particularly out-of-state conferences, while recognizing the value of professional development.

The committee also discussed staffing in the Legislative Clerk’s Office. Asked whether the office could continue operating with three clerks rather than filling a fourth position, McCloy said the additional capacity is needed for daily work, staff coverage, and the additional workload associated with projects such as the Charter Review Committee.

Weights & Measures

Weights and Measures Director Heather Chappell described the one-person department’s responsibility for protecting consumers and businesses by ensuring accuracy in commercial transactions involving weight, measurement, and price. The department conducts annual visits to 183 establishments and inspects approximately 1,491 scales, as well as fuel pumps, home heating-fuel delivery trucks, large truck scales, and other measuring equipment.

Chappell said staffing remains unchanged. The primary 2027 cost increases are the contractual 3% wage increase, longevity, position reclassification, fringe benefits, and a small increase in a software contract.

Legislators also asked whether inspection fees could be increased to offset more of the department’s costs. Chappell explained that the fees are set by New York State rather than the county, limiting the county’s ability to recover additional program costs.

Highway & Machinery

Highway Director Nick Ensign presented the department’s road and machinery operating budgets. Highway maintains approximately 302 miles of County roads, 109 bridges and more than 4,600 signs. Staffing remains at 36 FTEs; Ensign said the department had hoped to increase staffing but is instead making operational adjustments within its existing workforce.

For the road operation, major year-to-year changes include approximately $141,866 for wages and fringe benefits and an $83,338 increase in payments to towns that perform snow and ice removal on county roads. State Consolidated Local Street and Highway Improvement Program (CHIPS) funding increases by approximately $226,841, with about $126,000 directed toward highway materials and $100,000 intended for additional road striping.

During questioning, staff discovered that the additional $100,000 in CHIPS revenue for traffic control had inadvertently been removed from the budget and replaced with a General Fund contribution. Administration said an amendment will be brought forward during EBC voting to recognize the additional state revenue and reduce the County contribution by $100,000.

That potential savings is partially offset by another recently identified pressure. Ensign said the county’s new road-salt price increased approximately $10 per ton and estimated the department could be about $90,000 short of what is needed to purchase its minimum quantity. With approximately $20,000 potentially available from last year, the remaining need could be around $70,000. Legislators discussed whether the county could better manage commodity costs through purchasing strategies or additional storage capacity, although no immediate proposal was made.

A longer discussion focused on how Highway’s separate fund structure displays county support. Legislators ultimately identified approximately $3.76 million in county support for highway operations in 2027 ($4.17 million from the General Fund offset by $407,000 in automobile use tax revenue), compared with approximately $3.84 million in 2026, plus approximately $1.10 million for the Highway machinery fund, compared with approximately $1.09 million.

The Highway shop maintains equipment for the Highway Department as well as vehicles from across county government. The shop currently has four employees and has recruited a heavy-equipment mechanic. Staff noted that keeping fleet vehicles longer is increasing repair needs and parts costs, particularly for heavily used Sheriff vehicles.

Capital Program

The second half of the meeting focused on the County’s capital program. Administration emphasized that, unlike an operating budget, capital estimates can change substantially as designs develop, bids are received, grants are awarded, and project schedules change. A significant addition this year is a 20-year capital planning framework, supplementing the more detailed five-year capital program contained in the Recommended Budget. The longer-range plan will be reviewed and updated annually.

Administration also stressed the distinction between tax-levy-supported capital projects and enterprise-funded projects, such as the Airport and Recycling and Materials Management. For many Airport and Highway projects, state and federal aid covers a significant share of the total project cost.

The presentation’s long-range projections assume that beginning around 2030-31, the county will increase annual funding for recurring Highway and Facilities capital needs to reduce reliance on borrowing. The projections also include anticipated costs for major projects such as the Center of Government and Public Safety Building. County staff said they will continue seeking grants, outside funding, and cost-saving measures to reduce local costs.

Capital projects at a glance

Airport capital program

Ithaca Tompkins International Airport Deputy Director Josh Nalley explained that the Airport capital plan contains several large projects, but the majority of their costs are expected to be supported through federal and state aid and Passenger Facility Charges (PFCs) rather than the county property tax levy.

The largest near-term project is the Aircraft Rescue and Fire Fighting/Snow Removal Equipment building, estimated at approximately $12.42 million. The current funding plan includes approximately $9.17 million in federal aid, $1.79 million in other state aid, $509,310 from the state DOT, $509,310 in PFCs, and approximately $446,480 from Airport operating funds and a DOT land sale. Construction is anticipated in 2027 or 2028.

Other near-term projects include approximately $5.64 million to rehabilitate and reconfigure taxiways and the general aviation apron and approximately $2.06 million for runway lighting and sign rehabilitation. Both are expected to receive substantial federal assistance.

Longer-range projects include a $30.75 million air traffic control tower, runway rehabilitation, new Aircraft Rescue and Fire Fighting and snow-removal vehicles, additional hangar improvements, solar/charging infrastructure and other airfield work.

Legislators asked how Passenger Facility Charges factor into the plan. Airport staff explained that PFC revenue can be used only for eligible capital projects, not the Airport operating budget, and is maintained in a separate account.

Facilities capital program

Facilities Director Arel LeMaro divided the county’s facility needs into two categories: ongoing building renovations and larger stand-alone capital projects such as the Center of Government and Public Safety Building.

Facilities renovations

The long-range facilities renovation schedule identifies approximately $35.52 million in improvements to county-owned buildings through 2045, including $15.16 million during 2027-31. Approximately $5.29 million is scheduled for 2027 alone, concentrated primarily in roofs and window/door replacements.

Major 2027 work includes approximately $2.78 million in windows and doors, $1.83 million in roof projects, $430,000 in site, sidewalk, and building-envelope work, and $260,000 in HVAC work.

Major facilities capital projects

The separate major facilities plan currently includes:

• Center of Government:
• • Approximately $43.77 million, anticipating a $1.5 million grant, plus $1.89 million in renovations to the Daniel D. Tompkins building
• District geothermal:
• • Approximately $5.26 million and an anticipated $3 million in grants
• Emergency shelter:
• • Approximately $18.04 million, assuming $15 million in state Homeless Housing and Assistance Program funding
• Public Safety building:
• • Planning estimate of more than $43 million

Administration cautioned that the $43 million Public Safety Building figure is based on planning work from roughly six years ago and should not be treated as a current final project cost. LeMaro said temporary improvements made several years ago were intended to extend the life of the existing facility while the county considered a longer-term solution. Administration expects significant discussion about the future of the Public Safety Building during 2027.

For the emergency shelter, legislators clarified that the $15 million state grant shown in the plan has been applied for but has not yet been awarded. Administration also noted that a portion of the approximately $3 million local share has already been spent on land acquisition and predevelopment work.

Highway capital program

The Highway capital plan includes numerous bridge and culvert projects with significant state and federal support. Rather than reviewing each project individually, the committee agreed that many of those projects are already authorized or necessary and are primarily informational at this stage.

The larger policy discussion centered instead on two recurring programs:

• Highway machinery replacement:
• • $1.525 million, proposed to be funded through bonds
• Road reconstruction:
• • $2.4 million, also proposed to be funded through bonds

Legislators questioned whether borrowing for recurring machinery and road work simply shifts current costs into future debt service. One concern raised was that approximately $1.58 million of road work had been supported from the levy in 2026, while the 2027 plan would rely on borrowing. Legislators cautioned that while this reduces immediate pressure on the 2027 levy, it does not eliminate the underlying expense and increases future debt obligations.

Administration described the approach as a financing strategy that would eventually transition toward greater annual funding of recurring capital needs. The committee also discussed whether a dedicated machinery replacement reserve could help smooth costs over time; no such reserve currently exists.

Fleet Management capital program

Planning and Sustainability manages the countywide Fleet Management capital program. The 2027 request totals approximately $1.98 million, with a net county share of $1.66 million. The County Administrator recommends approximately $1.30 million, with a net share of $1.13 million.

The recommended budget funds 11 replacement vehicles along with continuing leases, several lease buyouts, telematics, and charging infrastructure. 13 requested replacements were not recommended: seven Sheriff vehicles, two Highway vehicles, two Department of Emergency Response vehicles, one Facilities vehicle, and one Assessment vehicle. Airport and Recycling and Materials Management vehicles are also being shifted toward their respective enterprise funds.

Chief Sustainability Officer Terry Carroll said the general planning benchmark is replacement after around five years or 100,000 miles when appropriate, but emphasized that this is not an automatic replacement rule. Vehicle condition, mileage, use, repair history, and departmental need are all considered.

If the Administrator’s recommendations stand, 2027 would be the fourth consecutive year in which some planned vehicle replacements have been deferred. Staff warned that continued deferrals contribute to an aging fleet, more maintenance and repair costs, vehicles being unavailable for service, and larger replacement requests in later years.

Legislators requested additional information before deliberations, including the county’s full fleet inventory and a list of vehicles exceeding six years or 120,000 miles, to help quantify the backlog.

Natural Infrastructure capital program

The Natural Infrastructure Capital Program provides funding to permanently protect environmentally significant lands that can help reduce flooding and sedimentation, preserve natural systems, and maintain wildlife corridors. Since 2017, the program has helped protect approximately 1,934 acres through 22 projects.

Commissioner of Planning and Sustainability Katie Borgella said the program traditionally receives $200,000 annually, with unspent funds carrying forward. No new allocation was provided from 2024 through 2026, and the department redirected $400,000 to green facilities and fleet initiatives during the 2025 budget process. The current fund balance is approximately $285,000. For 2027, the department requested $200,000, and the County Administrator recommended the full amount.

Discussion focused on whether the existing balance could cover anticipated projects without another $200,000 allocation. Staff noted that the current $285,000 balance does not include a pending request of approximately $82,000. Some legislators questioned whether the accumulated balance could support 2027 needs and if there should be a cap on annual contributions, while others emphasized the program’s visible community and environmental benefits.

Recycling and Materials Management capital program

Recycling and Materials Management consolidated its facility and closed-landfill projects into a longer-range capital improvement program covering the Recycling and Solid Waste Center, associated equipment and the county’s closed landfills.

The current plan identifies approximately $2.49 million in capital work, with annual impacts varying according to the bond schedule. Planned 2027 projects include repairs to the inbound scale pit, replacement of the push wall at the main transfer building, and landfill leachate-system improvements.

Because Recycling and Materials Management operates as an enterprise fund, these capital costs do not affect the property tax levy in the same way as general-fund capital projects.

What’s next?

The Expanded Budget Committee will continue its review of the County Administrator’s Recommended Budget on:

• September 17 with presentations from Office for the Aging, Whole Health, Cornell Cooperative Extension of Tompkins County, Transportation Planning II, and Tompkins Consolidated Area Transit (TCAT);
  
  
• September 22 with presentations from SPCA, County Historian, Tompkins Center for History and Culture, Human Services Coalition of Tompkins County & Community Agencies, Tompkins-Cortland Community College (TC3), and Social Services;
  
  
• September 24 with presentations from the Sheriff’s Office/Jail, Probation, County Attorney, and County Administration/Human Rights.