Understanding the annual County Budget process series

Published on July 30, 2026

Banner with water fall scene and budget series info

Every year, Tompkins County develops a budget that guides how public dollars are invested to provide the services our community relies on every day. From public health and emergency response to elections, road maintenance, mental health services, support for older adults, and many other programs, the County budget reflects the resources needed to serve our community while balancing changing needs and financial realities.

Budget documents often contain technical terms, financial data, and government processes that can be difficult to understand. At the same time, budget decisions affect every resident, making it important that everyone has the opportunity to understand how those decisions are made.

To help make the budget process more accessible, Tompkins County is launching Understanding Your County Budget, a four-part series that explains the County budget in plain language. Each week, we'll explore a different aspect of the budget process, answer common questions, and explain key concepts to help residents better understand how County government plans for the year ahead.

Over the next four weeks, we'll cover:

Week 1: What does Tompkins County do, and who pays for it?
Week 2: Why is building the County budget so challenging?
Week 3: How is the County budget built?
Week 4: What is the Property Tax Cap, and what happens on September 1?

After the County Administrator presents the Recommended Budget on September 1, we'll continue the series with a guide to understanding the proposal and following the Legislature's Expanded Budget Committee (EBC) meetings, where the budget is reviewed in public before it is adopted.

Whether you're following the budget for the first time or simply want a better understanding of how County government works, we hope this series provides useful context and encourages you to stay informed throughout the budget process.

Follow along each week on the Tompkins County website and social media as we explore how the County budget supports the services, infrastructure, and programs that help make Tompkins County a healthy, safe, and thriving community.