Human Services Coalition revises agency funding recommendations after county spending cut; target funding falls 25% from 2025

The Human Services Coalition (HSC) presented its annual community agency funding review to the Tompkins County expanded budget committee on Sept. 15 and explained how the review committee adjusted its recommendations after county administration asked applicants to absorb a roughly $294,612 reduction in the local target funding pool. HSC staff described a competitive and deliberative review process: applications, interviews with agency leaders and a volunteer review committee that evaluates alignment with county priorities and expected returns on investment. The committee initially produced recommendations that included a combination of target funding and enhancements; after the county budget office’s instruction to reduce the local target pool, HSC reconvened and provided a revised set of allocations designed to distribute the mandated reduction across recipients. HSC noted the combined (county plus city sales tax) funding still represents a substantial local investment in a network of safety‑net providers. HSC and agency representatives emphasized the downstream value of the funded services: eviction prevention, 2‑1‑1 information and referral, reentry legal services, food pantry network support and other upstream services that can reduce higher‑cost downstream county demands (shelter, crisis care, emergency responses). Several specific enhancement requests were highlighted: restoration of a one‑time reentry legal position (supporting LawNY), continued support for the Community Food Coalition to purchase culturally appropriate local food, restoration funding for the downtown Ithaca children’s center to keep childcare slots, partial funding for Reach Medical to acquire an ultrasound device, and continued OAR Sunflower House support for reentry housing. HSC said the revised recommendations reflected the $294,612 directive and urged the legislature to consider the broader cost avoidance and public‑service value in final budget decisions. Legislators pressed HSC staff and agency representatives on specific amounts, program impacts and whether previously approved multi‑year awards were still expected to be self‑sustaining; HSC staff said the committee attempted to protect priority services while honoring the budget reduction directive and offered to supply detailed spreadsheets and impact summaries. The committee did not take a final vote on HSC recommendations during the session.