Tompkins County’s finance director reported an 8.14% year‑over‑year increase in June sales tax receipts during the Aug. 5 legislature meeting, but legislators and the budget committee said the county still faces a multi‑million‑dollar shortfall in next year’s budget.

Daryl Tuttle, the county’s finance director, told the legislature the county received $8,462,000 in sales tax in June — an 8.14% increase over June 2024 — and that the county’s share through June was about $4,760,000. The report showed municipal receipts rising by 21.12% and the City of Ithaca’s monthly allocation declining by 3.75%; the county had budgeted $43,240,000 in sales tax for the full year and reported sales tax receipts at roughly 50.33% of the budgeted total through June.

Why it matters

Sales tax is a major local revenue source for Tompkins County. While the monthly numbers looked positive, budget planners said that aggregate revenue forecasts and department budget requests have created an estimated budget gap the county must close before adopting the 2026 budget.

What the meeting record shows

County Administrator Corso Acumfi and Budget, Capital and Personnel Committee Chair Mike Lane briefed legislators that departments have submitted requests that would increase expenses and that projected revenues in some areas are lower. Lane said department requests collectively accounted for about $5 million in additional spending requests while departments projected $6 million less in revenue compared with current expectations — producing an $11 million initial gap for budget planners to address.

Tuttle said the June figures are likely estimates and will be reconciled at quarter end; he agreed to verify whether the June numbers were final reconciled distributions or preliminary estimates.

Next steps

County administration said it will continue meetings with departments to identify adjustments and expects to deliver a recommended budget in early September. Budget committee members said they have already identified about $2 million in possible adjustments and will continue to seek further savings or revenue options before formal adoption.

Speakers and roles

- Daryl Tuttle, Finance Director, Tompkins County (presented sales tax report)
- Corso Acumfi, County Administrator (budget process update)
- Mike Lane, Chair, Budget, Capital and Personnel Committee (budget remarks)

Provenance (transcript evidence)

- topicintro: block_816.49 excerpt: finance director Daryl Tuttle joins by Zoom and begins the sales tax report (June totals and increases).
- topfinish: block_1024.8049 excerpt: "Okay. Daryl. Thank you. Enjoy your conference and we'll text you if we need you." (end of report sequence)

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