County administration narrows 2026 budget gap to roughly $4.5 million; proposes use of tax-stabilization fund and contingencies
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Summary
County administrator and finance staff narrowed a previously reported $11 million shortfall to about $4.5 million and plan to use reserves and one-time funds to limit the proposed levy increase to about 4'to 6%.
Tompkins County administration told the County Legislature on Aug. 19 that it has reduced an earlier estimated 2026 budget gap of about $11 million to roughly $4.5 million through a mix of department spending adjustments, revised revenue estimates and use of reserves.
County Administrator Corso Acunfi (presenting the budget update) said the administration and finance team reviewed departmental requests against five-year spending trends and negotiated incremental reductions. The administration is aiming for a proposed 2026 tax levy increase in a 4% to 6% target range; at the time of the Aug. 19 presentation the projected increase was around 6.5 percent and officials said they hoped to reach the target before formally presenting a proposed budget.
The administration's current plan includes drawing on the $2.7 million tax stabilization reserve created last year: about $1.2 million of that would be applied to one-time expenses and $1.5 million would be used to reduce the levy. The administration also plans to use roughly $600,000 from an economic/community development fund to support workforce development and to increase a contingency account to cover potential mandate-driven costs. Corso told legislators the county expects to place about $3 million in contingency planning funds to hold for uncertain future mandates.
County administration said many departments proposed small, targeted reductions ("nickel and dime" adjustments) based on previous-year actuals; administration staff said they had worked with departments to identify where those adjustments were feasible while preserving key services such as the Care Team and the rapid response medical service.
Legislators pressed for more detail on revenue and department-level results. Several members asked for department-specific revenue and expenditure reports and for clarification about how one-time reserve uses reduce the sustainable tax levy. Budget staff said the recommended budget would be circulated to legislators in advance of the September session to allow review before public release.
County administration reiterated the numbers are a moving target: the projected shortfall and proposed solutions change as departments provide updates and revenue estimates are refined. The administration said it planned to present the formal proposed budget by the following week.
The full legislative committee and finance staff will continue the line-by-line review during the formal budget process and the legislature retains authority to amend the proposed budget before adoption.