Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the County Budget And Finance topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Budget committee approves grants, tax extension and multiple budget transfers
Summary
Tompkins County Budget, Capital and Personnel Committee on Jan. 9 approved a set of routine grant acceptances, contingent fund transfers and a request to extend a 1% sales tax; all roll-call items passed unanimously.
Tompkins County’s Budget, Capital and Personnel Committee voted unanimously on Jan. 9 to approve several resolutions including acceptance of a state grant, capital fund adjustments, an opioid‑settlement contract amendment, and a request to renew an additional 1% sales tax.
The committee, chaired by Mike Lane, approved acceptance of a New York State Criminal Justice Discovery Reform grant (ID 12970), a contingent-fund transfer to close a voting‑machine capital project (ID 12986), an amendment to an opioid settlement contract with Keuka Addiction Recovery Services, and a resolution to request authorization to extend an additional 1% county sales tax rate. The committee also moved an appropriation from the contingent fund into the legislature’s travel and training line for 2025.
Why it matters: The approvals allow the county to receive and allocate state and settlement funds, close an outstanding capital project for voting machines, and seek continuation of a revenue source (the additional 1% sales tax) that county staff described as essential to the operating budget. Most items were described by staff as budget‑neutral or as adjustments to previously planned spending.
Key outcomes (roll-call votes): minutes of Dec. 12 approved (unanimous); acceptance of NYS Criminal Justice Discovery Reform Grant (ID 12970) approved (unanimous); contingent fund request to cover voting machine capital shortfall (ID 12986) approved (unanimous); amendment to Tompkins County Opioid Settlement Fund contract with Keuka Addiction Recovery Services approved (unanimous); request to extend additional 1% sales tax rate approved (unanimous); appropriation from contingent fund to legislature travel/training approved (unanimous).
Details on each vote and procedural notes are below for public record and audit.
Votes at a glance - Approval of minutes (Dec. 12): motion moved, seconded; roll call: Shauna Black — yes; Rich John — yes; Deborah Dawson — yes; Lee Shirtliff — yes; Mike Lane — yes; outcome: approved. - Resolution A — Acceptance of 2024/2025 New York State Criminal Justice Discovery Reform Grant Funding (ID 12970): motioned and seconded; committee described it as largely budget neutral; roll call: Shauna Black — yes; Rich John — yes; Deborah Dawson — yes; Lee Shirtliff — yes; Mike Lane — yes; outcome: approved. - Contingent fund request — 2024 capital program for voting machines (ID 12986): moved and seconded to close the capital account after expected state aid did not materialize; roll call: Shauna Black — yes; Rich John — yes; Deborah Dawson — yes; Lee Shirtliff — yes; Mike Lane — yes; outcome: approved. - Request to amend Tompkins County Opioid Settlement Fund contract with Keuka Addiction Recovery Services (CARS): moved and seconded; committee members asked clarifying questions about contract line items (software and NARCAN purchases); roll call: Shauna Black — yes; Rich John — yes; Deborah Dawson — yes; Lee Shirtliff — yes; Mike Lane — yes; outcome: approved. - Resolution — Request for authorization to extend additional 1% sales tax rate in Tompkins County: moved and seconded; described as a recurring two‑year request the county has sought periodically and staff said it is necessary for the budget; roll call: Shauna Black — yes; Rich John — yes; Deborah Dawson — yes; Lee Shirtliff — yes; Mike Lane — yes; outcome: approved. - Appropriation from contingent fund for 2025 legislator travel and training: moved and seconded; committee agreed the appropriation moves money from contingent into the legislature’s travel/training line to avoid repeated contingency requests; roll call: Shauna Black — yes; Rich John — yes; Deborah Dawson — yes; Lee Shirtliff — yes; Mike Lane — yes; outcome: approved.
No motions failed. Several items (resolutions labeled C and D related to Social Services) were withdrawn from the agenda and are expected to return at a later meeting.
The committee adjourned after a short period of committee business and informal goal-setting discussion for the coming year.
