Jefferson County previews 2026 capital and personnel plans; finance committee approves new health-plan contracts with projected savings

County budget and finance leaders presented an early look at the planned 2026 capital and personnel budgets and related policy issues to the Finance and Rules Committee, and the committee approved contracts for administration of the county's self-funded health plan and prescription benefit management.

The county budget officer said combined capital and personnel typically account for about 25–30% of the county budget and highlighted several major planned capital projects for 2026: roughly $9.8 million in airport projects (including a $2.5 million general aviation apron expansion and a $610,000 local-share parking-lot paving project), about $4 million in building upgrades and $3 million in security upgrades at the Human Services Building, and an estimated $12.3 million in highway infrastructure projects financed from county and CHIPS funding. The presenters said they plan to bond the Human Services building upgrade; the county expects state aid to cover a large share of borrowing costs under New York's financing mechanisms.

Budget staff also described personnel and benefits drivers. The county is incorporating recently settled labor agreements, including a multi-year contract with CSEA that contributes materially to budgeted salary increases; the presentation said those market adjustments help the county catch up with recent wage growth. Officials warned the county received a staffing guidance from the New York State Commission of Corrections that would require 14 additional correctional officer posts to fully staff the jail; staff estimated salary-and-benefit costs of those positions at about $1.3 million and said that obligation could consume a large share of the county's 2% property-tax cap if implemented as proposed.

Matthew Roy, Jefferson County's insurance director, presented results of a request-for-proposals process for the county's third-party administrator (TPA) for health-claims administration and its pharmacy benefit manager (PBM). Roy said a committee evaluated vendor responses on administration capability, price, local network, and relevant experience. The county will continue with UMR as TPA for three years with a negotiated reduction in administrative fees of about $20,000 per year. The county also will continue with ProAct as PBM; Roy said the negotiated agreement is expected to reduce county prescription-related costs by roughly $2 million per year in a mix of improved drug pricing, higher rebates (about $1.35 million) and lower administrative fees (about $70,000).

Committee members then considered a series of resolutions. The Finance and Rules Committee recorded votes carrying a number of measures on personnel and contract matters, including authorizing agreements with UMR and ProAct, appointing a director of Real Property Tax Services, and approving joint services assessment agreements with local towns. Many items were approved unanimously during the meeting.

Votes at a glance

- Authorize agreement with UMR Incorporated for administration of Jefferson County health benefits (contract award): approved (motion by Legislator Potter; second Legislator Calarco). The committee noted an administrative-fee reduction of about $20,000 per year.

- Authorize agreement with ProAct Incorporated for prescription benefits management (contract award): approved (motion by Legislator Clerico; second Legislator Bridal). Projected net savings on drug costs and rebates about $2,000,000 per year.

- Set time and place for public hearing on tentative budget for fiscal year 2026: approved.

- Appoint director of Real Property Tax Services: approved (motion by Legislator Cantwell; second Legislator Calarco).

- Authorize joint services agreement with Town of Alexandria for county assessment services pursuant to Real Property Tax Law §1537: approved.

- Authorize joint services agreement with Town of Clayton for county assessment services pursuant to Real Property Tax Law §1537: approved.

- A block of general services and public-safety budget amendments and contract authorizations (airport fuel budget amendment; agreement with McFarland Johnson; correctional facility medical expenses amendment; traffic safety and DWI enforcement grants; demolition project amendments): approved as presented.

Committee members and staff said more detailed capital-plan documents will be circulated and a full tentative budget presentation was scheduled for the next month, with a budget hearing set for Nov. 12. Budget staff noted some capital accounts carried over from larger airport and mill projects in 2024–25 and said the 2026 capital plan would be aligned to anticipated cash flows to avoid mid-year appropriations when possible.