Seneca County accepts state public-health grants; officials report rise in rabies tests and vaccinations

Seneca County’s Health and Human Services committee voted Aug. 26 to accept multiple New York State Department of Health grants and to amend the county’s 2025 public-health budget accordingly.

County staff told the committee they will accept a Public Health Emergency Preparedness grant for $52,099 with no local match. A county presenter said the money will cover about one-fifth of a public-health educator’s salary and fringe and will be used for activities including support for county-designated cooling centers, CPR/AED training for county employees and materials for the county’s “healthy neighborhoods” preparedness kits. The committee approved the acceptance and the related budget amendment.

The committee also accepted the state Early Intervention Program Administration grant; staff described it as a “housekeeping” grant that must be used only for program administration (salary and fringe for a program supervisor and related administration costs). The presenter said the grant amount is the same as last year and has no local match; the exact dollar amount was not specified in committee remarks.

Separately the county accepted a child passenger safety program grant of about $6,000, slightly higher than last year. Staff said the funds will primarily purchase car seats for families in need; county public-health educators and local sheriff’s Department technicians will continue to install and inspect seats at no cost to recipients.

In the same committee meeting, county public-health staff gave an update on rabies activity. The presenter said that, so far in 2025, the county had sent 13 exposure cases for post-exposure prophylaxis and that five animals submitted for testing had returned positive results: two cats, one skunk, one fox and one raccoon. The presenter said “we have vaccinated 265 animals” this year and noted the next free vaccination clinic is scheduled for Oct. 28 at the Seneca County Highway Department in Romulus.

Staff also reminded supervisors about an upcoming household hazardous waste day; the meeting record notes the event location is intentionally withheld from the flyer and that residents must preregister via a QR code so the vendor can plan and accept materials.

All three grant-related resolutions were moved, seconded and carried on voice votes.

County staff did not provide specific monthly budget lines or the Early Intervention dollar total during the public discussion; follow-up with the county budget office will be needed for exact appropriation entries and timing.