Cayuga County extends hiring freeze with targeted exemptions for highway, DMV and social services positions

Cayuga County's Ways & Means Committee voted to extend an existing hiring restriction through Oct. 31 and adopted a resolution that enumerates specific exemptions and staffing changes.

The resolution amends earlier hiring restrictions and lists multiple exemptions the committee approved to allow critical or 100%-funded positions to be filled. Committee presenters said exemptions include heavy- and medium-equipment operator positions in the highway department to ensure snow-plowing capability, a billing specialist in the community mental health unit (the sole billing specialist remaining), a real property clerk in the treasurer’s office, and 100%-funded staff dedicated to mandated work such as Medicaid-related positions in the Department of Social Services.

Why it matters: The extension preserves county control of hiring to manage the 2026 budget but also allows departments to maintain essential services through narrowly specified hires. Finance staff and department leaders discussed operational needs for highway equipment operators to prepare for winter operations and noted staff reductions elsewhere.

Key details and personnel changes: The resolution authorizes filling one additional social services investigator — bringing that unit to three staff — while abolishing a senior investigator and a part-time investigator; the change will show as a net staff reduction in the 2026 budget. The DMV will be allowed to hire a cashier with an impending retirement and bring back a previously laid-off DMV clerk to a fully trained role, officials said. Presenters emphasized that some positions are 100% funded (salary and fringe) and therefore exempt from the freeze as long as the county remains below the Medicaid cap.

Committee action and votes: The motion to adopt the amendment and extend the hiring restriction was moved and seconded in committee and passed by unanimous voice vote.

Implementation and oversight: Officials noted that exceptions do not lift the broader restriction; they asked departments to remain flexible and confirmed that some positions remain unfilled despite the exemptions. The resolution includes language to track the changes in the 2026 budget and to reflect abolished positions as staff reductions for next year.