County health staff warn of major workload as New York lead-hazard registry approaches

Cayuga County health staff told the Health & Human Services Committee that a forthcoming New York State rental registry and lead-hazard enforcement program will require significant local staffing and outreach.

"We're getting this additional funding, and I'm absolutely gonna be talking more with this committee in the future about positions that we're going to need to perform this job," Kathleen, the county—s public health director, said. She said the county expects a registry grant of about $500,000 annually to support personnel and operations tied to the new state mandate.

Staff described the program scope: the registry targets rental properties of two or more units in high-risk ZIP codes (Kathleen cited 13021 as an example) and will require visual assessments and, when needed, X-ray fluorescence (XRF) testing to confirm lead paint hazards. The county estimated at…