Chemung County trims $12,500 Elmira dog-control line after finding no contract, prompts broader review of animal-control funding

Budget presenter (county staff) told the Chemung County Legislature during a Nov. budget workshop that the recommended 2026 budget reduces a $12,500 organizational funding line for the City of Elmira's dog-control service to align the budget with actual payments. "We're not defunding the city of Elmira for $12,500," the presenter said, "we're simply updating the amount in the budget to reflect what has been paid out the last four years."

Staff explained the county has no current contract with the City of Elmira for general animal-control services and that prior budgets had over-appropriated the line; towns that rely on the city historically requested county assistance when they changed arrangements, and the county does have contracts with some municipalities and with the SPCA for animal-control services. "We reviewed the contracts for all dog-control services, and we don't have one for the City of Elmira," the presenter said.

Several legislators pressed the policy question. One legislator asked bluntly why the county is paying for animal control at all, calling it a town responsibility; another urged staff to investigate the Humane Society's responsiveness after anecdotal complaints about services. Staff said the arrangements where towns shifted service to the city were historical and that a policy review would be reasonable before making further reductions.

What happens next: staff agreed to follow up with contract and payment detail and legislators asked that the county's role in animal-control services be reviewed before finalizing any permanent budget change.