Cayuga County Legislature adopts 2025 budget, approves tax levy and uses $5.67 million from fund balance

The Cayuga County Legislature voted Dec. 11 to adopt the county’s 2025 budget, approving a tax levy increase of 4.195% and plans to use $5,665,877 in fund balance to close the year’s budgetary gap.

The budget vote followed an extended floor debate over several amendments. One legislator proposed cutting the Planning Department’s personal services line by roughly half — to $270,000 — arguing the department performs work for towns and villages that could be handled by private contractors. That amendment was put on the floor and did not carry as requested; separate, more targeted personnel changes were approved.

During discussion, county staff member Lynn provided the fiscal snapshot cited by members: “Right now, the tax lien levy increase is at 4.195%, and where the use of the fund balance changes so far is $5,665,877.” That figure was used to frame arguments about whether to reduce staffing or rely on fund balance to cover vacancies.

A separate motion to remove the budgeted salary for a county manager (line item approx. $149,806) was proposed and debated. Legislators who opposed removing the manager line said the county’s recent operational challenges show the need for a qualified, consistent manager; proponents said relying on fund balance to fill positions had contributed to previous deficits. The motion to unfund the manager did not pass.

Lawmakers did approve the elimination of a full-time administrative assistant position in the Planning Department and agreed to defer hiring for some planner positions until April 1, 2025. A proposal to reallocate $491,000 from Emerson Park repairs to retain DMV positions past April was moved and then tabled for additional study so staff and committee members could explore alternative revenue or fee structures.

Before the final vote, a member moved to call the question. After a voice vote to end debate, the legislature voted to adopt the budget as presented.

What’s next: With the budget adopted, several committee resolutions tied to the budget (including WM8, the Director of Real Property Tax Services’ authority to extend the levy as amended) were approved. Staff pledged to circulate updated spending and timing details for capital work (including office building roof and asbestos remediation) to the legislature if anything changes before year-end.

Note: The record reflects voice votes and bundled motions on multiple routine resolutions; where roll-call tallies were not read into the record, outcomes are reported as they were stated (motion carried/failed/tabled).