Hundreds of residents, municipal officials and economic development partners urged the Cayuga County Legislature to reconsider proposed staffing cuts to the county planning office during a lengthy public hearing.

Speakers representing villages, the Keuka Lake IDA and watershed groups described the planning office as essential to securing state grants, supporting zoning and carrying out downtown revitalization projects. "The department itself has and remains one of our most critical departments serving our community and our economic development efforts," said Mike Miller, director of the Keuka County IDA, citing recent grant awards and planning assistance the county office provided.

Multiple speakers recounted past projects reliant on county planning staff, noted the office's role in recent $10 million and multi‑million grant awards, and warned that reducing staff will limit the county's ability to compete for state funding. Nancy Taylor, a longtime museum volunteer, urged caution on cuts that could reduce museum hours and harm tourism.

Legislators considered an amendment to restore 0.6 FTE of a senior GIS specialist to preserve mandated mapping services used for tax mapping, deed processing and grant administration. The restoration was to be funded by previously unrecorded pilot revenues (solar pilot agreements) and an increase in title‑search fee revenue prompted by a state law change. A motion to restore the position passed on a recorded vote, 9–2.

Why it matters: county planning capacity supports municipalities applying for state programs, carries out local land‑use and water‑quality work, and helps bring outside funding into the county. Several witnesses tied planning staff capacity directly to the county's ability to attract redevelopment grants and to protect drinking‑water sources.

What the vote does: restoring 0.6 FTE is intended to maintain continuity for mapping and grant work without fully reversing broader staff reductions. The motion's cost was cited in committee as $51,370 (salary and fringe), with identified additional revenue of roughly $51,408 from pilot and title‑search lines to offset the expense.

Following the vote, legislators asked staff to document the revenue lines and to return with tracking to ensure the restored position is sustainable. The planning office and treasurer will report back on implementation and on grant applications that the restored capacity supports.