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Tompkins County committee approves contingent funding for community shelter development
Summary
The Budget, Capital & Personnel Committee unanimously approved contingent funding to continue shelter development services for the Cherry Street project and to prepare an HHAP grant application, while noting the seasonal nature of current Code Blue operations and that year‑round sheltering would require new local dollars.
Tompkins County’s Budget, Capital & Personnel Committee on Dec. 11 voted unanimously to authorize contingent funding for the Community Shelter Capital Project to continue shelter development services and to support preparation of a Home‑based Housing and Assistance Program (HHAP) grant application.
County administration requested the appropriation for the capital project to pay the second year of the county’s shelter development partner contract and related grant‑application work. Corso, speaking for county administration, said the county had set aside money to buy the Cherry Street facility but had not budgeted further development costs when acquiring the property and that most project costs would be eligible for reimbursement if a grant application succeeds. “So, at the moment, we have about $5,500,001 bit in the contingent account right now,” Corso said during the discussion.
Deborah Dawson raised a question about an apparent overspend on prior contract work and whether the new request covered that amount. Corso confirmed an overrun had occurred and characterized the additional appropriation as necessary to continue contractual services and to ready the HHAP application by April next year. Shauna asked whether the Cherry Street operations were intended to be year‑round; Corso replied the facility is funded for the season (Code Blue through April) and that continuing year‑round sheltering there would require local dollars not budgeted for 2026.
Roddick moved the contingent‑funding resolution and Shauna seconded; the committee approved the measure by unanimous vote. Committee members asked staff to keep them informed about contingency balances and grant progress.
The committee’s action funds development‑phase work and authorizes staff to continue contract payments and grant preparations; it does not commit the county to a permanent, year‑round shelter at Cherry Street without additional local appropriations.
The committee’s next procedural step is to send the resolution to the full legislature for final approval, as Corso noted the item will go to the full Legislature the following Tuesday.
