Mayor says Cortland awarded $4.5 million in federal appropriations for safety service complex; council urged to show progress before June deadlines

CORTLAND — The mayor told Cortland City Council on Feb. 2 that the city was awarded $4,500,000 in federal appropriations for a proposed safety service complex, and he urged council and staff to demonstrate progress so state and ARPA funds earmarked for related work can be preserved.

"We were awarded our money in December," the mayor said, noting the appropriation was secured through congressional engagement but that the funds have not yet been received. He said the city refiled language after a board-of-auditor correction and continues to coordinate with congressional staff and the Appropriations Committee.

The mayor emphasized scheduling and reporting deadlines: federal ARPA funds and certain state capital funds must be reported and obligations shown by June 30 to avoid losing the allocations. He said the city also received $300,000 from the Trumbull County commissioners in ARPA money specifically intended for two generators for the safety service complex.

Council members and residents questioned where equipment and operations would be located and whether the city can complete multiple large projects by the June deadlines given recent staffing vacancies in the service department. The mayor invited councilors and staff to a public meeting and work session on the safety service complex scheduled for Thursday at 6 p.m. to discuss next steps and demonstrate progress to state and federal funders.

No final appropriation or contract award for the safety service complex was approved at the Feb. 2 meeting; the item was discussed during the mayor’s report and in public comment.