Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the County Budget 2026 topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Tompkins County presents 2026 budget proposal with 4.5% tax-levy increase
Summary
County Administrator's recommended 2026 budget would raise the property tax levy 4.5% (to $57 million), increase the median homeowner's annual bill by about $37, and funds emergency shelter, public safety and capital projects while flagging an $11.9 million reserve shortfall.
Deputy County Administrator Norma presented the county administrator's recommended 2026 budget on behalf of County Administrator Corso Comphy, saying the proposal recommends a 4.5% tax-levy increase and a responsible mix of operating and capital investments. Norma said: "While we're recommending a 4.5% tax levy increase above our tax cap...This translates to an additional $37 per year" for the county's median $300,000 home.
The proposal includes a $240 million operating budget, a $57 million property-tax levy, capital investments with a $7.7 million local share and a recommended solid-waste fee increase from $82 to $85. Norma flagged major budget drivers including rising safety-net caseloads, labor and fringe-benefit cost pressures and an estimated 18% increase in the county health-consortium rate. She also said the county's unassigned fund balance is below its 25% policy target by about $11.9 million and recommended a $3 million contingency fund to cover near-term federal-driven uncertainties.
Legislators pressed for departmental detail and for a separate spreadsheet showing enhancements, maintenance-of-effort requests and outside revenue projections. Director of Finance Darrell Tuttle said sales-tax receipts were up year-to-date and staff will provide department-level income reconciliation and the detailed pages asked for. The administration emphasized this is a recommendation and the legislature can add or remove priorities during the scheduled budget hearings and committee reviews.
