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Highlights of the September 26, 2022 Expanded Budget Committee meeting of the Tompkins County Legislature

Tompkins County Administration

Tompkins County Administrator Lisa Holmes presented the department’s nearly $2 million budget.

Tompkins County Administration includes divisions for organizational management and budgeting, communications and public information, equity and diversity, risk management, and the County’s share of the Community Justice Center, all totaling 13.5 full time equivalent positions. The County Administrator is responsible for recommending the County’s Operating  and Capital Plan budget, in addition to overseeing use of the American Rescue Plan Act funding. Administration is also responsible for the Contingent Fund budget, which is set to increase by $300,000 to $1.2 million in 2023 to accommodate actual requests.

Over target requests for the department include upgrading the County’s budget software, continued work on increasing access to information in languages other than English, and media production and streaming for public meetings and other County departments. Several Reimagining Public Safety initiatives, as detailed in the 2023 Community Justice Center workplan (https://bit.ly/cjc-workplans), were requested as over target.

Holmes detailed the use of the American Rescue Plan Act funds received by Tompkins County ($19.8 million total), of which 42% has been committed to the Capital Program, 25% for one-time operating expenses, and 33% for the community recovery fund.

Capital Program

The 2023 budget has a $1 million increase in the target contribution to the Capital Plan, totaling $7.38 million. The use of fund balance to support the Capital Plan is expected over the next five years.

The Capital Plan includes infrastructure and building projects taken on by the County. Currently, the Plan does not include an airport rescue and firefighting building that is being deferred with support of the Federal Aviation Administration, the construction of a new jail facility, nor updated cost estimates for the potential Center for Government building slated for the County’s downtown campus.

Holmes detailed capital projects by department, including projects at the Airport, Department of Emergency Response communications equipment, Board of Elections voting machine replacements, facilities improvements including deferred maintenance, the Green Facilities and Green Fleet projects set to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, downtown campus (Center for Government) building(s), the Highway Department’s projects requiring a local share, information technology infrastructure replacement, and natural infrastructure mitigations to reduce the local impacts from climate change.

Tompkins County Highway Department and Highway Machinery

Director of the Highway Department Jeff Smith presented his department’s 2023 recommended budget, totaling $3.5 million, and the Highway Machinery budget totaling $1.14 million

Major influences in the Department’s budget include the increasing prices of road salt and gasoline/diesel fuel.

Tompkins County Facilities Department

Department Director Arel LeMaro presented the Facilities Department’s $4.4 million, up $150,000 from 2022. A $233,000 over target request was presented related to cost increases for utilities, insurance, and rent paid for several departments.

14 county buildings are maintained by the Facilities Department, totaling 416,687 square feet, around 43,000 square feet per maintenance staff member.

Ithaca Tompkins International Airport

Director of the Airport, Roxan Noble presented their budget, which includes interfund revenue support of $1.6 million, meaning that those funds would come from the County’s general fund rather than passenger fees and other revenues.

There are currently two airlines offering three flights from the Airport, Noble reported increased costs, and reduced revenues over recent years as a result of the pandemic’s impacts on the industry and other economic issues. Enplanements are down to 29,900 year-to-date, from a peak of nearly 110,000 in 2019. Noble detailed some future plans including continuing to work toward new and additional air service, increases in non-airline revenues, and other general aviation opportunities. Noble also spoke about a review of all contracts and how cost savings and efficiencies may be gained. Future plans also include an in-depth recovery plan to leverage local relationships and various opportunities.

The Airport’s customs facility is currently operating at a loss as there are few international flights coming into the facility; $197,125 of the interfund revenue request is being requested to make up for those losses.

Legislator Greg Mezey (D-Dryden) asked about the staffing numbers, to which Noble responded that most staffing is based on requirements by the Federal Aviation Administration.

Legislator Travis Brooks (D-Ithaca) inquired about how the airport can address the needs of low-income residents looking for a travel option, Noble responded that she is working hard on recruiting a low-cost carrier to the Airport, and specifically one supporting leisure travel options.

Chairwoman Shawna Black (D-Ithaca) shared that feedback she’s been getting is that the Airport is in need of a strategic plan, and that she plans to put forth a member-filed amendment to support elements of the plan development.

History Center in Tompkins County  

Director of the History Center Ben Sandberg shared the agency’s $47,988 budget supported by the County, around 13% of their total operating budget, with an over target request for $12,000 bringing the total to around 16%.

Sandberg shared programmatic highlights including the HistoryForge project and the reCOUNT: Facing our Census exhibit. The Center is also expanding local walking tours and opportunities for local history researchers to share their work.

For more information on the recommended 2023 Tompkins County Budget, visit: https://tompkinscountyny.gov/news/highlights-september-6-2022-meeting-tompkins-county-legislature