Cayuga County legislators held a wide-ranging Ways & Means Committee meeting last week diving deep into budget reform, employee compensation, vehicle purchases, and possible new tax revenue streams — all with the backdrop of a looming $5.5 million budget gap and the end of federal COVID relief funds.
At the outset, committee leadership circulated newly generated year-to-date budget reports and announced the upcoming implementation of custom reporting capabilities via the county’s Munis financial software, intended to provide legislators with better visibility into spending trends. Budget Director Lynn Marinelli will assist department heads in interpreting and applying this data as the county prepares its next budget cycle.
Chair Elane Daly stressed that despite some progress in reducing the draw from reserves, more cuts may be necessary.
Daly floated several potential cost-cutting strategies, including a 90-day hiring freeze on non-mandated vacant positions and department-by-department staffing reductions. She also suggested forming consensus on whether services should be cut or preserved, stating: “If cutting the budget were easy, we would’ve done it already.”
Revenue measures take center stage
The committee advanced two controversial resolutions tied to revenue generation:
- A resolution to schedule a public hearing on implementing a motor vehicle use tax of $10 to $25 per registration — a fee already levied by 39 other counties — passed with the understanding that a final vote would come after public input.
- Another measure would retain a portion of mortgage tax administrative fees the county currently performs on behalf of municipalities, similar to annual chargebacks from the Real Property Department.
Some legislators voiced early opposition to the vehicle tax, particularly on behalf of large trucking businesses that could be disproportionately affected.
Short term rentals under review
County Treasurer Dave Dempsey announced a forthcoming presentation in May on how Cayuga County should respond to New York’s new short-term rental law, which requires municipalities to either opt in or opt out by year’s end. The law could impact Airbnb and Vrbo properties, potentially increasing revenue via tourism (bed) taxes.
Dempsey emphasized the need for public education on the matter, citing confusion and pushback from residents who’ve already received enforcement letters. “People are starting Airbnbs every day, and they don’t understand what’s going on,” he said.
Wind projects spur safeguards
A resolution was approved requiring Agriculture Wind LLC, the developer of a proposed Scipio-Venice wind turbine project, to fund all engineering and road maintenance costs associated with heavy equipment hauling. The measure ensures county and town roads are protected from damage during construction.
Security and staffing changes
The committee approved a $222,000 contract with Allied Universal to provide private security at the county’s newly consolidated social services building at 63 Genesee Street. The decision followed clarification that the price — lower than prior security arrangements — falls within the 2025 budget and qualifies for partial state reimbursement through DSS.
Legislators also debated whether the site requires three officers or two, ultimately supporting the administration’s recommendation for three, with flexibility to adjust based on operational needs.
Other 63 Genesee-related approvals included new cleaning contracts and internal buildout funding.
Compensation resolutions go forward
Among a slate of personnel measures, the committee approved:
- Promoting a Real Property Clerk to Principal Account Clerk and abolishing the lower-tier position.
- Authorizing stipends for several county administrative staff who worked excess hours in 2024 to support understaffed departments, particularly DSS and the County Attorney’s Office.
- Filling an HR associate position early to allow for cross-training ahead of a May retirement.
Some legislators raised concerns about stipend discrepancies between departments, particularly for attorneys reportedly working overtime on child welfare cases. Officials clarified the disparity was due to compensatory time policies, not workload differences.
Vehicle purchases tabled for now
Two vehicle purchase resolutions for the Health Department and DSS were tabled, pending a countywide analysis of vehicle utilization. Legislators plan to consult with department heads and the Highway Department before approving additional fleet expansion.
“We should have a plan for the county fleet,” Daly said. “Do we need this many cars when we have eight caseworker vacancies?”
What else happened?
- A proposal to contract with outside engineers to speed up septic and water system reviews amid staffing shortages in the Health Department passed after an amendment capping hourly rates at $150.
- Lawmakers approved moving forward with an application for a $2 million Northern Border Regional Commission grant to fund bridge replacement at Emerson Park.
- The Real Property Department announced a $74,000 increase in chargebacks to towns, based on more accurate assessments of staff effort and departmental services.
Looking ahead to April
The legislature is expected to revisit the vehicle use tax, short-term rental law, and capital budget planning at upcoming meetings. A clearer picture of the county’s unaudited fund balance is expected in April, once year-end entries are finalized.
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