The Cayuga County Legislature’s Ways and Means Committee reviewed quarterly budget updates from multiple departments and advanced several resolutions for legislative action during its April 15 meeting, held at the Ward O’Hara Agricultural Museum.
Committee Reviews DSS, Health, and Mental Health Spending
The Department of Social Services (DSS) reported being under budget on salaries due to multiple vacancies across services, accounting, and legal units. Overtime costs were slightly elevated to compensate for staffing gaps, particularly in Child Protective Services and Adult Protective Services. Officials also noted that a significant portion of equipment and furniture spending—about 55–58% of the department’s annual allocation—was frontloaded to outfit the new offices at 63 Genesee Street.
The department flagged two mandated programs as ongoing budgetary risks: Safety Net (due to low state reimbursement and increasing demand for emergency housing) and Foster Care (due to high-cost residential placements and limited control over state-determined reimbursement levels).
The Health Department cited similar personnel savings due to vacancies and flagged rising postage and rabies treatment costs as areas of concern. Officials noted approximately $15,000 in human rabies treatment expenses had already been incurred early in the year. The department’s preschool tuition and related services program remains the most financially unpredictable due to increasing placements and limited local service capacity, resulting in high transportation costs and some out-of-county placements.
The Mental Health Department highlighted salary savings from five vacant social worker positions, including one jail-based post. The department’s revenue from third-party billing is currently behind due to a six-to-eight-week lag in processing. Officials are anticipating a 5.7% retroactive Medicaid rate enhancement starting from October 2024.
Finance Director Shares Sales Tax and Reserve Updates
Finance Director Grace Blowers provided updates on sales tax revenue, interest income, and reserve balances. She noted that sales tax returns and interest revenues remain strong. The 2024 CTASC (Cayuga Tobacco Asset Securitization Corporation) audit has been completed, and the Health Consortium audit is underway. Blowers also reported progress in reconciling year-end accounts and preparing for fixed asset conversion to the Munis system.
Real Property and Human Resources Provide Updates
Real Property Director Jennifer Indelicato reported completion of assessment roll preparations, exemption reviews, and Board of Assessment Review training coordination. She confirmed collaboration with the Treasurer’s Office on delinquency reports related to the STAR program.
Human Resources Officer Diann Ferris reported 1,526 combined transactions across departments and municipalities, including 31 current open positions. The department is revising Civil Service rules and managing union matters. It also launched seasonal hiring for Parks & Trails and the Sheriff’s Office.
Settlements Approved in Assessment Disputes
The committee approved three tax certiorari settlements:
- McDonald’s Corporation’s property at 198 Grant Ave. will see a reduced assessment from $2 million to $1.8 million for 2024–25, with no refund owed to the county.
- McDonald’s Real Estate at 357 Genesee St. will retain its current assessment of $1,237,500.
- Marc Sholinsky’s property in Scipio will maintain its 2024 value but will see phased reductions in 2025–27, with no county refund.
Looking Ahead: Short-Term Rental Policy and Capital Projects
Committee Chair Elane Daly stated that a proposal on short-term rentals will be presented in May. The county is also continuing to track spending for the 63 Genesee Street building and other capital projects.
The meeting concluded with reminders about upcoming deadlines and continued departmental collaboration on year-end audits and grant compliance.
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