Yates County legislators approved their tentative 2026 budget Tuesday and joined a growing call for Congress to prevent looming cuts to key federal aid programs.
At their Oct. 28 budget workshop, lawmakers unanimously passed a resolution authorizing the legislative chair to sign a letter urging continued federal support for SNAP and HEAP, two programs that help low-income residents afford food and heating. Without action in Washington, officials say both could face major disruptions starting Nov. 1.
“These programs are lifelines,” the resolution stated, warning that any delay in SNAP or HEAP funding would bring “immediate and devastating” consequences to local families—and the county’s economy.
Yates County leaders also pointed out that local governments lack the resources to cover these programs if federal funding lapses, adding that a funding gap would cause “confusion, hardship, and administrative chaos.”
The resolution urges the U.S. Department of Agriculture to use all available contingency funds to avoid a lapse and sends a strong message to lawmakers, including Senators Schumer and Gillibrand and Congresswoman Claudia Tenney, to act before benefits are cut off.
Tentative 2026 budget moves forward
In a separate action, the legislature formally adopted the county’s tentative 2026 budget, setting a public hearing date for Nov. 20 at 6 p.m. in the Legislative Chambers.
The budget was developed by the Budget Officer and reviewed by the Finance Committee. It now enters the final public review phase before it can be officially adopted.
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