Yates County lawmakers moved forward with testing for a possible new public safety facility this week despite growing public concern over transparency and long-term costs. The Finger Lakes Times reported the Legislature approved site study testing in a 10-3 vote for land the county hasn’t even purchased yet.
Residents urged lawmakers to slow down and publicly discuss alternatives, including renovating the existing jail instead of building new. Several legislators also questioned spending taxpayer money before the county secures an agreement with the property owner.
Supporters argued the testing phase is necessary to understand foundation conditions and estimate total project costs. Critics warned taxpayers could ultimately face decades of debt tied to the project, while lawmakers also approved moving nearly $8 million into reserve and assigned funds during the same meeting.
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