Cayuga County officials are considering a shift in retiree health coverage expected to save an estimated $3 million while warning that rising costs elsewhere — including jail overtime, health insurance and a larger local share of federal food assistance — could put significant pressure on the county’s 2027 budget.
The financial issues dominated Tuesday’s Ways and Means Committee meeting, where legislators also advanced funding for public safety and mental health programs, discussed a growing overtime shortfall at the county jail and debated what the county should do after employees lost access to a privately owned downtown Auburn parking lot.
Retiree health change could save an estimated $3 million
The county is preparing to move Medicare-eligible retirees and eligible spouses from their current Excellus BlueCross BlueShield coverage into Medicare Blue PPO, or a substantially comparable Medicare Advantage plan, beginning Jan. 1, 2027.
The proposal was presented for information only and was not voted on at the Ways and Means meeting. A resolution in the committee packet calls for current Medicare-eligible retirees to be transferred beginning next year and for other retirees to move into the Medicare Advantage plan when they become eligible.
Officials estimated the change could save the county about $3 million. During the meeting, the projected savings were described as roughly equivalent to six percentage points of the county property tax levy.
The county has previously offered the Medicare Blue PPO option to eligible retirees, but the new proposal would make the transition mandatory for retirees participating in the county health plan once they qualify for Medicare.
Officials said the Medicare Advantage premium is significantly lower than the existing Excellus coverage. Contribution requirements would differ depending on whether retirees are covered by bargaining agreements, while nonunion retirees would generally pay 5% of the individual premium and an additional 10% for an eligible spouse under the proposal.
The change would also significantly reduce the number of people remaining in the county’s traditional Excellus plan. Officials acknowledged that could affect costs for active employees and said the county has discussed using a portion of the savings to offset potential increases.
Cayuga County Legislature Chair Jonathan Anna is identified in county records as chair of the Legislature, while Elane Daly chairs the Ways and Means Committee. (Cayuga County)
Officials warn 2027 budget could test tax cap
Even with projected health insurance savings, officials said the county is facing other substantial pressures while developing its 2027 spending plan.
The committee discussed an estimated increase of more than $1 million in the county’s local share of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP, resulting from federal funding changes.
Officials also cited health insurance costs and other expenses while discussing whether the Legislature may eventually need to authorize a property tax levy above the state tax cap.
No decision was made Tuesday.
One official said each 1% increase in the county tax levy represents roughly $500,000, illustrating the scale of the budget pressures legislators will have to balance.
The Legislature has previously adopted a local law allowing it to exceed the state tax levy limit for the 2026 fiscal year, although such authorization does not itself require the county to levy taxes above the cap. (Cayuga County)
Jail overtime problem expected to return in October
The committee approved a transfer within the Cayuga County Sheriff’s Office budget to cover escalating jail overtime caused by staffing vacancies, but officials made clear the transfer is only a short-term solution.
The Sheriff’s Office has already shifted available money from within its budget, including unspent road patrol salary funds, to the jail overtime account.
Officials said the latest transfer may only provide enough funding through September.
Sheriff Brian Schenck told the committee that his department has reached the point where he does not expect to find significant additional savings elsewhere in his budget. He said he expects to return in October seeking additional money, potentially from the county’s fund balance.
Schenck is Cayuga County sheriff, according to the county’s official directory. (Cayuga County)
Committee members discussed whether the county should instead identify unspent salary money in other departments before drawing from fund balance. Officials noted that unused salary appropriations and unanticipated revenue would otherwise flow back into fund balance at the end of the year.
No long-term funding strategy was settled Tuesday.
County advances public safety grants and school officer agreement
The committee also advanced several Judicial and Public Safety resolutions.
Those included authorization for two budgeted emergency services positions in the 911 center and acceptance of two state grants for the Probation Department: $90,800 through the Gun Involved Violence Elimination initiative and $12,840 through the Statewide Targeted Reductions in Intimate Partner Violence program.
The committee also supported an agreement between the Sheriff’s Office and Southern Cayuga Central School District for a full-time special patrol officer to provide school resource officer services.
During the discussion, officials said the school district would reimburse the county for 100% of the cost, including the officer and associated vehicle expenses.
Attorney recruitment changes being prepared
Officials also previewed a separate proposal intended to make Cayuga County more competitive when hiring attorneys.
Human Resources is recommending that attorneys working for the County Attorney’s Office, Department of Social Services and District Attorney’s Office be incorporated into the county’s broader 30-grade nonunion compensation structure rather than remaining in a separate legal pay system.
Officials said the expanded salary bands would provide more flexibility when making offers based on a candidate’s experience.
The county has struggled to recruit attorneys, including for Social Services, and officials said the change is intended to make hiring salaries more competitive.
The proposal was not before Ways and Means for a vote Tuesday and is expected to come before the Legislature separately.
Downtown parking loss sparks debate
A lengthy discussion developed after County Treasurer David Dempsey raised concerns about employees losing access to a privately owned parking lot near downtown county offices.
Dempsey said notices had been placed on employees’ vehicles informing them they would no longer be permitted to use the lot, creating particular difficulties for employees with medical conditions who may have trouble walking longer distances.
County officials said Human Resources can work with employees who have documented medical needs to arrange accommodations, potentially including use of paid parking with reimbursement.
The broader question produced a sharper debate over whether the county should provide parking for downtown employees.
Some participants argued that paying for parking or walking several blocks is routine for people working in city centers and noted that the county office building lot and city parking facilities remain available. Dempsey argued the county should explore ways to help workers, particularly those facing long walks in winter or additional parking expenses.
Dempsey suggested the county could investigate renting parking spaces or a nearby lot. County officials said they had previously considered nearby property but were not interested in pursuing it at this time.
No formal action was taken.
Sales tax running ahead of last year but below budget
Finance officials reported that county sales tax collections through September were approximately 4.85% higher than the same period in 2025.
That year-over-year gain slipped slightly from about 4.98% the previous month because September’s increase, while positive, was below the county’s year-to-date growth rate.
Even if collections run about 4% higher for each of the remaining months of the year, officials projected the county would still finish roughly $276,000 below the amount budgeted for sales tax revenue.
Finance staff said stronger-than-projected collections during the remainder of the year could continue narrowing that gap.
County rejects request for free transfer of former tax-foreclosed property
The county’s Real Property Advisory Group also reported that it does not support transferring a former tax-foreclosed property at 1159 Lake Como Road to Little Tags Inc. for no payment.
The property was previously transferred by Cayuga County to the town of Summerhill with a reverter clause allowing it to return to county control under certain circumstances.
Little Tags sought the property for no consideration, according to the county’s report.
Officials said transferring public property to a private organization without compensation raised legal concerns. The advisory group instead indicated it could consider recommending a transfer if the organization paid an amount equal to the delinquent taxes owed when the property was originally transferred.
Officials said Little Tags indicated it does not currently have the money to do so.
Other resolutions move forward
The committee advanced a broad group of resolutions originating in other legislative committees.
Those included $10,000 in federal grant funding for county mobile crisis services; authorization to fill an environmental health technician position connected to the Lead Rental Registry program; state funding adjustments and psychiatric care spending within the Mental Health Department; and several Social Services personnel and program actions.
The county also moved forward with a five-year records management agreement with Info Quick Solutions Inc. for the County Clerk’s Office. The proposed agreement would cost $6,030 per month, or $72,360 annually.
Planning and Public Works measures included state-reimbursed work associated with court space at the courthouse and Historic Post Office, county building maintenance transfers, two automotive mechanic vacancies and a sign maintenance position in the Highway Department.
The committee also supported five-year agreements with the Friends of Emerson Park and Friends of the Sterling Nature Center and continued designation of the Cayuga County Convention and Visitors Bureau as the county’s tourism promotion agency for state funding purposes.
The Ways and Means Committee’s next scheduled meeting is Oct. 20.
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