Cayuga County Legislature Chair Jonathan Anna is counting on relief from federal food-assistance changes to avoid budgeting for a potential $700,000 expense next year, while defending a retiree health insurance switch that he says is essential to controlling costs.
In an Inside Government interview with host Guy Cosentino, Anna explained the choices behind his proposed 2027 budget and the county’s search for a permanent home for displaced offices.
His argument centered on protecting limited reserves while changing expenses he believes the county can no longer sustain. But the discussion also exposed unresolved risks: federal relief has not been secured, retirees are losing a coverage choice, and the proposed Health Central purchase still depends on environmental testing.
A potential SNAP expense is outside the budget
Anna distinguished between two financial pressures associated with the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program: the cost of administering benefits and the potential local share of benefit payments themselves.
The county’s tentative budget already faces reduced federal reimbursement for administration. Separately, Anna described a potential benefit-cost obligation of approximately $700,000 in late 2027, followed by a substantially larger annual expense.
Asked whether he included the potential benefit expense in his proposal, Anna said he had not.
“I’m expecting relief, and I didn’t want to tax our taxpayers for something that we may not have to pay for,” he said.
That expectation leaves the county with a contingency rather than a funded expense. If relief does not arrive, Anna said reserves could absorb the additional cost.
The budget presentation earlier this month identified approximately $704,000 for the final three months of 2027 and $2.8 million in 2028 as conditional scenarios.
Anna’s interview explained why he chose not to collect property taxes for that possibility now. It did not establish that Congress or the state has agreed to spare Cayuga County the expense.
Reserves provide less flexibility than the balance suggests
Anna put the county’s fund balance at roughly $13 million, below the approximately $18 million to $22 million range he described under county policy.
Much of that money is needed to keep government operating between revenue collections.
The county receives property tax revenue early in the year but must continue paying bills throughout it, Anna explained. He estimated that Cayuga needs approximately $10 million for operating cash flow.
That limits how freely the remaining balance can be treated as emergency spending money.
Anna said the county could finish 2026 adding roughly $1 million to reserves, but cautioned that the result would partly reflect salary savings associated with unsettled labor contracts. Those savings do not necessarily represent a lasting improvement in the county’s finances.
He said negotiations remain open with the county’s general employee and jail unions, with deputy union negotiations approaching as well.
His approximately $201 million proposal calls for a 3.9% property tax levy increase and no layoffs. Anna said he asked department heads to identify savings throughout the year rather than repeat the more disruptive reductions made during the previous budget cycle.
He pointed to probation as an example of adjustments needed after cuts. When caseloads increased following the removal of a position, the county brought in a retired probation officer part time.
The proposed levy increase still exceeds the county’s calculated tax cap. Lawmakers have scheduled a Nov. 23 hearing on an override, and Anna said he wants the budget completed by Dec. 10.
Retirees lose a choice as the county seeks savings
The interview’s most direct exchange concerned the decision to move Medicare-eligible retirees into a Medicare Advantage PPO plan beginning Jan. 1.
Anna said approximately 300 retirees would be affected. Asked whether they would retain a choice of county-sponsored plans, he answered that they would not.
Asked why, he said: “It came down to budgetary concerns.”
Anna defended the coverage as comparable to the existing plan and said premiums should decrease for both the county and participating retirees. Those were his assessments; the interview did not provide a comparison of individual retirees’ doctors, prescriptions or treatment needs.
He said approximately 112 retirees had previously switched voluntarily and described positive feedback from people already enrolled.
The transition follows retiree objections that delayed action in September. Questions raised during the broader debate have included provider access, prior authorization and the practical differences between plans.
Anna said the county had provided notice and educational sessions before the October vote. He acknowledged receiving substantial criticism and said he responded to retirees’ emails.
The financial effect is significant. He said retiree health appropriations would fall from roughly $8.2 million to $5.6 million, while active employee health costs would rise from approximately $6.8 million to $8 million.
He put the combined net reduction at approximately $1.3 million.
That distinction matters when discussing the roughly 22% premium increase confronting local governments. Anna said the retirees moving to Medicare Advantage would be in a separate pool, rather than simply absorbing that same increase.
Health Central remains a conditional purchase
Anna also offered a fuller explanation of the proposed purchase of Health Central, the former Central High School building behind the Holiday Inn in Auburn.
The county is conducting a second phase of environmental investigation after historical records identified a former petroleum or gasoline operation on the property. Anna said the work would involve checking soil for contamination.
He described the building review as generally favorable, while acknowledging unfinished areas needing additional remediation.
“I can’t buy a contaminated building,” he said.
Anna said he hoped to bring the matter back to the Legislature by the end of December, following completion of the investigation.
He described a minimum purchase price of $5.2 million, with provisions allowing the price to rise to as much as $7.9 million if the owner delivers additional vacant space through tenant relocations or early lease terminations.
The county would borrow for the purchase, he said.
Existing leases could complicate consolidation. Anna acknowledged that some tenants’ renewal options might leave parts of the property occupied for another five or six years.
The long-term goal would be to bring together social services, administration, the treasurer, planning and legislative operations.
Meanwhile, the Department of Social Services lease at the former HSBC building expires in March. Anna said the county is discussing a shorter extension with the owner rather than committing to another five-year term.
Anna wants the old office building returned to the tax rolls
For 160 Genesee St., Anna favors redevelopment rather than restoring it as the county’s main office building.
He cited potential remediation costs of up to $9 million and remodeling costs of $50 million or more as reasons to pursue another location. Those were estimates he discussed, rather than awarded construction prices.
Anna said he has asked that the property be considered in housing and hotel studies. He also described a possible role for a local development corporation in working with a private developer.
His goal is to return the property to the tax rolls.
He acknowledged that the Health Central effort is behind where he wanted it to be.
“Do I wish we were further ahead? I wish we were about six months further ahead,” he said.
Those decisions could extend into an election year in which all 11 legislative seats are on the ballot. Anna said he has not decided whether to seek reelection and expects to make that decision in February. He would serve another year as chair if legislators elect him in January.
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