The Seneca County Board of Supervisors approved redirecting $390,387.87 in federal pandemic relief money Nov. 10, shifting remaining Willard redevelopment funds and other balances toward county expenses before a year-end spending deadline.
The state still owns the Willard campus and has not provided a timetable for transferring it to the county. The county’s resolution says that uncertainty prevents it from spending the remaining redevelopment money on the intended work before the Dec. 31 deadline.
The approved reallocation covers renovations, a highway building feasibility study, and water and sewer staffing costs. It also could free county money previously used for some of those expenses, opening a separate discussion about other local investments.
Remaining Willard money moves to other expenses
The county originally allocated $500,000 for Willard redevelopment projects and $100,000 for consulting and support services associated with the campus.
Supervisors had already redirected $189,718.30 toward an airport taxilane project in September, citing the same uncertainty over the state property transfer.
The November action moves the remaining $363,063.03 from the Willard project and consulting accounts. It adds $27,315.06 from the Grow Seneca initiative and a $9.78 balance from a Cornell Cooperative Extension vehicle purchase.
The combined $390,387.87 allocation provides:
- $170,148.03 for Office for the Aging and Three Bears renovations previously covered with county contingency money.
- $24,000 for a highway building feasibility study previously covered with contingency money.
- $196,239.84 for water and sewer director wages and benefits, including prior spending and estimated remaining 2026 costs.
The county had initially allocated $130,000 in federal relief money to create and fill the water and sewer director position. That funding was exhausted in 2025.
Reimbursements could free county money
The full-board vote follows the Ways and Means Committee’s Oct. 27 recommendation to redirect the aid.
During that discussion, finance staff estimated that using federal funds to reimburse earlier county expenses would make approximately $257,000 available in the county’s contingency account.
Supervisor Jeffrey Trout said he wanted much of that benefit directed toward the county’s southern end, where the Willard allocation had originally been intended to support investment.
His suggestions included Ovid redevelopment, water system repairs and infrastructure that could help support a grocery store near Ovid. Other possibilities included housing and development studies.
Those suggestions concern county money freed by reimbursements. The federal reallocation approved Nov. 10 directs the aid to the renovation, feasibility study and staffing expenses.
Other federal balances remain
After the approved transfers, $51,979.52 remains across the listed federal relief accounts: $24,410.96 for Route 414 sewer improvements and $27,568.56 in the Grow Seneca allocation.
Finance staff previously said the remaining federal balances also need attention before the Dec. 31 spending deadline.
County contingency money freed through the reimbursements would return to fund balance if it is not used by year’s end, staff said during the October discussion.
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