TOMPKINS COUNTY, N.Y. — Local residents have a last chance to weigh in on Tompkins County’s 2020 budget. A public hearing is planned for 7 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 29.
Earlier this month, Tompkins County Legislature unanimously approved amendments to the county’s tentative 2020 budget.
The amended budget, approved unanimously by legislators Tuesday, would increase the tax levy by 2.75%, as opposed to the originally proposed 2.76% in Administrator Jason Molino’s budget. The amended budget would mean an increase of $12.69 for the owner of a median-valued $190,000 home in Tompkins County. It also includes a $2 increase to the county’s annual solid waste fee, bringing it to $60.
The amended budget proposes to increase the use of reserves by $324,402.
Some of the amendments added during the budget process include:
- Upping the sales tax revenue projection by $76,000, and for legal settlements, $24,000.
- $50,000 to fund Continuum of Care efforts to end homelessness.
- $18,000 in one-time funding to support a part-time case management position at OAR’s Endeavor House, which houses men who are returning to the community after incarceration.
- Legislators approved $25,000 in one-time funding to support the city’s Law Enforcement Assisted Diversion program. The funds will be placed into the contingent fund until the city presents a plan and funding for the program.
- $20,000 in multi-year funding was approved for coordinated food system planning and the development of a Food System Plan, as advanced by the Food Policy Council.
These are just a few amendments added to the county’s budget. More information about the budget and amendments is available at www.TompkinsCountyNY.gov/
The amended budget is still not final. Local residents will have a chance to weigh in at a public hearing at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 29 in Tompkins County Legislature Chambers, 121 E. Court St., Ithaca.
The final adoption vote by Legislature is scheduled for Nov. 7.