Greg Mezey

2027 County Budget and 2027-2031 Capital Program

Sets the county's spending plan and five-year capital priorities; no minutes were provided, so the adopted figures are unknown.

Countywide Minimum Wage Study

Unknown; the study examines potential effects of raising the minimum wage for private and public employers countywide.

Comprehensive Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Plan

Could raise roughly $950,000 a year in new revenue, nearly tripling what vehicle owners currently pay at registration.

Housing Affordability and Target Market Analysis

$50,000 state grant funds the planning work; no county cost.

Community Justice Center contract pulled for more review

Up to $100,000 per year of county money for three years, subject to annual appropriation.

Vehicle Use Tax Discussion

Would raise vehicle registration costs for county residents if enacted; the proposed increase amount is not stated in the agenda.

2027 County Budget Process and Online Budget Book

A 7.69% tax levy increase is proposed, above the roughly 2.86% tax cap.

Special Victims Unit and Survivor-Centered Prosecution

Not yet determined — the Sheriff said resources to establish and sustain the unit still must be identified.

Medicaid Cuts to Autism (ABA) Services

State reimbursement cuts could shrink the pool of autism providers accepting Medicaid, shifting families to fewer, costlier options.

Youth Deer Hunting Pilot Program Extension

About $200 in youth permit fees last year — negligible to the county budget.

Countywide drug task force and methamphetamine seizures

Homelessness, Code Blue cuts, and the Asteri evictions

State allocation cut by $1.159 million; county capping local share at zero for now.

Homeless services and shelter contract

The project's capital depends heavily on state HHAP funding; the county has already purchased the building and may supplement costs.

Continuation of virtual public meetings

No direct cost noted; it preserves access options for residents who can't attend in person.

Vehicle Use Tax as EMS Funding Mechanism

An increased local vehicle use tax share would raise new countywide revenue for EMS services.

Kratom Regulation

2025 Audit Results

Costs $41,250 from the 2026 budget, funded partly through vacancy savings.

Natural Infrastructure funding for three land conservation acquisitions

$94,425 from a fund whose balance would drop to about $285,000, with no replenishment in the last three budget years.

New Recycling Regulations Effective July 1

Not specified; a program vision and 2027 budget presentation was requested.

Tompkins County Animal Abuse Registry (Local Law No. d of 2026)

A proposed $100 registration fee was debated and dropped; the Sheriff will decide any fee, and the registry itself is expected to cost little given fewer than ten local convictions a year.

Approval of Minutes — October 19, 2026

Bond Resolution — $2,400,000 for Road and Highway Reconstruction (ID #14443)

Bond Resolution — $655,270 for Townline Road Bridge (ID #14444)

Bond Resolution — $204,600 for Hines Road Bridge (ID #14445)

Bond Resolution — $374,495 for Genung Road Bridge (ID #14446)

Bond Resolution — $1,675,000 for Construction and Maintenance Machinery (ID #14447)

Contingent Fund Appropriation — DMV Terminal Pay Reimbursement (ID #14470)

Whole Health Budget Adjustment — AOT and Complex Care Positions (ID #14441)

Payment to TC3 for 2026–2027 Capital Program (ID #14467)

Year-End Resolutions I through N (IDs #14411, #14401, #14402, #14409, #14410, #14412)

Adoption of 2027 County Budget and 2027–2031 Capital Program (ID #14425)

Vehicle Use Tax Increase for Emergency Medical Services (ID #14481)

Resolution: Authorization to Participate in Various Contracts Let by Any Government Entity of the United States of America (ID #14412)

Consent Agenda (Resolutions A, C–J and Advisory Board Appointment)

Res. No. _g_ – Medicaid Safety Net Payment and Budget Adjustment

Res. No. _k_ – Whole Health Grant Acceptance (Safer Communities Act / Block Grant)

Res. No. _l_ – Comprehensive County EMS Plan Submission

Res. No. _m_ – Victims' Rights Resolution (Weiser)

Res. No. _N_ – Contingent Fund Appropriation, Automotive Fuel for the Sheriff's Office

Minutes of Previous Meetings

Negative Declaration for Authorizing Disbursement of Tourism Capital Grant (ID #14373)

Resolution No. 2026-202: Resolution Authorizing an Independent Comprehensive Review of the District Attorney's Office and Calling for Policy Changes in Alignment with Victim-Centered Practices

Award of 2026 Tourism Capital Grants (ID #14342)

October 1, 2026 Minutes

Consent Agenda

Adoption of Amendments to the 2027 Tentative Tompkins County Budget and 2027-2031 Capital Program (ID #14302)

Approval of the 2027 Amendment to the Municipal Cooperative Agreement for the Greater Tompkins County Municipal Health Insurance Consortium (ID #14400)

Renewal of Tompkins County Board of Elections Lease (ID #14369)

Monroe Balancing Test - 654 Elmira Road, Ithaca, New York (ID #14393)

Adoption of Local Law No. 6 of 2026 - A Local Law Amending the Authorized Exemption from Taxes Pursuant to Sections 459-c and 467 of the New York State Real Property Tax Law for Certain Older and Disa

Consent Agenda (Res. Nos. 2026-203 through 2026-210 and appointments)

Packman amendment to Res. 2026-202 (seven case-specific WHEREAS clauses)

Resolution No. 2026-202: Independent Comprehensive Review of the District Attorney's Office

Views the expenditure as an investment in the DA's Office, not a gotcha.

Designation of Newspaper (ID #14405)

Believes the Ithaca Journal's low circulation and out-of-state ownership make print designation a box-checking exercise that does not actually notify the public.

The consent agenda was adopted by roll call vote.

Add Resolution N — Voluntary Intoxication Exclusion Loophole — to agenda

Add Resolution 2026-200 — Monroe Balancing Test public hearing — to agenda

Consent Agenda (Resolutions a, b, c, f, g and Board of Health appointment)

CJC — Amendment to amendment restoring three-year term (FAILED)

Two-year term sufficient; results visible in shorter window

CJC — Dawson amendment shortening contract to two years (PASSED)

Resolution 2026-194 — Community Justice Center contract (adopted 14-1)

Resolution 2026-195 — TC3 capital funding, $251,100 from Contingent Fund

Motion — County Attorney legal opinion on Cornell Greek-letter property tax exemptions

Resolution 2026-196 — Public hearing on Local Law No. f (senior/disabled tax exemption income limits)

Resolution 2026-197 — Local Law No. 5 of 2026, Youth Deer Hunting Pilot Program (adopted 13-2)

Resolution 2026-198 — Rabies post-exposure biologicals, $47,000 contingent funds

Resolution 2026-199 — Stephen M. Dewitt reappointed Democratic Election Commissioner

Resolution 2026-200 — Public hearing on Monroe Balancing Test analysis, 654 Elmira Road shelter

Resolution — Call to close the Voluntary Intoxication Exclusion Loophole

Minutes of Previous Meeting — September 15, 2026

Resolution No. 2026-188: Support for the Department of Planning and Sustainability to use Budgeted Funds for Housing Target Market

Resolution No. 2026-188: Housing Target Market Analysis Funding

The town took the first step; the data set lowers the cost of future studies in other communities.

August 10, 2026 Minutes Approval

Resolution No. - Contingent Fund Appropriation - Highway Department - Unexpected Fuel Expenses (ID #14270)

Resolution No. - Scheduling a Public Hearing on the 2027 Tompkins County Budget and the 2027- 2031 Tompkins County Capital Program (ID #14312)

Resolution No. - Contingent Fund Appropriation - Tompkins County Whole Health Department - Budget for Biologicals for Rabies Post-Exposure Treatment (ID #14339)

Amendment to Local Law No. f – adopt exemption scale 1 ($40,400)

Supports the more generous $50,000 exemption scale

Adoption of Local Law No. f of 2026 (senior/disability tax exemption)

Voted no to remove the item from the consent agenda so it receives full Legislature debate; supports the more generous exemption

August 5, 2026 Minutes Approval

Resolution No. - Support for the Department of Planning and Sustainability to use Budgeted Funds for Housing Target Market

Resolution — Support for Planning Department to Use Budgeted Funds for Housing Target Market (ID #14306)

Resolution 2026-178 – Draw $1.6M from Tax Stabilization Reserve to reduce 2027 tax levy

Consent Agenda Item Nos. 2026-179, 2026-180, and 2026-181

Resolution No. 2026-183: Budget Adjustment - Whole Health Department - Ithaca Alpha House, Doing Business as (DBA) Cayuga Addiction Recovery Services

Minutes of Previous Meeting August 18, 2026

Resolution No. 2026-178: Authorization A Draw From The Contingency & Tax Stabilization Reserve to Reduce 2027 Tax Levy Increase

Resolution No. 2026-182: Adoption of Local Law No. 4 of 2026 - A Local Law Establishing a Tompkins County Animal Abuse Registry

Sigler amendment to draw full $2.7M from reserve

Too early in the budget process; the reserve should be saved for later deliberations.

Resolution 2026-182 – Local Law No. 4 of 2026, Animal Abuse Registry

Acceptance of 2025 Audited Financial Report (Res. 2026-159)