The Cayuga County Legislature will meet tonight with a packed agenda addressing critical county operations, including a hiring freeze, rental assistance funding, emergency communications upgrades, and the future of the shuttered County Office Building.
A public hearing at the top of the 6 p.m. meeting will focus on a proposed local law granting salary increases to fixed-term county officers, including the Board of Elections Commissioners. If adopted, the law would lock in their annual salary at $35,000 through 2028.
Hiring restrictions proposed amid budget concerns
One of the most closely watched resolutions would implement a temporary countywide hiring freeze from June through August. The proposal, brought forward by the Ways and Means Committee, responds to mounting financial pressure from rising costs and state mandates. Essential roles like caseworkers, jail custody officers, and emergency dispatchers would be exempt but would still require legislative approval before being filled.
Major push on housing, mental health, and public safety
The Legislature will also vote on a series of health and human services resolutions, including accepting over $268,000 in state funding for the Rental Supplement Program, which supports families facing housing instability. Lawmakers are expected to authorize a contract renewal with the Rescue Mission for transitional housing services and fill a caseworker vacancy in the Child Welfare Unit.
In mental health, the county plans to contract with two psychologists for court-ordered competency evaluations. Meanwhile, public safety priorities include creating a temporary emergency dispatcher role under a state-supported hiring initiative, funding domestic violence response training, and updating the county’s Domestic Terrorism Prevention Plan as required by the state.
Cayuga County Office Building crisis remains center stage
Environmental and logistical challenges surrounding the County Office Building—which was vacated in 2024 after hazardous materials were discovered—will dominate several agenda items. Lawmakers are set to authorize up to $150,000 in environmental consulting contracts and approve hiring Campus Construction Management Group for project oversight, capped at $50,000. Both steps are considered critical to determining whether to renovate, demolish, or replace the building.
Infrastructure, IT, and grant work on tap
Additional resolutions up for a vote tonight include:
- A shared services agreement with the City of Auburn for IT support.
- A pest control contract for multiple county buildings.
- A $101,000 Motorola software purchase to support the county’s 911 emergency backup plan.
- Approval of a consultant for the Village of Moravia’s NY Forward grant-funded downtown revitalization program.
- A renewed snow and ice removal agreement with Onondaga County.
Recognition and reports
The Legislature will also recognize three residents as Cayuga County Senior Citizens of the Year and hear updates on the Central New York Broadband Project and the county’s mapping plan. A CCC update from Dr. Brian Durant and the usual committee reports round out the session.