You have likely heard that this year’s County Budget is going to present real challenges. Much like everyone’s households, our costs are up, with health care and pensions our largest cost drivers, but also utility and gasoline costs, costs for road repair and more. Meanwhile, federal support for essential programs is reduced – while the need for important services expands.
Right now, our County Administrator is meeting with department heads to figure out how we can whittle down costs while still maintaining services.
Come September, the Administrator will present his proposed budget.. And then the Legislature and Administrator will have multiple meetings to figure out how we can meet our community’s needs while keeping the tax increase reasonable.
It’s not going to be easy, and most likely, for the first time in many years, we will need to over-ride the tax cap.
As your representative I will have tough decisions to make.
Once I know more about the proposed budget, I will host meetings in both towns (Danby and Caroline) to hear from you about your priorities.
Meanwhile, I hope you’ll take the time to read the first of the County’s four budget primers. I will forward them as they are published each Monday in August.
Please do contact me with any questions or concerns. We are in this together, and I am here to represent your interests.
Phone: 607-288-2906
Email: iweiser@tompkins-co.org
