[{"_1":2,"_111":-5,"_112":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87,99],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6593389,"mediaKeyId","3805926-81d53f40fe66262ffc9758fc213bc6dd","parentId",3805926,"title","Ways and Means and committees approve bundled resolutions; key personnel and contract items advanced","audioSeconds",636,"startMs",5806000,"endMs",6442000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3805926-81d53f40fe66262ffc9758fc213bc6dd&start=5806&end=6442","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3805926-81d53f40fe66262ffc9758fc213bc6dd/thumbnail_5806000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6593389/Cayuga-County/New-York/Ways-and-Means-and-committees-approve-bundled-resolutions-key-personnel-and-contract-items-advanced","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6593389-816db61ca43eb803b4acc890345bfd21/orig.mp4?Expires=1771135965&Signature=hRbmwd6-m6vS5OSwKCYRV3YLW-Ahk0LVnqRieuR6Ec3u4gFAfYbbmOHuei8dMiOtlNgfxxzAqBbVqVUhacjrglxrT1VQQXTE9JYR0S~FZkmOccFxOWALYKH-ZHFvdpjVF55xU84BVvdpWHcBBC92UTzCFzSFKBnE8SotSOBVzKR9foeaHhF~lwRn-D~t0xpJaRKC~RcN7TvzyVQhP2ftUuEqAe71Qg4noOtgsB35n-nkf3qTQE91JzecF1NmCMd-4HGAeaPUXFWCBJ2OzPE0foOq4dSYowoWGOyvN15PwQ8kLDEOmfsSaS1DYVodJ~x8eV6uzvL69~e9IjJwxab~pQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Cayuga County, NY","date","2025-04-16T10:27:08Z","article","The committee and related standing committees handled numerous routine and bundled resolutions on April 9, approving property-assessment settlements, vendor contracts, grant awards and personnel authorizations. Most measures were approved by voice vote after committee sponsors moved bundled packages.

Key votes and outcomes (at a glance)
- WM-1, WM-2, WM-3 (McDonald's assessment settlements and a Shalinski matter): Authorized and approved by voice vote; no detailed refunds or amounts were presented at committee.
- Health & Human Services (HH) bundle(s): Multiple HH resolutions renewing public-health contracts and authorizing grants were approved in bundles. Separate vote: HH-11 (create and fill two full-time social-worker positions supported by a SAMHSA grant) was considered separately and approved by voice vote after discussion about school-based services; one abstention was recorded during the HH-11 vote.
- Government Operations and Veterans: Lease and veteran services staffing fills were approved by voice vote.
- Planning and Parks (PL): Multiple park, events and maintenance agreements (including fireworks contract and Emerson Park lift-station maintenance) were approved in bundled votes.
- Public Works (PW): Contractor agreements for electrical work and chiller maintenance were approved.
- Judicial & Public Safety (JP): A bundle of grant-acceptance resolutions and several public-safety program agreements (including DWI program plans and traffic-diversion contract amendments) were approved by voice vote. One equipment-possession MOU from the state for flood mitigation equipment was discussed at length and approved after debate.

Fiscal or notable procedural details
Committee sponsors frequently moved grouped, procedural resolutions together; most passed without recorded roll-call tallies. The meeting record reflects voice votes and short verbal confirmations (\"Aye\") rather than full roll-call tallies in committee. Where committee members requested separation of items for discussion (for example HH-11 was pulled for separate consideration), the record shows subsequent discussion and a separate voice vote.

Ending
No single contested resolution failed in committee on April 9. Several items proceed to full legislature for final adoption or to implement contract execution; the county clerk and department staff will carry forward the administrative steps for executed contracts and position fills.

","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Cayuga County Committee Meeting - Ways and Means (April 15, 2025)","oneSentenceSummary","The Ways and Means meeting and related committee reports on April 9 advanced a series of routine settlements, contract renewals and personnel authorizations. Several bundles of health, planning, public works and public-safety resolutions were approved by voice vote; one amendment to a local pay resolution was set for public hearing as amended.","taxTitle","Cayuga County, New York","taxId",68314,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6593393,"Treasurer: sales tax roughly flat, fund balance below policy after 2024 adjustments",722,4916000,5638000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3805926-81d53f40fe66262ffc9758fc213bc6dd&start=4916&end=5638","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3805926-81d53f40fe66262ffc9758fc213bc6dd/thumbnail_4916000.jpg","/articles/6593393/Cayuga-County/New-York/Treasurer-sales-tax-roughly-flat-fund-balance-below-policy-after-2024-adjustments","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6593393-ddb8276485d1cc7c41b2d06b418b4cf2/orig.mp4?Expires=1771135965&Signature=Tt6-3DWTEt7NH33-89FsWRGOGzyoknfzVU-ISQku5jLMEFjvXPJ4Vkn2lVDydmS7OBKda8FIH6hv8vCiDy6yoYTs7waVNyaJ5iIZvmpUKBH11zyjknFekRZYF3Qm6wgNVo538a1a5EMVbsZhZS2N7ISrD6cy1cENOQ7Ba5yGUcS4LlaP6xDsMynKO6KIptKzSzNFkMU8Dd-CCzxeBYVlL2pQZIP7pE2zsh-iw~GiBF44WHF9Dkdv4au9TdjB5e~GQbe4-aICB6jqQBH89aH8tTcp5HvqnW0Up3fS-fgMPa7c36yzgkOsb-AYSygnwKgcPNo5V383PZCHWXugASuFMw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Cayuga County’s treasurer presented month-to-date sales-tax and fund-balance figures to the Ways and Means Committee on April 9, reporting that sales-tax receipts through April were roughly flat with the prior year and that interest-income projections remain subject to broader market changes.

The treasurer’s sales-tax report through April showed collections up about 1% compared with the same period in 2024; the presenter cautioned that it is early in the year and that prior-year monthly projections had shifted considerably by year end. The treasurer said the 2025 sales-tax budget figure of about $31.02 million remains reasonable under current conditions.

On interest earnings the treasurer said 2024 earned about $2.1 million overall and that higher rates on money-market accounts contributed materially; the department is reallocating cash into higher-yield accounts when prudent. The treasurer also noted discussions about possible future Fed rate changes and the impact on interest income.

Most significantly for county-wide finance, the treasurer and staff presented an unaudited year-end 2024 fund-balance estimate of about $14.2 million in the A (operations) fund. That figure sits below the county’s adopted fund-balance policy range (10%–15% of revenues), leaving the county approximately $2 million under the low end of the policy target on a gross basis. Staff said one-time resolutions and ARPA revenue had materially affected the 2024 result: without ARPA revenue, the county’s 2024 use of fund balance would have been roughly $9 million rather than about $6.2 million.

Presenters urged the legislature to begin planning options to close the structural gap (expenditure reductions, revenue measures or other fiscal tools) and noted the county is engaging bond counsel and fiscal advisers to evaluate long-lead items for capital financing.

Ending
The treasurer and finance staff will continue quarterly budget reporting and recommended early discussion of medium-term fiscal strategy to keep the county within its fund-balance policy range. Committee members asked about potential timing for the next detailed review; staff suggested a mid-year or special budget meeting if members wanted more frequent review.

","The county treasurer told Ways and Means that through April sales tax is about 1% above last year and that unaudited 2024 fund balance is below the county policy range after ARPA and one-time uses; staff warned the legislature to plan to close the budget gap for 2026.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6593397,"Health department reports postage, rabies bills and jail mental-health costs among budget pressures",1562,2313000,3875000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3805926-81d53f40fe66262ffc9758fc213bc6dd&start=2313&end=3875","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3805926-81d53f40fe66262ffc9758fc213bc6dd/thumbnail_2313000.jpg","/articles/6593397/Cayuga-County/New-York/Health-department-reports-postage-rabies-bills-and-jail-mental-health-costs-among-budget-pressures","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6593397-b21b65af41406a9515354d4a2c7a6168/orig.mp4?Expires=1771135965&Signature=L7m7MtJGjl98Z6eYXbgei5jA9gtYo~cnyaSmz0-ghkwFcDXkIzn4Q4X1KfJCHkgdG3VAK-cyb5L1EcyaixQYrXKJWpyQrR5KCyxrTwBjHC6Twd4172zI6R0nMGq4PG4i7ky0LA6dSMi9XYKh0JaGTpi9JaiiFZmEyx9lBsbzu4rR6NHvmDQnLueoeyAUn8lLx~AXNHAi8uBap86-Xs3ArrcU2IDdooHYkg3yPOGboFLvhLIUEWWVX-hoL6gHxtOB1zVKiH7gyi30jKFSlK1ezQk7IKYeQrVq0fHhfFdAPmlYv9nQl0xvVigD1HEhonCTnobP-nfei1O8GJZhOMhgpA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Roselyn Fagan, the health department’s fiscal manager, told the Ways and Means Committee on April 9 that the county health department’s general public-health programs are tracking near expectations through March but that a few lines warrant attention.

Fagan and department accountant Carol identified postage and rabies-related expenses as lines likely to exceed budget this year. The department said it had to add roughly $3,000 to postage at the end of March and expected a nearly $15,000 rabies-related invoice in April that was not yet reflected in the first-quarter report.

On clinic operations and mental-health services, department staff said salary lines were lower than year-to-date budget because of vacancies. The department noted that some social-work and clinic positions are revenue-generating (billable) and that vacancies reduce billable revenue; staffing vacancies have therefore created both payroll savings and lower clinic revenue.

Staff explained two specific county exposures:
- Family-court and forensic inpatient evaluations (referred to in the meeting as “7 30” competency evaluations and “5 0 8” treatment commitments) are unpredictable and county-funded when ordered. Presenters said these placements to state hospitals are expensive, with costs that can exceed $1,000 per day, and that the county budgets a limited amount for these events; a 5 0 8 placement was expected next week.
- Mental-health services provided in the county jail are largely unreimbursable. The health department said it budgets roughly $142,000 for 1.5 social-worker positions at the jail plus an additional about $46,000 in nurse practitioner stipends; those amounts are not currently billable to Medicaid when inmates are incarcerated, producing a net local cost of about $188,000 for jail mental-health services.

Early intervention and preschool services also carry significant local share and are hard to control. Fagan said 312 children had qualified for early intervention services this year, with 33 attending tuition-based preschool programs and 42 children on a wait list. The county pays tuition and, separately, transportation; Fagan said transportation billing is currently behind and that transportation is a frequent source of cost growth.

The department also discussed federal and state grant activity, including an ongoing SAMHSA grant supporting school-based services; staff said they have applied to continue funding and expected to know results by August. The health department said it participates in Medicaid enhancement rates tied to quality improvement projects but that those payments are occasional and retroactive.

Ending
Committee members asked staff to continue monthly budget monitoring and to flag large, unpredictable costs (forensic hospitalizations, rabies bills, and transportation) in future reports. No committee action was required at the April 9 meeting on the presentation.

","Health department fiscal staff told Ways and Means that clinic billing lags, a large April rabies bill and county-paid jail mental-health services are notable budget items; early intervention preschools and transportation are the department’s highest uncontrollable costs.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6593402,"Cayuga County DSS reports vacancies, rising high-cost foster and emergency housing expenses",1387,791000,2178000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3805926-81d53f40fe66262ffc9758fc213bc6dd&start=791&end=2178","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3805926-81d53f40fe66262ffc9758fc213bc6dd/thumbnail_791000.jpg","/articles/6593402/Cayuga-County/New-York/Cayuga-County-DSS-reports-vacancies-rising-high-cost-foster-and-emergency-housing-expenses","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6593402-8af7aa4375af9c6024506122688da6e7/orig.mp4?Expires=1771135965&Signature=MT2DQ6jUspPmSZR6aP7q5sPPo~W6~wkX8UOTsnxEhjsLDlMml5VJO9NChquEk61vHPMER~-MO-zJkr21nDmpsNvdKAfXbRHKXuGdrMLULiKVb-255xefgFMkV9vMgeOOxG3G9XLIBjjJDCPURxI6N6WiHasLgArBhQ1VwOBvH~QCGriqSVrGHj1N703xl013Lk7QEJss3VBhxLfxP6-LG6SA2aczjNKOS8A6fNuBeWCA2jhnj3QYG0k~YLW3G62dsoG8xPUU7lYKgk-QYV8kbdbEtNp~CzTkUuhCSsiceA4QYTbSEwldX~Co~g6kKnOXjPKmqgcka01WSIpt6gC8hw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Department of Social Services staff told the county’s Ways and Means Committee on April 9 that staffing vacancies and mandated, high-cost placements are the largest near-term risks to the county’s 2025 operating budget.

DSS presented a first-quarter budget snapshot showing full-time salary spending about 18% below budget through March because of multiple vacant caseworker and accounting positions, but overtime is higher than expected as remaining staff cover work. Staff said the vacancies have increased caseloads and that higher overtime is concentrated in services units covering adult protective services, child protective services, foster care and preventive services.

The presentation highlighted two mandated program areas with the highest risk of exceeding budget: safety net (emergency housing) and foster care. Safety-net payments are reimbursed at roughly 29% by state sources, meaning the county carries most of the cost for hotel and shelter placements. DSS reported safety-net spending at about 27% of its annual budget as of the first quarter but warned that long hotel stays raise the potential for large overruns as the year progresses.

Foster care was identified as a larger potential cost driver. DSS staff said complex placements — including residential treatment — can exceed $1,000 per day in some cases. Reimbursement rates for foster placements vary depending on eligibility determinations driven by state standards; some placements are 100% funded, others are 100% local share. The county receives a capped foster-care block grant; once the cap is exceeded, the county bears the local cost.

DSS also noted delays between when county expenditures occur and when state and federal reimbursements are settled. Presenters said monthly claiming for March expenses typically posts in April, and the state can take two to three months to settle claims; some balances therefore lag the expense side of the ledger and affect short-term cash flow reporting. Staff said they book anticipated revenue and accruals so year-end accounting reflects expected claims, but cautioned that some claims may not be finally settled for months.

Committee members pressed DSS on staffing and retention. DSS said turnover — including eight caseworkers moving to other county departments over the past two years — has removed experienced staff who trained others. Presenters described recruitment as feasible but retention difficult, citing pay and nonwage factors (workload, quality of life) and competition from private employers and other county departments. DSS said filling vacancies and stabilizing caseloads would help both case outcomes and control costs by improving continuity of supervision and timeliness of placements.

Committee members asked whether one-time upfront equipment and furniture purchases for DSS’s new space at 63 Genesee Street had skewed early-year budget percentages. Staff confirmed many of those line-item purchases are one-time costs (IT, wiring, security and furniture) and said they expect those particular lines to normalize as the year progresses.

Discussion and directions
DSS staff emphasized that mandated services limit the department’s ability to cut costs and that early warning on high-cost placements will be brought back to the committee. Committee members asked staff to continue monthly reporting on the specific high-risk lines (safety net, foster care and state training school invoicing) and to provide a clearer monthly reconciliation of claims receivable so the committee can monitor accruals and cash-flow timing.

Ending
DSS staff will continue to bring quarterly budget reports to Ways and Means and provide additional monthly detail on high-risk mandated lines; the committee did not take a separate formal vote specific to the presentation on April 9.

","Department of Social Services officials told the Ways and Means Committee that staffing vacancies are driving overtime and could slow casework, while mandated safety-net and foster-care placements remain the largest risk to the 2025 county budget due to limited state reimbursement and lagging claim timing.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Ways and Means and committees approve bundled resolutions; key personnel and contract items advanced

Treasurer: sales tax roughly flat, fund balance below policy after 2024 adjustments

Health department reports postage, rabies bills and jail mental-health costs among budget pressures

Cayuga County DSS reports vacancies, rising high-cost foster and emergency housing expenses