Chris Spahn, director of Tompkins Workforce Development, told the expanded budget committee on Sept. 18 that the department is using its Community Development (CD) fund balance to smooth operations for 2026 while it continues to pursue state and federal grants.
Why it matters: The department consolidated the workforce board and office of employment and training in 2023 and has been right‑sizing staff and systems since. Leaders said they are trying to make the department more self‑sustaining but will use CD fund balance in 2026 to cover timing and program needs rather than cutting services.
Fund balance and revenues: Presenters said the CD fund balance had grown over prior years (roughly more than $1 million at one point) because of timing and carryovers; county administration and finance confirmed a plan to use part of the fund balance to support workforce operations in 2026. Committee members asked for a clearer reconciliation and the department and finance staff said they would supply details on current balances and exact revenue sources.
Staffing and programs: Workforce Development reported it is in the second year of a one‑time, two‑year transition workforce specialist (OTR) that helped the career center expand summer youth employment and year‑round job‑link programs; the department said this position enabled it to bring roughly $400k in additional youth employment funding into the county in 2024–25. The department emphasized WIOA compliance and tighter state monitoring of federal workforce dollars.
Questions and concerns: Multiple legislators pressed the department and county administration on long‑term reliance on fund balance and asked what steps would make the agency self‑sustaining. County staff said they will work with Workforce Development to identify cost allocations, revenue streams and a multi‑year plan to restore fund balance while minimizing cuts.
Ending: The department said it will continue to seek federal and state funds, improve internal cost allocations, and return detailed fund‑balance reconciliations and program metrics to the committee on request.