Lisa Monroe, director of Tompkins County Office for the Aging, told the expanded budget committee on Sept. 18 that the office's FY2026 budget was prepared after the state released final allocations and that the department came in under its maintenance‑of‑effort target without requesting enhancements.
Why it matters: The office said it will move programs and staff to a new location (31 Dutch Mill Road, Lansing) and that the relocation could create short‑term accessibility and transportation issues for some clients; the office plans outreach and transportation support where needed.
State funding timing: Fiscal coordinator Rodney Main explained that annual updates to the New York State Office for the Aging (NYSOFA) were delayed; the department has roughly $1 million in unpaid claims that cannot be submitted until its annual update is filed (due Oct. 30). Monroe and staff said those state reimbursements are expected but timing will shift some revenue from 2025 into later months.
Program notes: The office administers 28 programs, holds 26 contracts and 14 subcontractors and manages about 22 funding streams. Staff who previously worked in DSS’s long‑term care unit were transferred by resolution to Office for the Aging earlier in 2025 to improve continuity of care for the Expanded In‑Home Services for the Elderly Program (ISEP); Monroe said the move produced no additional county cost and made services more efficient.
What’s next: The office will monitor costs of relocation (client accessibility, transportation), track any new expenses, and report back to the legislature if issues arise. Monroe said she will file required state annual updates and follow up with the committee on waiting‑list funding if state allocations are confirmed.
Ending: The office emphasized it is not cutting direct services and will continue outreach; staff and contractors will help provide programming in more centralized community locations where needed.