Tompkins County · issues
Civic issues
Topics getting the most attention in Tompkins County public meetings, ranked by how frequently they come up.
2026 Workforce Diversity and Inclusion Goals and Priorities
The county's policy manual lists protected classes, and member Irene Weiser proposed adding more. Discussion included legal protections for lactating employees — a change that could strengthen workplace protections for county workers.
Youth Employment Programs Funding
Workforce Development reported 131 TANF-eligible youth completed the summer program, and new state funding will support year-round programming for youth at risk of gun violence — a program that served 70 youth last cycle, nearly half Black and half with a disability.
Workforce Development Capacity and Unspent Training Funds
The GIVE-funded youth employment program put 70 at-risk youth ages 14-20 to work at $16/hour across 31 local businesses, and a new initiative is in early stages to convince some of the county's 33,000 college students to stay after graduation.
2026 Tourism Capital Grants
The county is putting $250,000 of hotel room tax money into long-term tourism improvements — trail work, theater upgrades, accessibility projects — but demand was more than triple the money available. The program skipped a year in 2025, creating pent-up demand.
Airport Terminal Vending Contract
A resolution to award the terminal vending contract at the Ithaca Tompkins International Airport was scheduled for a vote. The contract determines food and beverage concessions available to travelers.
Southern Tier 8 Regional Board Update
ST8 wants about 20% more in county dues (roughly $2,000 for Tompkins) to meet federal match requirements, citing a $14 return per dollar and $9.9 million brought in over five years. The line item sits in the Planning Department's budget ahead of budget season.
Tourism program and occupancy tax funding
Room tax collections are running ahead of 2025 at $4.57 million, and three grant programs — community celebrations, tourism advancement, and Tompkins Outdoors — are open through February 26.
Supported Employment for Adults with Serious Mental Illness
Unallocated state aid will fund the ACE program, offering vocational rehabilitation and supported employment for adults with psychiatric disabilities; an RFP for community providers is coming, and the program may also help people meet Medicaid work requirements.
Assisted Competitive Employment funding shift
Unallocated state aid would be moved into the ACE program, which helps people with disabilities and other barriers find and keep competitive jobs.
Systematizing the County Proclamation Process
Diversity-related proclamations have been handled ad hoc, sometimes scrambling at the last minute. The committee plans to build a heritage-month calendar with deadlines and assign proclamations to committee members or departments.
Industrial Development Agency board appointments
The committee again asked the state to pass a home rule law letting the IDA grow from seven to nine seats, ideally adding a school district voice. The debate centers on who speaks for schools when big projects get tax abatements.
Good Food NY Bill (S.7638.B/A.8091.B)
The county is urging the state to pass a bill letting schools, hospitals, and jails choose local farms over the lowest bidder when bids are within 10% and meet values like sustainability and fair labor. Over half a billion dollars in public food purchasing statewide could shift toward New York farms.
Airport Small Community Air Service Development Grant Adjustment
A $1 million budget adjustment ties up the federal grant that helped bring the direct Ithaca–Washington, D.C. flight, a route the committee called of great interest and benefit to the community.
Biomedical research funding advocacy
The county asked the state to boost the 'Bolstering Biotech Initiative' to $165 million as federal research cuts — over $250 million in New York — threaten jobs and cures. Supporters cited a $2.50 economic return per dollar; opponents said the state budget can't fund everything.
Micron project and regional workforce
The huge Micron chip plant near Syracuse could bring 9,000 permanent jobs and roughly 40,000 construction jobs regionally. Tompkins County is a founding member of the workforce consortium, but funding for the local Tompkins Build pre-apprenticeship program runs out this summer, raising questions about whether local workers can fill those jobs.
Youth employment program
A GIVE-funded program provides year-round jobs, mentoring, and financial literacy training for youth ages 14-20. Its future depends on the county continuing to receive GIVE initiative funding.
State DMV system upgrade shutdown
The local DMV will close early Friday, February 13 and remain closed through February 17 as the state migrates 30 million records to a new system, reopening February 18 if all goes well. Service may be slow at first.
Naturalization ceremonies uncertainty
The Clerk's office held three ceremonies welcoming 77 new citizens in 2025, but USCIS hasn't confirmed any 2026 dates despite repeated outreach. Legislators may need to advocate with federal officials to restore the local ceremonies.
Workforce development ten-point plan
Workforce Director Chris Sponn laid out ten ideas to counter the coming wave of retirements, from skills-based hiring to transportation, child care, and keeping college grads in the county.
IDA appointments and economic development direction
The committee recommended a new IDA slate, with debate over whether the IDA should keep focusing on housing or pivot toward job creation and sites outside the city of Ithaca.
Workforce development board reorganization
Workforce Development Director Christopher Sponn walked the committee through how workforce development boards are being organized and the county's 10-point plan. The work connects residents to job training and employment services.
Cayuga Medical Center unionization resolution follow-up
Chair Mezey reported that Cayuga Medical Center contacted him after the Legislature passed a resolution supporting hospital workers' efforts to unionize for better wages, benefits, and working conditions.