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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.