Vice Chair, County Legislature· 2026-01-01–2028-12-31 (three-year term: the county Tompkins County Legislators page states legislators are elected and serve for three years with current terms 2026 through 2028; elected November 4, 2025 per Tompkins County Board of Elections 2025 Statement of Votes Cast , unofficial, certified results not located; begins January 1 per N.Y. Public Officers Law § 4, 1 and ends December 31, 2028; sworn at the January 6, 2026 organizational meeting; start shown is the current-term start)
Deborah Dawson
Tompkins County
No biography on file yet.
Voice
- Meetings spoken in
- 30
- Total speaking time
- 4:33:31
- Avg per meeting
- 9:07
- Segments
- 4045
Want every word Dawson has said?
The OpenCity MCP for Claude.ai answers questions like “what has Dawson said about housing this year” with one prompt — full speaking history, with YouTube timestamps.
Top issues during term (6)(Budget)
2025 Audit Results
Costs $41,250 from the 2026 budget, funded partly through vacancy savings.
Highway Department Fuel Cost Shortfall
$100,000 from the county's contingency fund now, with more likely coming later this year.
Hazard mitigation plan update funding
A potential $160,000 federal award to fund the plan update.
2027 County Budget Process and Online Budget Book
The 2027 budget and five-year capital program will set county spending and property tax levels.
Proposed 12% County Tax Levy Increase
The administrator's recommended budget proposes roughly a 12% levy increase, equal to about $14 a month for the average county taxpayer.
Child care affordability advocacy
The two revenue bills are projected to raise over $25 billion annually in state revenue.
Decisions during term (44)
Recorded while Dawson was in office — not necessarily decisions they moved, spoke to, or voted on.
Budget Adjustment — Office for the Aging Unmet Needs Increase (ID #14438)
Budget Adjustment — Office for the Aging Wellness In Nutrition Increase (ID #14437)
Budget Adjustment — AOT and Complex Care Coordination (ID #14441)
Budget Adjustment — Safer Communities Act and Block Grant Funding (ID #14439)
Budget Adjustment — Multiple Budget Units, Whole Health (ID #14436)
Budget Adjustment - Airport Day & Emergency Preparedness Expo (ID #14398)
Budget Adjustment — Children's Single Point of Access, Franziska Racker Centers (ID #14326)
Scheduling Public Hearing on 2027 Budget and 2027-2031 Capital Program (ID #14312)
Resolution — Support for Planning Department to Use Budgeted Funds for Housing Target Market (ID #14306)
Resolution 2026-183 – Budget Adjustment, Ithaca Alpha House / Cayuga Addiction Recovery Services
Budget Adjustment – Rural Health Institute (ID #14253)
Budget Adjustment – Cayuga Addiction Recovery Services (ID #14254)
Budget Adjustment - DOER Radio Tower Lease Revenue (ID #14224)
Res. No. _q_ - Adoption of the 2026-2027 TC3 Operating Budget
Res. No. _t_ - Highway Department CHIPS Funding Budget Adjustment
CHIPS Funding Budget Adjustment (ID #14156)
Adjustment to 2026 Budget – City/County Sales Tax Distribution Agreement (Res. 2026-126)
Resolution: Adjustment to the 2026 Budget – City/County Sales Tax Distribution Agreement (ID #14091)
Resolution: Authorization for Public Hearing – TC3 Operating Budget 2026-2027 (ID #13983)
Resolution: Adoption of the 2026-2027 Operating Budget – Tompkins Cortland Community College (ID #13984)
Voting record (16)(Budget)
Oldest to newest — hover a bar for the item.