Welcome
Our County Legislature’s most important function is to allocate County resources in ways that meet the needs and values of our residents. Not surprisingly, when our needs are many and our resources are relatively few, our values tend to get short shrift.
Tompkins County now face increasingly scarce resources under a Federal government that shows little interest in our natural, social, and cultural environments, and a State government that sometimes seems determined to bankrupt our counties. We had to use 68% of last year’s county property tax levy to pay for unfunded mandates. Because of New York State’s “system” for funding Medicaid, we used fully 24% of last year’s property tax levy to pay for Medicaid services provided in Tompkins County. If Congressional Republicans succeed in implementing block grant funding for Medicaid, our county share of Medicaid funding could increase even more. What will we do then? We cannot increase property taxes by any substantial amount: our citizens are already burdened with very high property taxes, and that burden was effectively increased by the limitation on SALT deductions imposed by Federal tax legislation passed in 2017. At the same time, we cannot deny health care services to our residents who need them.
How we overcome the challenge of resource scarcity while maintaining the quality of life we all value will set our County’s course for years to come. I believe the key to meeting these challenges is to build a strong, sustainable, independent economy here in Tompkins County. That means not only increasing our tax base, but also using every means at our disposal to create jobs that pay a living wage or better, to promote our flagging retail sector, to underwrite construction of affordable and work force housing, and to expand public transit services throughout Tompkins County. When everyone in Tompkins County thrives, everyone contributes to growing county revenues.
We have a LOT of work to do!
Deborah’s recent Facebook posts are shared, below.
Deborah Dawson - TC Legislator for District 10
If you're looking for an opportunity to serve people who really need you in this community, consider this. . .
Volunteers required to keep homeless Friendship Center open
ithaca.com
With Ithaca’s Rescue Mission impending closure, the Ithaca’s Homeless Crisis group is calling for volunteers to work at the Rescue Mission from now until October 31 in order to keepYOU can help:
One of the things that we really feel the average citizen can do to reduce spread of invasive species is if you are a boater, clean drain and dry your boat.
Not spreading seeds from one hiking trail to another, not transporting firewood, not dumping aquatic fish tanks into local water bodies or releasing exotic pets, these are all things we can do to help.
And KEEP YOUR EYES OPEN: when it comes to the spotted lanternfly, DEC is asking for the public’s help, especially in the Binghamton area, to look out for it. It’s a pretty bug that is yellow and red and has spots on it.
Old threats, new worries: How you can help stop the spread of invasive species
pressconnects.com
The feral swine are contained for now, but the lanternflies are on the horizon.Be aware, be careful.
Dangerous flash flooding possible Monday night
flxweather.com
A very dangerous flash flooding event is possible across the southern Finger Lakes tonight.
A Pivotal Moment for Hungry Americans
newrepublic.com
A Republican plan to restrict food aid could reverse years of progress.Tompkins County primary election results available at
tompkinscountyny.gov
