A walk-on resolution urging Governor Oak to sign the Responsible Data Center Development Act passed with one abstention; sponsors cited concerns about energy, water use, noise and local environmental review and asked the state to require public hearings and community benefits for centers above 20 MW.

Multiple public commenters told the Cayuga County Legislature that Sheriff Skank's decision to join a lawsuit challenging the Local Cops/Local Crimes Act undermines immigrant trust and may reduce crime reporting; speakers cited a local factory raid and a reported NYCLU class-action filing as evidence of coordinated federal-local enforcement problems.

Legislators authorize new health department positions and transfer funds for psychiatric care.

Three dogs were reportedly abandoned, with one caged so long her paws became permanently deformed. Demand justice now.

Agents took away 70 of the 150 individuals working at the time at the Cayuga County factory that makes snack and nutrition bars.

At its first 2026 meeting, the Cayuga County Human Services/Public Safety committee approved a slate of routine resolutions including contracts for emergency communications, fire mutual aid plan, probation monitoring, shelter services and multiple social-services agreements; most passed by voice vote.

County planning staff told legislators they have secured roughly $150,000 in combined funding for a countywide housing study and authorized an RFP for a countywide economic development strategy using $70,000 of budgeted funds; the housing study combines state, local and in-kind contributions.

The county plans to apply for about $40,000 in rebates for three EV charging stations (six ports) and to reallocate previously awarded clean-energy solar funds to a ground-mounted array at Emerson Park after motor-pool roof delays.

The Legislature voted to approve minutes, multiple routine resolutions and several contract and budget items, including an HHW vendor extension, a SUNY capital chargeback match and scheduling of the tax-warrant publication and the Jan. 2, 2026 organizational meeting. Vote tallies recorded as 'Aye' with no roll-call names in the transcript.

County staff said the state terminated the regional-planning contract for a multi-county broadband build; the county will apply for a planning grant through the state's ConnectAll office to develop a countywide broadband deployment plan and explore ownership models with no immediate financial risk.

Riley Shurtleff, county emergency services coordinator, told the committee the office will present an updated mutual aid plan in January, reported a $490,000 no‑match Bureau of EMS grant and said the county logged about 141 dispatches this year including 14 water emergencies and a boat collision on Cayuga Lake.

Social Services reported the county accepted state funds for a shelter‑arrears/eviction prevention program (amount cited in the meeting at roughly $69,440), and announced the regular HEAP season opened Dec. 1; officials also noted rising homelessness and emergency housing demand under 'code blue' conditions.

Social Services informed the Health & Human Services committee it will not approve new childcare assistance enrollments because the county’s $2,610,824 allocation likely won’t cover demand through the federal fiscal year; staff estimate funds could run out by April 2026.

Following a public hearing, the Cayuga County Legislature adopted a local law to establish an animal‑abuse registry and to prohibit animal ownership by certain convicted offenders after an amendment to clarify subsection lettering was approved.

On Dec. 11 the Cayuga County Legislature approved a set of budget amendments and committee bundles: a $30,000 transfer from contingency to restore part‑time museum staffing, ways‑and‑means and departmental bundles, a motion to set a sewer‑district referendum (with up to $15,000 in referendum costs to be reimbursed by the Water & Sewer Authority and a reserve to rescind if a $15 million grant is delayed), and assorted personnel restorations and position authorizations.

After extensive public comment about a June raid in Cato, the Cayuga County Legislature on Dec. 11 approved a resolution expressing opposition to what speakers called excessive and unwarranted immigration enforcement and urging local law enforcement to exercise prosecutorial discretion and protect constitutional rights.

Public testimony warned that cuts to the county planning office will undermine grant applications, water protection and downtown revitalization. In response, the legislature approved restoring 0.6 FTE of a senior GIS specialist to preserve mandated mapping services.

After hours of public comment and debate over proposed tax increases and staffing cuts—especially to the planning office—the Cayuga County Legislature adopted its 2026 operating budget. Lawmakers rejected a smaller alternative tax increase and approved a package of year‑end motions and staffing adjustments.

Cayuga County's Ways & Means committee held an extended review of the tentative 2026 budget, focusing on a $1.7 million local-share increase for foster care, proposed staff reductions, cuts to professional-services lines (including security) and debate over how the effective tax rate is presented.