budget

The county will increase spending by approximately $17 million next year. Social services, public safety, personnel costs and infrastructure are the largest expenditures.

The Corning town board approved a $2.2 million budget Nov. 18 after nearly two hours of public comment, corrections and changes. The board also approved a tax cap of just under one percent and a nearly $4 tax rate.

Chemung County is proposing a $296 million budget for 2026, which includes the continued sewer consolidation, highway, nursing facility, airport and public safety projects.

During a public hearing on the budget Thursday, the legislature heard from over a dozen people opposed to the proposed sheriff department budget and ICE partnership with the county.

For the first time in Corning’s history, the city passed a budget with an increase in the tax levy that exceeds the state tax cap. The city council adopted the $22.6 million budget for 2026.

The budget, which totaled to $41.4 million, increased $3 million from 2024.

"There are only so many projects that we can take on," Talbot said. "[Tompkins and Cortland counties] do not have deep pockets, neither one of you."

The petitioners have been arguing Pennsylvania’s school system is so underfunded, it violates the state constitution.

Most schools under the PASSHE umbrella will be getting a several million dollar funding boost this year.

“This is a tremendous bipartisan effort. We are talking about historic investment in education for our children.”