Public Safety Committee - April 28, 2026

The Tompkins County Public Safety Committee met on April 28, 2026, to discuss various public safety and criminal justice topics. Key procurement-related actions included the unanimous approval of a resolution to increase the District Attorney's salary by 2% for fiscal year 2026, reflecting a new hourly rate of $108.42 or $225,514 annually. The committee also authorized acceptance of a New York State Canal Corporation Marine Patrol Grant for 2026-2027 to fund marine patrol activities on Cayuga Lake. Additionally, a resolution was passed unanimously to accept a grant from the New York State Division of Criminal Justice Services for a research project analyzing equity indicators in probation outcomes, involving SUNY Albany professors. Another resolution approved the use of contingent funds to cover costs for forensic psychologist services in child proceedings, reflecting the unpredictable nature of such expert witness expenses. The meeting included discussions on the formation of a county-wide drug task force, updates on emergency response capabilities including a new text 911 system, and community programs such as day reporting and victim advocacy. The committee also considered future policy discussions on surveillance technology oversight within county government. No new contracts or RFPs were directly awarded during this meeting, but several grant acceptances and budget amendments were approved that will impact county public safety operations.