# Education and Economic Development Committee Meeting - Budget Hearings - 10/23/26 @2pm

The Orange County Education and Economic Development Committee held budget hearings on October 23, 2026. SUNY Orange presented six capital requests, including approximately $262,000 for campus HVAC maintenance, $200,000 for phase-two access controls, $1 million for Middletown campus roof work, $450,000 for campus systems, and $800,000 annually for IT equipment replacement. The Facilities Master Plan phase-one construction program totals more than $56 million over three capital years, with $11.5 million proposed for year one; the related procurement process had proceeded through interviews, with an apparent awardee identified but not named. The committee approved the capital motion. The committee also approved authorization for the county Tourism Department to apply for and administer New York State matching funds as the county’s designated tourism promotion agency; the funding was described as approximately $53,000 annually, subject to the state budget. Tourism’s 2027 budget drew discussion of proposed reductions, including a $676,000 decrease in consulting services and deferred travel-guide printing. A motion to restore the full request of about $3.2 million was discussed, but the transcript does not establish its outcome; the committee subsequently voted to approve the budget.\n\nCommunity Development received approval to submit its FY2027 HUD action plan, with estimated awards of $1.65 million in CDBG funds and $1.1 million in HOME funds. The committee also approved adjustments to 2026 grant budgets reflecting a $42,647 CDBG increase and a $10,469.91 HOME decrease. During the department’s budget review, members discussed repurposing an existing position as a grade-17 project manager, with an estimated salary-and-benefits difference of $19,987. Cornell Cooperative Extension discussed its budget and reliance on grants, but no specific procurement action was identified. A proposed education center was mentioned as a future goal, not as an approved capital project.

**Jurisdictions:** sled
**Industries:** Construction & Infrastructure, Information Technology
**Topics:** Physical Infrastructure, Grants & Funding
**Published:** October 23, 2026

### Sources
- [Education and Economic Development Committee Meeting - Budget Hearings - 10/23/26 @2pm](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nUQ9lz14Fe0) - Orange County New York