Cortland County Legislature

06/20/2026

Summer is officially here, and there is no better time to enjoy all that Cortland County has to offer, including our parks and trails to local events, farmers markets, and community celebrations.

Looking for a fun way to spend a summer day? Visit Dwyer Memorial County Park on Little York Lake to enjoy the playgrounds, picnic areas, open space, and beautiful views. Then make the day even sweeter by checking out the Cortland County Ice Cream Trail 🍦

As the season begins, the Cortland County Legislature encourages residents to get outside, support local, and enjoy a safe and fun summer with family, friends, and neighbors.

What is your favorite summer stop in Cortland County?

https://www.experiencecortland.com/ice-cream-trail

Scoop up summer fun on the Cortland County Ice Cream Trail! Visit 14 delicious stops serving up cones, sundaes, and frozen favorites across Finger Lakes.

06/19/2026

Myth vs. Fact

MYTH: Every town, village, and the County operate completely independently.

FACT: Cortland County and its municipalities regularly work together through shared services to save taxpayer dollars and improve efficiency.

From highway equipment and emergency services to purchasing, technology, training, and other cooperative efforts, sharing resources helps reduce costs, avoid duplication, and provide better services to residents.

Working together means local governments can often accomplish more than they could on their own.

Did you know your local government partners with the County on shared services? What shared service do you think has the biggest impact on taxpayers?

06/18/2026

🎉 The Kiwanis Community Playground at Dwyer Memorial County Park is officially open!

Yesterday evening, Cortland County joined the Kiwanis Club of Cortland, local leaders, community members, sponsors, donors, and volunteers to celebrate the ribbon cutting for this wonderful new play area designed especially for our youngest children.

This project is a beautiful example of what can happen when local government and community organizations work together with a shared vision. The new play area complements the playground equipment installed by the County last year and creates even more opportunities for children and families to enjoy Dwyer Memorial County Park.

Cortland County extends its sincere thanks to the Kiwanis Club of Cortland for its leadership, vision, and continued commitment to building a better community. We are also grateful to the many sponsors, donors, volunteers, and partners who helped bring this project to life.

We look forward to seeing children and families enjoy this special place for many years to come!

📍 Dwyer Memorial County Park
Little York Lake Road, Preble, NY

06/16/2026

Meet Your Legislator: Jason Prentice

Jason Prentice proudly serves as Legislator for Legislative District 5, representing a portion of the City of Cortland. Legislator Prentice first joined the Cortland County Legislature in 2025 after running for the seat following the resignation of a former legislator.

As a County Legislator, Legislator Prentice works with his fellow legislators to review County operations, consider policy matters, make budget decisions, and support services that impact residents throughout Cortland County.

Legislator Prentice currently serves on the Judiciary & Public Safety Committee, the Health and Human Services Committee, and the Agriculture, Economic Development, Planning & Environment Committee.

In addition to his legislative service, Legislator Prentice has been actively involved in the community for many years. He is a former Chairman and Board member of the Cortland Child Care Facility, a founding member and former Vice-President and Coach of Crown City Little League, and has spent 20 years coaching youth baseball and 8 years coaching youth soccer. He also currently serves as Treasurer of the 1890 Union Fair in Marathon.

Through his service on the Legislature and his long-standing involvement with youth, families, and community organizations, Legislator Prentice brings a strong commitment to public service and community engagement to his role.

What community organizations, programs, or events are you proud to be part of?

Stay tuned as we continue our “Meet Your Legislator” series and introduce the members of the Cortland County Legislature who serve our communities.

06/16/2026

06/12/2026

Myth vs. Fact

MYTH: A property assessment is what your home would sell for.

FACT: A property assessment is a value used for property tax purposes.

Assessments are used to determine each property's fair share of the tax burden. While assessments are based on property values, they are not necessarily the same as a property's current sale price, appraisal, or market value.

This is also why municipalities periodically conduct reassessments. Over time, some properties may increase in value faster than others. Without reassessments, assessments can become uneven, causing some property owners to pay more than their fair share while others pay less.

The purpose of a reassessment is not to increase taxes overall. It is to ensure that assessments accurately reflect property values and that the tax burden is distributed fairly among property owners.

Think of it this way: Assessments help determine how the tax pie is divided among property owners. The budgets adopted by the County, municipalities, schools, and special districts determine the size of the pie.

Before today, did you know that a reassessment does not automatically mean a municipality will collect more property taxes?

06/10/2026

Meet Your Legislator: Ronald “Ron” VanDee

Ronald “Ron” VanDee proudly serves as Legislator for Legislative District 4, representing a portion of the City of Cortland. He has served on the Cortland County Legislature during several terms, including 1992–2003, 2005–2007, and 2018 to the present.

As a County Legislator, Legislator VanDee works with his fellow legislators to review County matters, consider policies, make budget decisions, and support services that impact residents throughout Cortland County.

Legislator VanDee serves as Chair of the Health and Human Services Committee and is a member of the Public Works Committee. Mr. VanDee also serves on the Assigned Counsel Plan Committee and the Cortland County Coalition for Long Term Care.

Throughout his years of service, Legislator VanDee has contributed to numerous boards and committees, including every statutory committee of the Legislature, where he has served in leadership roles as both Chair and Vice-Chair. He has also served as Majority Leader of the Cortland County Legislature.

With many years of experience in County government, Legislator VanDee brings a valuable perspective to the Legislature and continues to be actively involved in the work that helps shape services and decisions for Cortland County residents.

Who is your legislator? Look it up here: https://experience.arcgis.com/.../Representative-Finder/
Stay tuned as we continue our “Meet Your Legislator” series and introduce the members of the Cortland County Legislature.

Stay tuned as we continue our “Meet Your Legislator” series and introduce the members of the Cortland County Legislature who serve our communities.

What do you think is most important for residents to understand about County government?

06/05/2026

♻️ Myth vs. Fact

MYTH: One person’s recycling does not really make a difference.

FACT: Small actions add up.

Every cardboard box, aluminum can, plastic container, and paper item recycled by Cortland County residents helps reduce waste, conserve resources, and reduce the amount of trash that goes into our landfill.

Important reminder: Glass should not go in your regular recycling. Glass is processed separately and can be used for many other purposes. Please bring glass to the Cortland County Recycling Center or a municipal drop-off location.

The Cortland County Recycling Center helps give recyclable materials a second life, but it only works when residents participate.

Visit the Cortland County Recycling Center:
📍 137 1/2 S Pendleton Street
Cortland, NY 13045

What is one thing your household recycles regularly?

06/03/2026

🚲 Happy World Bicycle Day Cortland County!

Today is a great reminder that our roads are shared by drivers, bicyclists, pedestrians, runners, wheelchair users, and other vulnerable road users.

Under Cortland County Local Law No. 4 of 2026, drivers must give at least 3 feet of space when passing vulnerable road users. That extra space helps prevent crashes, protects lives, and makes our community safer for everyone.

✅ Slow down
✅ Give at least 3 feet
✅ Share the road safely
✅ Help protect your neighbors

Let’s all do our part to keep Cortland County roads safe.

📲 To read the full local law visit the Cortland County website at : https://www.cortlandcountyny.gov/DocumentCenter/View/21236/Local-law-4-of-2026---A-Local-law-to-Ensure-the-Safety-of-Vulnerable-Road-Users-in-Cortland-County

06/02/2026

Meet Your Legislator: Beau Harbin

Beau Harbin proudly serves as Legislator for Legislative District 2 on the Cortland County Legislature, representing a portion of the City of Cortland. Legislator Harbin has served on the Legislature since 2018.

Throughout his time on the Legislature, Legislator Harbin has held several leadership roles, including formerly serving as Minority Leader, Chair of the former Buildings and Grounds Committee, and Chair of the former Agriculture, Planning, and Environment Committee. He has also served on many subcommittees, contributing his time and perspective to a wide range of County initiatives and policy discussions.

In addition to his legislative service, Legislator Harbin become a Fellow of the Appalachian Leadership Institute and has previously served on the boards of the Southern Tier 8 Regional Planning Board, the Central New York Regional Planning and Development Board, and Cornell Cooperative Extension of Cortland County, further demonstrating his commitment to thoughtful planning, development, and the long-term needs of the community.

Through his service and community involvement, Legislator Harbin remains committed to supporting thoughtful decision-making, responsible planning, and programs and initiatives that benefit communities throughout Cortland County.

Who is your legislator? Look it up here: https://experience.arcgis.com/.../Representative-Finder/

Stay tuned as we continue our “Meet Your Legislator” series and introduce the members of the Cortland County Legislature who serve our communities.

The Cortland County Legislature is made up of 17 legislators representing communities across the County. What is one thing you would like people to know about your neighborhood or community?