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Scanlan's comments came at the end of the county Legislature's Ways and Means Committee meeting Thursday. The second of two workshops was held to recommend amendments to the 2025 budget, which must be approved by Dec. 20.聽

Cayuga 69传媒 Legislature Chairwoman Aileen McNabb-Coleman unveiled the 2025 budget proposal that includes cutting 23 positions, some of which are vacant. The spending plan would eliminate funding for two of the six DMV cashier positions.聽

Before the budget proposal was released, Scanlan noted that he met with Legislator Elane Daly, who chairs the county Legislature's Ways and Means Committee, and county Budget Director Lynn Marinelli. While some expenditures were slashed, he said personnel cuts were not discussed.聽

"I understand the financial position of the county at this point," Scanlan said. "However, I have deep concerns of the proposed cuts of two positions within (the DMV)."聽

Scanlan, who oversees the DMV as county clerk, detailed the challenges the department has faced since the COVID-19 pandemic began in 2020. The DMV is one of the few revenue-generating offices for the county and needs to be budget-neutral, meaning its revenues cover its expenses.聽

The DMV was closed for part of the COVID pandemic. Even when it reopened, revenue was affected by economic conditions and slow vehicle sales.聽

As the DMV's revenue began to rebound in the last couple of years, a new challenge emerged this year with the closure of the Cayuga 69传媒 Office Building. The DMV office, which is located on the first floor of the Genesee Street building, was forced to close for more than two weeks. The county lost revenue because it could not accept in-office transactions, Scanlan said.聽

For now, the county DMV is occupying space at the Cayuga 69传媒 Public Safety Building in Sennett. In September, Scanlan requested a better location for the DMV after county officials revealed the office building will be closed for two years. He told legislators that he received "very little or no feedback" on his relocation ideas and hasn't been updated in a couple months.聽

Despite the latest hurdle, the DMV is on track to exceed the 2023 revenue total. Last year, the department generated $543,000 in revenue. So far this year, it has brought in $483,000.聽

However, future revenues could be affected by the proposed job cuts. Scanlan said eliminating two DMV cashiers will "severely impact wait times for our customers, our ability to reach out to the public and expand services, and handle the in-office traffic which is steadily increasing."聽

Scanlan asked legislators to consider alternatives, but none were discussed at the workshops.聽

"We need to maintain proper staffing levels to accommodate our workload," he said. "This is a service that we offer for our residents that they enjoy the convenience of and should be able to continue to enjoy that convenience as long as we're able to offset its cost. As I already stated, I believe that is very possible."聽

The county Legislature will consider amendments to the proposal at its meeting Tuesday, with final approval of the 2025 budget expected in December.