The Jefferson County Planning Department has begun to assess what programs may be affected if the Watertown urbanized area is declared a Metropolitan Statistical Area by the White House Office of Management and Budget.

According to precedent, that announcement is expected in June, said Donald R. Canfield, director of the department.

In all recent cases in the state when a rural MSA has been confirmed, the boundaries of the MSA have extended to the county border, Mr. Canfield said.

E. Hartley Bonisteel, a community development coordinator with the county, has been contacting regions that have recently gone through the transition, including Ithaca-Tompkins, to understand how programs administered according to income qualifications may be affected.

Several nonprofit programs might be affected. Administrators concerned about the effect of the designation are encouraged to speak with their program providers, according to Mr. Canfield and Ms. Bonisteel.

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