BENEFICIAL BUDGET: Onondaga County's 2024 spending plan brings tax relief, added funding for important programs and initiatives

After weeks of discussing the proposed 2024 Onondaga County budget, members of the Legislature's Republican Caucus have once again ensured the adopted budget is fiscally responsible and will bring benefit to all county residents.

The full Legislature voted to accept the proposed $1.5 billion dollar budget, as amended by the Ways & Means report, at its October 10th Session. 

“I think it’s a very good budget and you know, it’s my last budget and I’m pretty proud of it” says the Legislature’s Chairman, James Rowley (2nd District), who is retiring at the end of this term.

From the start, County Executive Ryan McMahon presented a great proposal. His budget included a $9 million dollar cut to the tax levy and a 15% property tax rate cut, saving county homeowners hundreds or even thousands of dollars each year.  There was increased funding allocations for senior citizen initiatives, programs and services for veterans, and additional funding for mental health resources in every school district in the county. 

Once again, the County Executive included more funding for lead remediation initiatives, bringing the combined 2023 and 2024 allocations to over $10 million. This funding will address the difficulty finding certified contractors to do the remediation work. The money is also going for public awareness and testing, because the sooner high levels of lead are detected in a child’s blood, the sooner appropriate steps can be taken. Funding in 2023 allowed the Onondaga County Health Department to purchase a new mobile lead testing vehicle, providing on-the-spot testing in areas where access has generally been limited.

“The County Executive came over with a very, very solid budget which always makes it easier” says Legislator David Knapp (12th District). “It’s tough to argue with that cut to the tax rate and the levy.”

The Ways & Means Committee, led by Majority Leader Brian May (1st District), held a week of budget review meetings during which the county’s Chief Fiscal Officer and department heads and commissioners shared specifics and answered questions. After each session, the Caucus met to talk about what they’d heard that day and to look at the overall budget. 

One thing the Caucus agreed to put additional money behind was environmental cleanup efforts in the county. In addition to money for deer and tick management and the Otisco Lake Preservation Association, there’s funding to help with the removal of water chestnuts and other invasive species on county waterways.

“Our waterways are an economic driver and put us on the map” says Legislator Julie Abbott (6th District), who chairs the Legislature’s Environmental Protection Committee. “They are important to our quality of life and a gem of our region, and we have a responsibility to maintain and preserve the water quality for generations to come and this funding will help with that.”

There is more funding for workforce development initiatives as the county prepares for Micron, the local Juneteenth festival, and the county's Shape Up For Veterans home repair program. More than $200,000 was added for first responder recruitment and retention and police/fire/EMS initiatives, plus an additional $325,000 for the Onondaga County Sheriff’s Office to help purchase new vehicles.

The Sheriff's Office also got a $50,000 boost in funding to help train deputies in Jiu Jitsu, a popular martial arts technique increasingly used by police agencies to deescalate situations. In one Georgia community where it’s already being used, the training has resulted in a significant reduction of injuries to both law enforcement officers and suspects while providing law enforcement officers with alternatives to deadly force. The funding shows the Caucus is listening to what the community wants. In recent years, they’ve called for increased training for officers to give them a better understanding about appropriate applications of use of force.

Legislator Mark Olson (10th District) chairs the Legislature’s Public Safety Committee. “I think it’s great that the Caucus listens to the needs of the fire and EMS agencies in our county, as well as those of the Sheriff’s Office” he says. “Public safety is our number one priority when it comes to county government and we need to make sure that we continue to invest in the people and tools that provide the services to our residents in their time of need.”

Legislator Cody Kelly (14th District) says, “I was thrilled to support the 2024 budget which reflects Onondaga County’s strong fiscal management, delivering a $9 million tax cut despite unfunded mandates from New York State which continue to present budgetary challenges for local municipalities.”

At Session, Legislator Kelly introduced a resolution, which was approved, securing funding to support Challenger Baseball at Carrier Park. “This funding demonstrates Onondaga County’s commitment to inclusion while helping to generate sports tourism dollars that sustain county government” he says. “As a Physical Therapist, I work with kids every day who benefit from programs like Challenger Baseball, and it’s an incredible honor to know that Onondaga County is at the forefront of inclusive sports in our region and nationwide.”

“We certainly want to support a group like Challenger Baseball and do what we can” says Chairman Rowley.

Legislators also passed three amendments to the proposed budget, including funding for the CNY Lyme & Tick-Borne Disease Alliance and the Onondaga County Board of Elections. The BOE funding will allow for new temporary and part-time staff to help with expanded early voting during the 2024 Presidential Election.

“We had a great budget process” adds Legislator Knapp. “We had great attendance by our Caucus members and Leader May, who has been through 12 budget cycles just like me, ran a real tight process, very well organized, and we got it done.”

Legislator Colleen Gunnip (4th District) shares, “I’m happy to see that the 2024 budget will provide tax relief to the residents of Onondaga County as well as provide funding for much needed programs and initiatives.

“We enhanced the County Executive’s proposal with key legislative priorities, particularly in the area of public safety,” says Majority Leader May. “Despite adding $1.3 million in structural spending, we kept the budget balanced, sustained the historic 15% rate cut and, most importantly, preserved every penny of the proposed $9 million reduction of the property tax levy, which is a direct benefit to residents.”

L TO R: Legislators Debra Cody, Cody Kelly, Julie Abbott, Timothy Burtis and Colleen Gunnip.