Oneida County executive proposes $549M budget for 2025

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UTICA — Oneida County Executive Anthony J. Picente, Jr. presented a proposed $549 million 2025 budget and capital plan to the board of legislators that carries no increase to the property-tax levy. That’s an increase of $20.3 million from 2024. The board will vote on the proposed budget at its Nov. 13 meeting. The proposed […]

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The board will vote on the proposed budget at its Nov. 13 meeting.

The proposed budget includes $151 million in sales-tax revenue and $23 million in revenue from the Oneida Indian Nation while retiring a little over $19 million in debt.

The county’s spending plan also includes $23 million in response costs to the July 16 tornado in Rome along with at least $10 million in damage to Oneida County’s facilities in Rome.

The funding comes from a mix of sources including nearly $109 million in state aid, $61.4 million in federal aid, $66.1 million in property tax, $151 million in sales tax, $106.1 million in department income, and $56.2 million from all other sources.

“We moved $5 million from fund balance to begin to address needs,” Picente said in a news release about the budget. “Together, with our partners, we set up temporary shelters and began to put hundreds of thousands of dollars’ worth of food replenishment cards into the hands of people just 48 hours after the tornado. We bought a myriad of supplies for impromptu food banks and our mobile units. We put $300,000 toward business recovery. Most importantly we have put nearly $1.4 million into the hands of over
450 residents whose properties were wrecked by this tornado.”

“Without a healthy fund balance and a strong fiscal position, this government’s ability to help in the immediate aftermath and long-term recovery of the tornado would have been limited,” Picente added. “Because of the work we’ve done year in and year out, we were able to lead the way through this emergency and make a real difference in the lives of those affected.”

About 90 percent of the overall proposed budget is costs mandated by the state, while the remaining 10 percent is discretionary spending controlled by the county.

Of the $549 million, $236.8 million is slated for human services, up from
$224.5 million in the 2024 budget. Another $84.9 million is budgeted for public safety, up from $79.8 million in 2024. The capital budget will bond for $21.6 million. Cost increases with contract settlements also had a large impact on the budget.

“This year, we had increases in cost that were essential to how this government functions and were long overdue,” Picente said. “Salaries and benefits are up to $30 million. All union contracts are settled. For the first time, we made five-year agreements that consolidated steps and increased pay for all our employees. We were not competitive in the marketplace. We couldn’t recruit and we couldn’t retain. We were not set up for long-term success and a comprehensive approach was necessary and is reflected in these contracts.”

Keeping the tax levy at zero meant reducing departmental requests by
$14 million and cutting $9 million in discretionary spending across all departments, Picente said.

“I want everyone to understand a hard reality,” the county executive said. “Our revenue streams fluctuate. Sales tax will not go up forever. Nation revenue won’t always increase at the same pace. We have to be cognizant of those potential outcomes. This government cannot continue to be everything to everyone with the financial structure the way it is.”

Next year, Picente said Oneida County will have to evaluate whether to continue keeping villages whole on their property tax collection, sharing Oneida Nation revenue with local governments, and using an outdated sales-tax formula that doesn’t meet the county government’s requirements.

Human Technologies appoints new chief financial officer

Law, Accounting & Taxes, Mohawk Valley, Nonprofits, Subscriber Only

UTICA — Human Technologies — a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit social enterprise that creates employment for people with disabilities — recently announced the appointment of Jeremy Vandermark as its new chief financial officer (CFO). With more than 20 years of experience in finance and accounting, his extensive expertise and commitment to financial excellence make him “an ideal

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S&P affirms Onondaga County’s bond rating, improves outlook

Law, Accounting & Taxes, Subscriber Only

SYRACUSE — Onondaga County’s bond rating of “AA” has been affirmed by S&P Global Ratings with an improvement from “stable” to “positive” outlook. That’s according to an Oct. 7 announcement from the office of Onondaga County Executive Ryan McMahon. S&P Global Ratings, based in New York City, is a credit-rating agency and a division of

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SYRACUSE — Onondaga County’s bond rating of “AA” has been affirmed by S&P Global Ratings with an improvement from “stable” to “positive” outlook.

That’s according to an Oct. 7 announcement from the office of Onondaga County Executive Ryan McMahon.

S&P Global Ratings, based in New York City, is a credit-rating agency and a division of S&P Global that publishes financial research and analysis on stocks, bonds, and commodities.

When explaining the improved outlook for Onondaga County, S&P noted, “The outlook revision reflects our expectation that the county’s economic metrics, specifically economic output, will likely exceed current peers as several substantial, significant economic developments begin construction,” per the county’s announcement.

In affirming its credit rating, S&P said, “The rating reflects our opinion of the county’s strong budgetary performance, bolstered by strong sales tax collections, manageable fixed costs, and very strong management.”

S&P went on to say in its opinion, “Through conservative budgeting, the county has absorbed increasing state mandates, such as the loss of enhanced federal-Medicaid-assistance-percentages funding and increases in salaries…”

McMahon reacted to the bond-rating decision with the following remarks.

“Responsible management of taxpayer dollars has been one of my top priorities. My administration has made historic investments in long underfunded issues like poverty, lead and workforce development. We have also made strategic investments in our infrastructure while working tirelessly to create real economic opportunity for everyone in our community,” the county executive said “We’ve been able to do all of that, and more, while lowering the property tax rate to the lowest in history. My administration continues to prove that responsible fiscal management combined with robust planning and comprehensive management can produce real results for our community and the future continues to be brighter than ever.”

TTM wins $30M in federal funding for DeWitt expansion project

Construction, Design & Real Estate, Law, Accounting & Taxes, Manufacturing & Engineering, Subscriber Only

DeWITT — The U.S. Department of Defense has awarded TTM Technologies Inc. (NASDAQ: TTMI) $30 million for its expansion project at its site in DeWitt. The U.S. Department of Defense awarded the funding that comes from the Defense Production Act Title III program, U.S. Senate Majority Leader Charles Schumer (D–N.Y.) announced Oct. 1. TTM will

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DeWITT — The U.S. Department of Defense has awarded TTM Technologies Inc. (NASDAQ: TTMI) $30 million for its expansion project at its site in DeWitt.

The U.S. Department of Defense awarded the funding that comes from the Defense Production Act Title III program, U.S. Senate Majority Leader Charles Schumer (D–N.Y.) announced Oct. 1.

TTM will use the expansion to manufacture advanced printed circuit boards (PCBs) “that are critical to America’s national security.”

TTM Technologies, a California–based firm with operations in DeWitt, has chosen the Syracuse suburb for an upcoming high-tech manufacturing facility that will create an estimated 400 jobs. The firm intends to invest up to $130 million to build the new plant, Gov. Kathy Hochul and Sen. Schumer said in announcing the project on Nov. 1, 2023.

Specifically, TTM will use the $30 million to acquire and install advanced-manufacturing equipment and develop prototype designs for its new, more than 200,000-square-foot facility.

The expansion will help TTM significantly increase domestic production of ultra-high density printed circuit boards and bolster supply-chain resilience, which is “in line with the 2024 National Defense Industrial Strategy,” Schumer’s office said.

“We cannot have the printed circuit boards our military and chip industry rely on overwhelmingly made overseas. This $30 million federal investment will ensure the future of this industry, that is vital to America’s national security, is made here in Central NY by the 400 new, good-paying jobs being created by TTM. TTM is the largest printed circuit board producer in the country. Their technology is state-of-the-art, and the DoD’s investment in Central NY-made advanced printed circuit boards will make our supply chains more secure,” Schumer said in the announcement. “With TTM recently breaking ground, this $30 million could not come at a better time to accelerate their growth and meet this pressing national security need.”

The lawmaker went on to explain that printed circuit board manufacturing is currently “overwhelmingly” based in Asia, and the nation’s military and its semiconductor and broader microelectronics industries “need to onshore” printed circuit board manufacturing to “better protect our national security” and meet increased demand spurred by the CHIPS & Science Law.

“The $30 million announced today will help TTM accelerate its efforts to bring high-tech capabilities back to the U.S., creating a stable supply of secure, American-made, advanced printed circuit board and further positioning Upstate NY as an epicenter in the global microelectronics industry and Central NY and the I-90 Tech Hub as the heart of this growing industry,” Schumer said.

The senator said American companies, including defense contractors providing critical products for the military, currently have a greater demand for ultra-high density interconnect (UHDI) PCBs than domestic producers can supply. The senator said this presents “national security risks, making it critical that the United States develop the capability to manufacture Ultra-HDI PCBs at-scale as soon as possible.”

TTM’s expanded Central New York facility will be one of the most technologically advanced and largest PCB manufacturing sites in North America, with a highly optimized process to allow for shorter lead times, faster delivery, and a significant increase in domestic capacity for Ultra-HDI PCBs, adding to TTM’s existing Central New York workforce of about 600 employees, per Schumer’s office.

VIEWPOINT: ED Delays Financial-Value Transparency and Gainful-Employment Reporting

Business Mentors, Law, Accounting & Taxes, Subscriber Only

The U.S. Department of Education (ED) recently announced a revised deadline for submitting required data under the Financial Value Transparency and Gainful Employment (FVT/GE) rules. The new deadline for institutions to report and review Completers Lists has been extended to Jan. 15, 2025 — moving from the previous deadline of Oct. 1, 2024. This change

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This change follows ongoing Title IV challenges faced by colleges and universities, including delays and issues related to the rollout of the new Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Many institutions and groups like the National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators expressed concerns that meeting the initial deadline would be difficult amidst these ongoing complications. Additionally, a group of 20 senators recently requested a further extension to July 2025, reflecting widespread concern over the ability to comply with the current timeline.

ED acknowledged these challenges and noted that the extended deadline will allow colleges and universities to prioritize critical FAFSA-related activities while still ensuring compliance with FVT/GE reporting requirements. ED also said that it is addressing issues identified in the Completers Lists, with updates expected soon.

While the Department of Education has granted more time, it is also planning to offer an opt-in opportunity for those (likely few) institutions that wish to submit their data earlier.

Colleges and universities are advised to actively follow further guidance from the department to ensure that they meet the new Jan. 15, 2025 deadline. Bond also will continue to offer updates and information to support clients’ effective and compliant implementation of the regulations.

Seth F. Gilbertson is a member (partner) in the Buffalo office of Syracuse–based Bond, Schoeneck & King PLLC. He brings direct experience in labor and employment, student affairs, investigations, and regulatory compliance matters to his clients, with an emphasis on educational institutions and nonprofits. Contact him at sgilbertson@bsk.com. This article is drawn and edited from the law firm’s Higher Education Law Report blog on its website.

Broome County receives perfect fiscal score from comptroller

Law, Accounting & Taxes, Southern Tier, Subscriber Only

BINGHAMTON — Broome County recently received a perfect fiscal score, according to the Fiscal Stress Monitoring Report released by New York State Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli’s office. “I’m extremely proud of the work we’ve done that has earned us a perfect fiscal score,” Broome County Executive Jason Garnar said in a county news release announcing the

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Mackenzie Hughes law firm names partner in Litigation Department

Law, Accounting & Taxes, Subscriber Only

SYRACUSE — Mackenzie Hughes LLP recently added attorney Nicole Marlow-Jones as a partner in the firm’s Litigation Department. She brings decades of litigation experience to the firm, having practiced for 25-plus years in the Syracuse area. Marlow-Jones concentrates her practice in litigation, including appellate practice, commercial, employment, and general civil litigation in the state and

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Ask Rusty: Will My Wife’s Survivor Benefit Dip After Taking SS Early?

Business Mentors, Subscriber Only

Dear Rusty: I claimed Social Security (SS) at age 70. My wife claimed her own SS at 62, and her earnings were significantly lower than mine. I understand my wife will be eligible to claim my benefit if I pass before she does, but will Social Security reduce that benefit because she didn’t wait until

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Dear Rusty: I claimed Social Security (SS) at age 70. My wife claimed her own SS at 62, and her earnings were significantly lower than mine. I understand my wife will be eligible to claim my benefit if I pass before she does, but will Social Security reduce that benefit because she didn’t wait until age 65 to claim hers?

Signed: Concerned Husband

Dear Concerned: Your wife’s benefit as your surviving spouse will be based on two things: her age when she claims her survivor benefit; the amount you were receiving at your death.

If she has reached her own full retirement age (FRA) when she claims her surviving spouse benefit, she will get 100 percent of the amount you were receiving when you died (instead of her own smaller SS retirement amount). However, if your wife claims her survivor benefit at any time before her FRA, it will be reduced for claiming the survivor benefit early.

Thus, when your wife claimed her own Social Security retirement benefit (in her case, age 62) doesn’t matter and doesn’t affect her potential surviving-spouse benefit — what matters is her age when she claims her survivor benefit. If she claims before reaching her own FRA, her survivor benefit will be reduced according to the number of months before her FRA that the survivor benefit is claimed. That reduction would be about 4.75 percent for each year earlier than her FRA she claims it. But if she claims her surviving-spouse benefit at or after she reaches her full retirement age, she will get the amount you were receiving at your death, instead of her own smaller age 62 Social Security retirement benefit amount. FYI, your wife’s full retirement age is somewhere between 66 and 67, depending on the year she was born (born in 1960 or later, her FRA is age 67).

And, just for clarity, your wife’s payment as your surviving spouse will consist of her own SS retirement benefit, plus an auxiliary amount to bring her monthly payment up to what she is entitled to as your surviving spouse.

Russell Gloor is a national Social Security advisor at the AMAC Foundation, the nonprofit arm of the Association of Mature American Citizens (AMAC). The 2.4-million-member AMAC says it is a senior advocacy organization. Send your questions to: ssadvisor@amacfoundation.org.

Author’s note: This article is intended for information purposes only and does not represent legal or financial guidance. It presents the opinions and interpretations of the AMAC Foundation’s staff, trained, and accredited by the National Social Security Association (NSSA). The NSSA and the AMAC Foundation and its staff are not affiliated with or endorsed by the Social Security Administration or any other governmental entity.

Dannible & McKee names managers, directors

Law, Accounting & Taxes, Insurance & Financial Services, Subscriber Only

SYRACUSE — Dannible & McKee, LLP, a certified public accounting and consulting firm, recently announced the promotion of the following professional staff members, who all work from its Syracuse office. Christine N. Petrone has been promoted to accounting & advisory services director. She joined the firm in 2016 and is responsible for overseeing multiple client

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Christine N. Petrone has been promoted to accounting & advisory services director. She joined the firm in 2016 and is responsible for overseeing multiple client accounts and managing staff in the department. Her services include maintaining the general ledger, preparing budgets, and accrual-basis financial statements in accordance with GAAP, and maintaining accounting controls by preparing and recommending policies and procedures. Petrone is also a certified public bookkeeper and a QuickBooks ProAdvisor. She graduated from Cazenovia College in 2013 with a bachelor’s degree in business management and holds a certificate in management and supervision.

John Archambeault was named audit manager. He joined Dannible & McKee in 2020 as a full-time employee after working as an intern the year before. Archambeault plans and manages multiple engagement teams through the completion of audits, reviews, compilations, and other attest services. He received his associate degree in business administration from Onondaga Community College in 2018 and earned his bachelor’s degree in accounting in 2019 and an MBA degree in accounting in 2020 from SUNY Oswego. Archambeault is a certified public accountant in New York and a member of NYSSCPA.

Joshua T. Jasewicz has been promoted to tax manager. He joined Dannible’s tax department in 2019 after interning for two years. Jasewicz has experience in providing income-tax planning and compliance services to clients in the architectural, engineering, professional services, retail, and manufacturing industries. In his role, he provides individual, partnership, and corporate tax planning and compliance services, multi-state income-tax compliance services, and federal and state income-tax credit utilization studies. Jasewicz earned his MBA degree with a concentration in accounting in 2019 and a bachelor’s degree in accounting in 2017 from SUNY Oswego. He is a certified public accountant in New York and a certified valuation analyst with the National Association of Certified Valuators and Analysts.

Jill M. Charsky was elevated to marketing supervisor. She joined the firm’s marketing department in 2021 and is responsible for email, newsletter, and automated marketing, and manages the firm’s customer relationship management (CRM) system. Charsky is also responsible for managing Dannible & McKee’s industry conferences, community and networking events, niche committees within the firm, and maintaining relationships with industry-related associations. She earned her bachelor’s degree in journalism from SUNY Brockport. Charsky serves as a CenterState CEO chamber ambassador, is an executive committee member of the Central New York Community Foundation Women’s Fund Leadership Council, a committee member of Eye Got This, and a member of Central New York Sales and Marketing Executives.

Nathan Apker has been promoted to audit senior accountant. He joined Dannible & McKee full time in 2021 after working as an intern in the audit department for two years. Apker graduated with a bachelor’s degree in business administration in accounting and finance from St. Bonaventure University in 2020, as well as his MBA degree in professional accountancy in 2021. Apker is responsible for performing audits, reviews, and compilation services, and the proofing of client financial statements/reports in preparation for issuance.

Luke Bennett was elevated to tax senior accountant. He joined Dannible & McKee full-time in 2022 after working as an intern in the tax department for two years. Bennett is responsible for personal and corporate income-tax preparation, tax planning, and tax closings. He graduated with a bachelor’s degree in accounting from the University at Albany and an MBA in public accounting from SUNY Oswego. Bennett is a certified public accountant in New York.

Zachary Firestone has been promoted to tax senior accountant. He joined Dannible & McKee in 2023 as a tax staff accountant after completing a brief internship with the department. Firestone is responsible for personal and corporate income-tax preparation, tax planning, and tax closings. He earned his bachelor’s degree in accounting from Arizona State University in the same year. Firestone is a certified public accountant in New York.

Joseph Morgan was elevated to tax senior accountant. He joined the firm full-time in 2022 after working as an intern in the tax department for two years. Morgan is responsible for personal and corporate income-tax preparation, tax planning, and tax closings. He specializes in manufacturing, automotive, real-estate professionals, and professional-services industries. Morgan graduated with a bachelor’s degree in accounting and his MBA degree in business analytics from Le Moyne College.

Zachary O’Neill has been promoted to audit senior accountant. He joined Dannible & McKee full-time in 2021 and is responsible for performing audits, reviews and compilation services, and proofing client financial statements/reports in preparation for issuance. O’Neill graduated with his bachelor’s degree in accounting from the Rochester Institute of Technology.

Community Memorial gets Joint Commission accreditation renewed

Health Care, Mohawk Valley

HAMILTON, N.Y. — Community Memorial Hospital has received a renewal of its accreditation from The Joint Commission, demonstrating continuous compliance with performance standards. The Gold

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