Oneida County executive proposes $549M budget for 2025

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 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.