Oneida County proposed budget holds the line on property taxes

UTICA, N.Y. — Oneida County Executive Anthony J. Picente, Jr.’s 2024 proposed $529 million budget keeps the property-tax levy steady for the 11th consecutive year.

The board of legislators is set to vote on the budget proposal on Nov. 8.

His proposed budget, which is up $36 million from the 2023 budget, includes $142 million in sales-tax revenue (up $11 million from 2023) and $23 million in revenue from the Oneida Indian Nation. The capital budget includes bonding for $15 million and retiring $19 million of debt.

“We have created a government that is responsive to our residents, our businesses, and all of those who utilize our services, and we have done it without raising property taxes in 11 years,” Picente contended in a Thursday press statement. “A zero today is a continued commitment to my common sense, pragmatic, fiscally conservative philosophy.”

Investments outlined in the budget includes $6.5 million to expand the facility footprint of Cornell Cooperative Extension, $2 million for the REA Wing at Union Station in Utica, $2 million to put a Utica Health Clinic into the county office building, and $1 million in technology upgrades for county government.

Breaking down some of the county spending, Picente said that $225 million goes to health and human services, $79 million is for public safety, $70 million is allocated to public works, $29 million is for education, and $15 million is aimed at economic development.

Picente noted that 90 percent of the budget consists of state-mandated costs with discretionary spending controlled by the county making up only 10 percent.

“Gov. [Kathy] Hochul and her administration, as well as her allies in the state Legislature, continue to foist more and more responsibilities and costs onto counties to accommodate their out-of-touch policies with no regard for reality or common sense, leaving us to clean up their mess,” he stated. “If Albany would spend less time talking at us and more time listening to us, they may learn something about governing. It’s a simple formula to follow. We don’t borrow more than we can afford. We don’t pass on undue tax burden to our residents. And we never mortgage our financial future. We strategically invest in our economic growth while tackling tough societal issues.”

Picente, a Republican, is the longest serving Oneida County executive in its history. He has held the position since 2006 and has been elected four times. Picente is running for a fifth term in this year’s election.