Caring for our Community is not Political - It's the Job

The 2020 Onondaga County budget was difficult, but the Republican Caucus of the Legislature is proud of the budget put forth and we intend to put the business of the County and our residents first, as we always have.

Once again, our Democratic colleagues showed that they cannot check their politics at the door when conducting the business of the legislature. They have offered few contributions to close 2020 on balance or to create a responsible budget for 2021.

Legislature Chairman Dave Knapp stated, “First and foremost, this budget comes with no increase to tax or sewer rates while cutting $84 million in spending in anticipation of a 20% funding reduction from Governor Cuomo. In voting against the 2021 budget, Legislature Democrats stood staunchly in opposition to $6.8 million in COVID-19 relief, an increase in daycare investment, and additional support for children in foster care. Rather than support the community in a time of dire need, they opposed it and cried politics when they did not get their way.”

 After negotiations were made and conversations were had, Legislature Democrats proposed politically-driven amendments with no supporting rationale or data. These amendments were written as a shell game to blindside county taxpayers. Their proposals created nearly $2 million in positions from fund balance this year, shifting a tax increase from 2021 to 2022 and creating a structural imbalance for years to come. Make no mistake, county residents would end up paying for these increased costs one way or another.

The Republican Caucus also came together with the Syracuse Common Council to table a proposed merger between City and County Information Technology departments. This merger is an opportunity for future shared services, but the Common Council wrote asking for more time to consider, and County Legislators were happy to oblige and show solidarity with our fellow legislative branch of local government.

“We took a tough position on our Board of Elections Commissioners’ salaries,” commented Legislator Kevin Holmquist. “It was time to right-size that number and curb snowballing salary growth.” The salary for each BOE Commissioner has risen from roughly $66,000 in 2005 to nearly $100,000 this year, equivalent to 169% of the county’s median income. “Neither party nor the commissioners themselves are at fault, but a decision made in 1996 had unintended consequences. When a new commissioner is hired, that person is entitled to the same salary as the other commissioner. With long-time commissioners getting annual salary boosts before retirement, incoming commissioners were set up with higher initial salaries than most other department heads.”

An effort to rectify this error in a bipartisan manner that impacted both commissioners, led to a media pressured veto from County Executive McMahon. The Legislature is prepared to accept his veto and maintain the commissioners’ salaries at a flat rate of $99,973 going forward.

Our Democratic colleagues’ opposition to one of the most responsible budgets in county history because of a $7,000 decrease to their elections commissioner’s salary is reprehensible. They stand opposed to $14,000 that could have been used to hire part time workers to help with increased voter turnout in upcoming elections.

“Nothing about the year 2020 has been easy. Contrary to our Democratic Caucus members’ lack of understanding, we are prepared to spend nearly $20 million to balance the books for 2020. Claiming we are unwilling to spend fund balance is disingenuous,” Chairman Knapp concluded. “County wide, tough choices had to be made as a result of COVID-19 and the impact of the governor’s restrictions in the name of Coronavirus, but I am proud of our GOP legislators and the honest process we put forth to provide for Onondaga County residents.”