Oneida County’s State Of The County Address

Utica, NY - In a speech that lasted nearly forty minutes, Oneida County Executive Anthony Picente covered topics ranging from the county's fiscal status to pension reform, and aricultural growth in his State of the County Address delivered this morning.

Highlighting his speech was Picente's anticipated announcement that the county is embarking on the next fiscal year in the black, having achieved an operating surplus for the fifth year in a row.

Picente also reiterated his support of Governor Andrew Cuomo's controversial Tier VI pension plan.  Citing evidence that payments to the county's retirement system have gone up 548%, Picente said, "The costs of inaction are far worse than the costs of change.  We cannot afford to pretend this issue will go away.  This has to be dealt with, and the Governor has taken the bull by the horns to act."

Also announced were plans to rename the Oneida County Law Enforcement Building the Deputy Kurt B. Wyman Law Enforcement Building in honour of fallen Deputy Kurt Wyman who was killed in the line of duty last year.

For the complete text of the speech visit the Oneida County website at: www.ocgov.net.