Proposed 2016 Oneida County Budget Holds The Line On Property Taxes

For the third straight year, Oneida County residents will see no property tax increase under County Executive Anthony Picente's proposed budget.

Picente presented his 2016 budget to the Board of Legislators Friday morning that holds the line on taxes.

The spending plan totals just over $393.5 million, which represents a less than one half of 1% spending increase over 2015.

While some legislators want to lower the tax levy by as much as 5%  Picente says that would result in an increase above the cap in 2017, guaranteed.  Picente says the budget is "balanced, solid and stays the course."

$10 million dollars from the sale of the former Oneida County Airport in Oriskany to the state is included in the budget.

$5 million of that money would be used toward construction of the Plumley Complex at Mohawk Valley Community College's Rome campus, $4 million go to improve the conditions of county roads and $1million will go to continue renovations at the Utica Auditorium.

The first public hearing on the budget will take place on October 7th at the Oneida County Office Building.

Jim Rondenelli, WIBX