Picente Releases Oneida County Budget

Oneida County Executive Anthony Picente has released the 2015 Oneida County Budget.

Picente says this years budget will be just over $391,624,000.

This includes a $16 million increase in spending that will go mostly towards social services and county employee contracts through 2015.

Picente says there will also be no layoffs or new fees associated with new or existing employees.

The property tax rate is also expected to remain flat and residents shouldn't see a property tax increase.

In addition, Picente said he has a plan for the Oneida Indian Nation settlement money that involves paying county employee retirement costs and investing the rest into improving the county through programs including economic development, education, infrastructure and arts and culture.

Here highlights of the budget proposal

• Keeps the county sales tax at 8.75%
• Includes the estimated revenue from the settlement with the Oneida Indian Nation
• Proposes a grant program to expand arts and culture in the community
• Proposes a Nu Downtown Housing initiative to create 300 housing units in Rome and Utica over the next five years.

The first public hearing on the budget will be held on October 7th at the Oneida County Office building.