2022 Oneida County Budget Approved

UTICA — County Executive Anthony J. Picente Jr.’s 2022 budget and capital plan were approved by the Board of Legislators today.

The $458.4 million balanced budget features no increase in the property tax levy for the ninth year in a row.

“This is an efficient and fiscally conservative budget that carries with it an unprecedented ninth straight year of no property tax levy increase,” Picente said. “We’ve been able to manage our finances through two years of this pandemic by being smart, controlling discretionary spending and creating efficiencies, as well as through unique revenue sources like the Oneida Nation agreement. I thank the Board of Legislators for voting to adopt my proposal with minimal adjustments and for continuing Oneida County on the right path forward.”

The 2022 budget appropriates $113.9 million in sales tax revenue, $20.85 million in Oneida Nation revenue and retires $19.7 million in debt. The 6-year capital plan totals $29.9 million and includes money for the parking garage for the Wynn Hospital, upgrades for the MVCC Campus, improvements to the County Office Building, revitalization of municipal main streets, flood mitigation and more funding for road and bridge work than ever before.

It also restores funding for libraries, Cornell Cooperative Extension and Mohawk Valley EDGE, which was reduced in 2020, and money for humane societies that was reduced in 2021. Those reductions were a direct result of the pandemic.

The $22 million allotted to the County in federal funding from the American Rescue Act will be used for revenue replacement from the past 18 months, for continued COVID-19 expenses and to reduce the need for increased bonding on capital projects.

The 2022 adopted budget and capital plan can be viewed here.