Looking to the 2025 Budget Season
August 30th 2025
Budget season in Onondaga County is not just about numbers. It is a structured process where every department, agency, and legislator has the chance to lay out priorities, push for amendments, and ultimately shape how taxpayer dollars are spent. It’s the primary function of the County Legislature, and my most important job as your county legislator. This year’s schedule has already been released, and I want to walk through both how the process works and what I hope we can accomplish.
How the Budget Process Works
The Onondaga County budget process follows a set rhythm each year:
County Executive’s Proposal – Every year, Mid-September, the County Executive presents a tentative budget to the Legislature. In 2025 this will take place on September 15th. This document includes projected revenues, department requests, and proposed new initiatives.
Committee Hearings – The Ways and Means Committee leads the review, with each department given time to present its budget, highlight changes, and answer questions. Departments are asked to submit written statements in advance to identify personnel requests, purchasing needs, and key issues.
Department Presentations – From mid September through the end of the month, individual departments and agencies appear before legislators. Presentations are limited to 5–10 minutes, with most of the heavy lifting done in Q&A.
Final Review – The Ways and Means Committee issues its final report after hearings wrap up.
Public Hearing – In early October, residents get the chance to weigh in on the amended budget.
Full Legislature Vote – By mid October, the Legislature holds a session to approve the final budget.
The 2026 Budget Review Schedule
Here is this year’s full schedule as released by the Legislature. Schedule available online at https://onondaga.gov/legislature/budget-schedule/
Monday, Sept. 15, 2025
11:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m: Budget Presentation
Wednesday, Sept. 17, 2025
9:30 a.m.–12:30 p.m: CFO Budget Introduction and Presentation
County General / R.O.T. / Debt Service Funds
Employee Benefits/Insurance
Personnel Changes and Vehicle Requests
Capital Improvement Plan (2026–2031 Executive Capital Requests)
Thursday, Sept. 18, 2025
9:30–9:45 a.m. — Comptroller
9:45–10:00 a.m. — County Clerk
10:00–10:30 a.m. — District Attorney
10:30–11:00 a.m. — Sheriff
11:00–11:30 a.m. — Board of Elections
11:30–11:45 a.m. — Division of Purchase
Friday, Sept. 19, 2025
9:30–10:00 a.m. — Office of Environment
10:00–10:30 a.m. — Department of Water Environment Protection
10:30–11:00 a.m. — Facilities Management
11:00–11:30 a.m. — Department of Transportation
11:30 a.m.–12:00 p.m. — Parks and Recreation
Monday, Sept. 22, 2025
9:30–10:00 a.m. — Department of Children and Family Services
10:00–10:30 a.m. — Health Department
10:30–11:00 a.m. — Department of Social Services – Economic Security
11:00–11:30 a.m. — Economic Development
11:30 a.m.–12:00 p.m. — Planning
Tuesday, Sept. 23 – Thursday, Sept. 25, 2025
Additional Review (if needed)
Friday, Sept. 26, 2025
11:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m. — Ways and Means Committee Final Review and Report
Thursday, Oct. 2, 2025
5:00 p.m. — Public Hearing on the 2026 Tentative County Budget (as amended)
Tuesday, Oct. 14, 2025
1:00 p.m. — Full Legislative Session to consider the 2026 County Budget
Lessons from Last Year
Last year, I worked across the aisle with Republicans on a Near West Side housing proposal, but in the end, it fell through. I was never given an official reason why. Within our caucus, we were told that each of our amendments had not been submitted with enough time for the other side to properly review them. As a result, our proposals were filed late in the process, which led to them being rejected outright.
Here are links to coverage from last year's budget by Central Current (https://centralcurrent.org/onondaga-county-legislature-approves-1-56b-budget-turns-down-all-budget-amendments/) and the Post Standard (https://www.syracuse.com/news/2024/10/onondaga-county-lawmakers-approve-156b-budget-after-shooting-down-trial-balloons.html)
When our amendments reached the floor, they were labeled “reckless and irresponsible.” I proposed an aquarium sized investment into housing, as well as funding for lead filters and youth sports. None of those proposals passed during the budget vote, but the County ultimately did purchase and help distribute lead filters outside the budget process, which validated my original thought that these ideas were not reckless at all, but necessary investments.
Since then, the Democratic Caucus has taken steps to avoid a repeat of that experience. Our caucus has created a formal amendment process with clear timelines and templates, and we have strengthened early collaboration with partner organizations. The aim is simple: if amendments are submitted in the right format and on time, my hope is they will not be dismissed on procedural grounds and at least evaluated on their merits.
Just as important, I want community agencies to be the ones advocating directly for their own needs. Oftentimes, the folks who are doing the work don’t have the experience lobbying and advocating for themselves. They also don’t always have the time to do it either. I wanted to reach out to them well in advance of the process so that they can tell us directly what their needs are. I don’t work in childcare, food justice, or refugee services, and the folks who do are the ones best situated to answer the questions of what we need.
I also want to take the politics out of the process. I am aware of my presence and the reputation that I carry. I know that If I am the sole voice pushing them, they risk being cast aside as “reckless and irresponsible” even when they reflect genuine community needs.
Looking ahead, I want this year’s budget negotiations to be more open and collaborative. Last year’s process was largely confined to the Republican Caucus room, limiting transparency and shutting down ideas before they could be fully considered. This time, my focus is on making sure timelines are respected, deliberations are held in the open, and community-driven proposals, no matter who brings them forward, get a real opportunity to pass.
A Call for an “All of the Above” Approach
County Executive Ryan McMahon’s office has said he wants to use an “all of the above” approach instead of an “either or.” I am hoping they keep that commitment. Their philosophy is simple: we should not be forced into an either-or choice between core community needs and headline projects. They often talk about “PIE”, which stands for Poverty, Infrastructure and Economic Development. An “all of the above” approach would mean that Poverty and Infrastructure are addressed with the same dollar amount as Economic Development. Lately it feels more like “piE” when I think it should be “Pie.” We have spent most of 2025 making 7 figure investments into the Aquarium and getting ready for Micron, but there are a lot of people here who need our help.
I want to take their office at their word, and although the executive refuses to meet with me directly, his representatives that I have met with have been consistent in that “yes and” / “all of the above” messaging.
The county has spent heavily on the aquarium project over the past year. In July, $2.5 million was pulled from funds earmarked for Lake Cleanup to cover costs (reporting here). In December, another $6.5 million in ARPA funds was shifted to the project (coverage here). That’s on top of the original $85 million already allocated.
Roughly $9 million in new commitments to the aquarium have been made since November of 2024. At the same time, we are being told that the government must “tighten its belt” in response to looming federal cuts (see WRVO coverage).
The Executive’s office has promoted the “all of the above” philosophy (see here) to justify investment in multiple priorities at once. Our community needs “PIE” to be more than a slogan. If “all of the above” is going to mean anything, it must include funding for food justice, housing, childcare and day-to-day community needs alongside high-profile projects like the aquarium.
Addressing Federal Cuts at the Local Level
I want to thank Congressman Mannion for voting against the so-called “Big Beautiful Bill,” even though it ultimately passed in Congress. His vote was the right one, but it may be up to us at the county level to make sure our neighbors are not left behind.
The federal cuts are impacting nearly every area of our government. There is so much up in the air, and while the state has stepped in to plug some of the holes, we have a responsibility to do the same.
One of the biggest challenges these cuts make even harder is staffing. We already struggle to recruit top talent to work in county government, but what is just as important, if not more, is retention. When funding is tight and departments are stretched thin, it becomes harder to keep skilled workers who have options in the private sector. If you are working on a job that needs five people to get done but there are only three, it is going to be significantly more difficult for those three. We either have to fill those other two slots or compensate those three people at wages that reflect the work they are doing. If we cannot hold on to the people who know how to run programs effectively, then even well designed policies risk falling short.
The policy areas I am especially hoping we come through for the community are food justice and refugee resettlement. These are two of the biggest gaps, and they are places where county investment can make a real difference without much pushback from either caucus. That does not mean we can ignore other pressing needs like childcare and transportation, but county wages, food access and resettlement are immediate holes that we are in a position to fill.
On food justice, the county could provide direct support to the Food Bank of Central New York, which is facing record high demand. Even modest local funding could help stabilize operations and expand mobile pantry programs into neighborhoods where food insecurity is rising the fastest.
On refugee resettlement, county funds could be used to help local agencies cover housing assistance, language support, and workforce training for families who are arriving with fewer resources than in past years. These are programs that pay dividends by helping new Americans transition more quickly into stable, contributing roles in our community.
For example on childcare, county funds could be used to expand subsidies for working parents who are struggling to keep up with rising costs. Ensuring families have reliable childcare directly supports the workforce and strengthens the broader economy.
I could do this on transportation, housing, or any of the other issues that disproportionately impacts lower income households.
Closing Thoughts
This year’s budget season is an opportunity to prove that the government can work differently. We can choose transparency over backroom deals, collaboration over partisanship, and investment in people over austerity.
I will be fighting for a budget that addresses inequities head on, supports community led amendments, and reflects the values of all Onondaga County residents, not just those with the loudest voices in the room.
I also encourage residents to take part in the process. Watch the initial budget address on Monday, September 15, 2025 at 11:00 a.m.. Attend the public hearing on Thursday, October 2, 2025 at 5:00 p.m. and follow the full legislative session on Tuesday, October 14, 2025 at 1:00 p.m. You can tune in to the Legislature’s sessions on YouTube and share your feedback. Your comments help shape the debate and remind us that this budget is not just a document of numbers, it is a reflection of community priorities.
PS: You can also follow me at Elect Maurice Brown on Facebook where I will be livestreaming the committee meetings. Giving my personal thoughts, and answering any questions you might have about the process in real time.