Syracuse Sun

Syracuse Mayor Ben Walsh has put forward the city's budget proposal for the fiscal year 2025-26, emphasizing investments in housing, city services, public safety, and parks. The proposal, valued at $348.4 million, seeks to maintain expenses below the inflation rate, despite anticipated stagnant revenue. The Syracuse Common Council is set to commence its review of the plan on Thursday.

Mayor Walsh’s proposed budget includes ongoing support for the Syracuse Housing Strategies Corporation to aid in enhancing the city's aging housing infrastructure. It proposes adding more code enforcement inspectors to bolster property condition enforcement and enhancing the city's permit review process to facilitate development.

The budget outlines plans to reopen a former fire station near downtown, establish a new police initiative to combat domestic violence, and upgrade water infrastructure. Further investments are proposed for public works and parks maintenance, including the introduction of technology for better service delivery, and enhancements in park facilities with an e-gaming option and a new recreation center planned near the Inner Harbor.

Facing rising costs in retirement, medical insurance, and salaries, the budget nevertheless aims for only a 2.2% increase in expenses. It anticipates a slight decline in sales tax, with no additional American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds included for the first time in three years. Mayor Walsh supports a 2% property tax rate increase and plans to draw on city reserves to balance the budget. He commented, “This is a responsible budget in a challenging fiscal environment for cities. Overall revenue is flat, so we need to manage the expenses within our control.”

Tax adjustments would raise the city and school tax rate to $28.83 per thousand of taxable assessed value, affecting properties with assessed values like $100,000 by just over $56 per year. An equivalent increase is proposed for water rates, underpinned by rising material costs and infrastructure improvements, adding less than $5 annually for typical residential usage.

Projected revenue includes $6.6 million in property taxes and $3.7 million from automated school zone enforcement. However, it faces offsetting factors such as diminishing ARPA revenue, a $1.5 million drop in investment income, and a $700,000 reduction in sales tax receipts. The plan invokes a $27.2 million withdrawal from city reserves, maintaining a robust reserve level above recommended standards.

The budget does not anticipate any changes in AIM funding, the city's second-largest revenue source, which has not seen an increase in 15 years. The Common Council will conduct a thorough review between April 10 and April 29, with a public hearing scheduled for April 30.

Mayor Walsh's budget for fiscal year 2026 can be accessed on the city's official website for further scrutiny.