Owens proposes $354.5 million Syracuse budget, keeps taxes flat, raises water rates

Sharon Owens put her first full Syracuse budget on the table with a promise that will be welcome to homeowners and watched closely at City Hall: the property tax rate stays flat. But the $354.5 million general fund plan for the fiscal year beginning July 1 would also raise water rates by 4%, a move that would add about $7.16 to the average homeowner’s bill and make the city’s use of reserves a central part of the debate.

The proposal calls for a $23.8 million draw from the city’s fund balance, a figure that puts near-term stability and long-term risk in the same conversation. Owens told departments to trim their budget requests by 10% during preparation, and the finished plan leans on spending discipline while still making room for housing, youth programs, workforce development and city services that residents feel in daily life.

Among the biggest spending items is $2.25 million for Housing Strategies Corporation. The budget also includes funding for a CARE Team, partial support for a citywide property revaluation, money for summer youth employment and apprenticeship programs, and new positions tied to nightlife coordination and a Deputy Commissioner of Transportation and Mobility in the Department of Public Works. Owens also proposed creating a revenue enhancement group to look for additional funding opportunities.

The Common Council started its review after a public meeting Wednesday night, and council leaders have signaled a smoother process than the bruising fights of recent years. Council President Rita Paniagua said members meet with Owens every two weeks and had not seen any indication of a tax increase before the budget was released. That collaborative tone matters in a year when the city is trying to protect basic services without pushing more pressure onto household bills.

The budget lands after a prior cycle in which the city expected to use about $19 million from fund balance but ended up spending less than expected, leaving reserves about $1.7 million higher. Even so, an outside auditor warned that strong sales tax revenue and higher interest rates may not last. Council review was scheduled to run from April 9 through May 6, with council action expected by May 8 and the mayor reviewing amendments by May 21. For Owens, the plan is an early test of whether she can keep Syracuse’s finances steady while investing in the neighborhoods and services residents notice first.