Syracuse Council approves $350.6 million budget, no property tax increase

Syracuse homeowners and families with children gained the clearest relief in the Common Council’s amended $350.6 million budget, which kept the property tax rate flat, added money for home repairs and pushed more dollars toward parks and youth programming.

The council approved the city spending plan on Friday after making 30 amendments, trimming about $4 million from Mayor Sharon Owens’ original proposal for the fiscal year that begins July 1 and runs through June 30, 2027. The revised budget also cut the planned draw from Syracuse’s reserve fund to just under $20 million, down from nearly $24 million in Owens’ original proposal, while preserving approval to tap $19.9 million from reserves if needed.

For residents trying to keep up with housing costs, the most tangible addition was $750,000 for Home Headquarters to help pay for household repairs that can keep older homes in livable condition and reduce financial stress. The council also steered more money to Parks and Recreation and youth programming, a change that should show up in neighborhood amenities, summer activities and upkeep at city parks rather than in City Hall’s balance sheets.

The tradeoff came in the form of tighter spending elsewhere. Council amendments largely reduced employee benefits, including retirement and health-care accounts, and City Auditor Alexander Marion warned those lines are still under pressure as pension, medical, utility and salary costs rise. That leaves the city with a slimmer cushion if expenses come in higher than expected.

Owens’ original budget, estimated at about $354.4 million to $354.5 million, also included a 4% water-rate increase tied to infrastructure work and replacement of thousands of lead service lines. The administration framed that increase as necessary to keep the water system moving forward, even as it held the property tax rate steady.

Rita Paniagua said the negotiations were notably smoother than the city’s bruising budget fight a year ago, when the council overrode 45 mayoral vetoes. This year’s talks were handled through repeated meetings between council staff and the mayor’s office, and Owens said she expected to sign off on the amended plan without opposition. If she does, Syracuse residents will see a budget that protects the tax rate, supports housing repairs and youth services, and relies a little less on reserves to get through the year.