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Onieda County's Budget News


We're tracking Onieda County's budget as related to funding a New Downtown Utica Hospital and or the proposed hospital Parking garage. We are also investigating other Budgets as well.


October 5, 2021 - Today, Oneida County Executive Anthony Picente presented his $457 million budget proposal for 2022...

Conversation at #NoHospitalDowntown, plus links to Oneida County Executive Anthony Picente presented 2022 budget Transcript.


June 9, 2021 - Today we're reading, Oneida County to spend $2.5 million for Utica parking garage design...

"The Oneida County Board of Legislators passed a resolution Wednesday afternoon to provide $2.5 million to complete a design for the downtown Utica Parking garage." However, the land is not yet owned, follow the Utica Hospital Eminent Domain story.


August 16, 2020 - See story titled, County finances 'sad' state of affairs, but no mention of downtown hospital, parking garage, nor eminent domain.


July 22, 2020 - Aid package needed soon to avoid borrowing, Picente says

"Revenue from sales taxes briefly increased after some pandemic restrictions were lifted but are still running up to 30 percent below normal, and federal aid is crucial if Oneida County is to avoid expensive borrowing to meet its obligations, County Executive Anthony Picente said"

"The county has burned through its cash reserves, from some $40 million budgeted as the year began, to no more than about $11 million, and may not be able to avoid borrowing to meet regular obligations for the first time in 28 years without help within about a month, Picente said"

"In addition to decline in sales-tax revenue, the county’s largest revenue source, it is down on hotel-tax accommodations and its share of the Oneida Indian Nation’s gaming revenues paid to New York state. The Nation reopened its flagship Turning Stone Resort Casino on a limited basis but its far from fully open and has not indicated when it may pay. The county budgeted about $20 million in gaming revenue in its $439 million spending plan for this year."

"Picente noted on Twitter that Cuomo went to another state but has not visited the Mohawk Valley since the pandemic began."


July 9, 2020 - Picente: County finances in dire shape

"Anthony J. Picente Jr. warned county legislators Wednesday that drastic steps are needed in county and other local government to cope with a revenue shortfall from the COVID-19 pandemic."

"...he’s asked department heads and elected officials to develop 2021 budgets 15% smaller than this year’s. "

"...he wants to avoid a repeat of 1992, when he was an assistant to the then-county executive and the county had to borrow $16 million to pay its bills."

"...a year ago, the county had $30.7 million cash on hand for paying expenses. This year, it is $11.3 million, Picente told legislators."

"Dealing with the pandemic, including vital tracing the contacts of people with COVID-19, has cost more than $3 million not counting increased labor costs, he said."

"Estimates of how much the county’s sales tax revenues are behind what was budgeted have varied, but Picente put it Wednesday at about 33 percent. It’s the largest revenue source in the county’s budget, at about 24 percent."

"Picente also noted, however, that the $20 million the county budgeted this year from its share of Oneida Indian Nation gambling operations is endangered."


June 1, 2020 - Opinion: County can cut now or pay up later


May 13, 2020 - Oneida County legislature allocates $8M for pandemic response

"Legislators unanimously voted Wednesday to adjust the county budget to allocate close to $8 million to help fund its pandemic response."

“It’s designed to plug some holes.”

"... roughly $7.9 million now is in a contingency account for use as needed. During Tuesday’s briefing, Picente said the budget adjustments would not lead to any layoffs of furloughs."


April 8, 2020 - Oneida County approves $1.5M in coronavirus-related costs

"Oneida County Board of Legislators moved Wednesday to approve a $1.5 million fund transfer to cover coronavirus-related costs incurred by the county."

"Picente could not provide a detailed list of how the $1.5 million was spent."

"Picente said Wednesday the county is looking at possible tax relief. He said he he wants to see how it would balance with what the federal government is doing."


January 4, 2020 - Looking at Oneida County's Bond Indebtedness...


November 13, 2019 - Oneida County passes $440M budget for 2020

"Picente said the fact that there were no real amendments to his proposed budget says a great deal about what his administration is doing."

"Oneida County Board of Legislators moved unanimously Wednesday to pass the county’s $440 million budget for next year."

"The $439,808,638 budget is roughly $138,404 over a budget proposed in October"

"The 2020 budget is roughly $19 million higher than this past year’s spending plan This is the seventh straight year officials have passed a budget without increasing the county’s property tax levy."

"The budget does not include any new or cut positions. Picente has said the biggest reasons for the increase fall upon a general rise in things such as health insurance, maintenance issues and gas and electric prices."

"Putting aside $2 million for economic opportunities fund to help businesses and communities with programs like job training, permitting and housing projects."

"The Board also approved Picente’s capital project plan, with one amendment: a $1.5 million State and Municipalities Grant for use with the proposed Nexus Center."


October 4, 2019 - Picente proposes $439M Oneida County budget for 2020

"Picente… proposed a $439.7 million budget for 2020 that features a 0 percent increase to the county’s property tax levy for the seventh straight year."

"...$439,670,234 proposed budget is a roughly $19 million increase over 2019′s budget of $419.6 million." "

"Picente also said the county would receive another $1 million from the Oneida Nation as part of its gaming revenue sharing, bringing the total to $20 million in 2020."

"Picente said department heads came to him with $34 million in proposals that were whittled down to $17.6 million by the Capital Budget Committee. Picente made the final $2.5 million cuts."

"The county is also retiring $17.8 million in debt, Picente added."

"Picente said there were no funds allocated for Nexus or the parking garage for Mohawk Valley Health System’s downtown hospital.">

The Nexus Center is part of a larger proposal — dubbed the U-District — in which a casino and a beer museum also are proposed. The Nexus Center’s primary use will be ice hockey, box lacrosse and soccer. Nexus will be funded through other means and Picente does not expect to use county money for it. There was money included in the 2019 capital plan for the parking garage to cover design costs. “We must continue to invest in our new economy,” Picente said. “The time is now to leverage the over 2 billion of public and private dollars that are scheduled to be infused into our county throughout the next five years. We must take advantage of this opportunity.”


We are also investigating other Budgets as well.

You can help, please join us on Facebook #NoHospitalDowntown. Also consider adding your voice to Hundreds of People Saying, "No Hospital Downtown". Get to know BUD, that's the future of the Columbia Lafayette Neighborhood!



No Studies, No Reports, thus we remain #NoHospitalDowntown