["Your County Matters!" Main Menu] [Oswego County Homepage]

One of the final official acts of business by the Oswego County Legislature this year was to stabilize property taxes through the adoption of the county budget for 2006. As we prepared the 2006 budget, we were well aware of our responsibility to look beyond the next 12 months and continue to provide economic stability in county government.

The 2006 budget includes $154,363,818 in appropriations, a decrease of about $1.1 million in spending compared to last year. It accomplishes several important objectives:

• Reduction in property taxes. The average county property tax rate is reduced about 1.3 percent, from $9.20 per $1,000 assessed value to $9.08;
• Maintains tight controls on spending, with a reduction of $1.1 million in appropriations;
• Continues to keep Oswego County free of debt;
• Secures the county's financial future by providing fiscal stability; and
• It provides realistic estimates of the county's expenses and anticipated revenues for the next year.

For the first time in several years, we were able to increase funding to some of the community agencies that are so important to our quality of life. Legislators voted to add $50,000 to the Library Council, to be shared by the public libraries across the county. Legislators appropriated $50,000 to support Oswego Industries' programs for disabled citizens. We also provided slight increases in funding for Cornell Cooperative Extension of Oswego County, Oswego County Soil and Water Conservation District, and Operation Oswego County.

Escalating fuel costs have had significant impacts on all of our budgets. The 2006 budget reflects the increasing fuel costs for each department. We also set aside more money for work on the solid waste system, road construction materials and the county's obligations to the New York State Retirement System.

We started out the year with a goal of meeting the essential needs of our citizens without compromising the tough fiscal measures that the Legislature took in 2003 and 2004. I am proud to say we were able to meet these objectives. We enter 2006 in a stronger financial position with many exciting new projects ahead of us. I wish to thank our excellent workforce, our department heads, and the members of the Legislature for their professional and dedicated service to Oswego County.

Have a happy and healthy New Year!