Oswego County Legislature Reduces Generic Property Tax Rate 8%

OSWEGO COUNTY – Oswego County legislators adopted a 2025 budget Thursday night, Dec. 12. The $266 million budget includes a real property tax levy of $48,226,224 and a full valuation of the county at $9,359,878,111. This creates a generic property tax rate of $5.15 per $1,000 of assessed value, an 8% decrease from last year.

“This budget is a testament to the hard work and cooperation of our Legislature, administration and department heads,” said Oswego County Legislature Chairman James Weatherup. “Working together, we have been able present a responsible budget in a timely fashion that also continues to protect taxpayers and provide essential services.

“For added perspective, in our 2003 budget, the generic tax rate was $8.13 per $1,000 of assessed value,” he added. “Adjusting for inflation, that would be around $14.12 in today’s numbers. Instead, we are presenting a tax rate of $5.15 in the 2025 budget, demonstrating our ongoing commitment to taxpayers and maintaining sound fiscal responsibility.”

The property tax levy complies with New York State’s property tax cap by falling $454,016 below the mark.

Oswego County Administrator Philip Church said, “We faced a number of challenges this year – including labor costs, inflation and state mandates. But, thanks to careful planning and use of supplemental funding sources, we are able to offset some of the costs of the 2025 budget and maintain the level of service our residents have come to expect.”

One of the most significant factors impacting the 2025 budget is New York State’s decision last year to keep federal money meant offset Medicare expenses in Oswego County. Higher costs associated with pre-school special education services, as well as increased labor expenses also affected the budget.

There were some opportunities to offset expenses through the use of American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) and opioid settlement funding.

Church thanked County leadership, department heads and staff for contributing ideas and submitting budget proposals that helped achieve the County’s goal of delivering an early budget this year.

“I greatly appreciate everyone’s efforts, especially my staff: Veronica Turner, Jennifer Bray and Kasey Chewning-Kulick; as well as Human Resources Director Julie Bell and her staff, and Chief Accountant Robin McMillan,” he said.

Actual property tax rates in each municipality can vary depending on the state’s equalization rate for the municipality, and the municipality’s direct costs of workers’ compensation and community college.

For more information on the county’s budget and finances, visit www.oswegocounty.com.

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