2025 Oswego Budget Approved, 3.63% Tax Increase Included

By Jose Hernandez

Monday’s meeting held the hearing for the 2025 city budget. Oswego residents came to speak about the budget. Lee Walker had comments about wanting the Oswego government to be more pro-Oswego. He spoke about wanting Oswego projects to be worked on by Oswego residents. “If you want to work for the city, live in the city, pay taxes in the city,” said Walker. Walker is among the people living in Oswego who had their property taxes raised by the re-evaluation. The additional taxes in the new budget feel unfair to Walker.

Gary Thompson spoke next and told the council that he appreciated the council spending 4 hours last week discussing the budget. Thompson said it seemed like it was too good to be true not to have many tax increases and that the current administration got dumped a mess by the previous one. “To start this new administration off with a $4 million deficit seems like quite the hurdle to jump, but to watch it grow to $8 million dollars is shocking,” said Thompson. Thompson spoke about how Mayor Corradino said to Syracuse.com that if it wasn’t for the reassessment the city would have had to increase taxes by 16%. “It almost feels like the reassessment bailed the city out but still left a deficit,” said Thompson.

Mary Watson applauded the council for this year’s budget. “I think it’s realistic,” said Watson. She said that a 3.7% tax increase is more than reasonable after eight years of no tax increase. Corradino followed up with a few comments about the budget. Thompson suggested the city takes money out of its savings to help cut the deficit, and Corradino explained that the city’s account is at the minimum amount to hold its accounting, meaning nothing could be withdrawn from the city’s general funds savings.

“I feel, between the council and myself, that we used good judgment on a very challenging budget, this is my 9^thbudget, and we worked very hard,” said Corradino, “no tax increase is acceptable, but a 3.63% tax increase after eight years of no increases, give me a break!” Afterwards, the budgeting hearing was adjourned. The 2025 city budget, also known as Local Law 3, passed with five amendments, 6-1. The dissenting vote was Councilman Gosek. Each amendment was voted on individually, followed by a vote for the budget.

Gosek applauded the mayor for doing what he could do. “When you think about it government is here not to provide jobs, but to provide services people expect,” said Gosek. He praised how the city has been doing well at renovations and upkeep of the city. He voted against the tax increases due to property and school taxes raising is adding up for people. “Even though it seems like a minimal amount, the reality is that another couple hundred dollars out of people’s pockets due to being taxed more is pushing people to a breaking point. People are struggling,” said Gosek. He believes there could have been tougher cuts that could have been made instead of a tax increase. “In good conscious, I can’t vote for a tax increase,” said Gosek

A wireless telecommunications facility will be built at 29 E Cayuga St. The purpose of this project is to fill a gap in Verizon’s mobile coverage of the Oswego area.

Corradino honored the Oswego Little League 12 and under all-star team at the beginning of the meeting. All players were given certificates and took a group photo after a brief speech by the coach. “They were prepared, and it shows. I couldn’t be more proud of these guys,” said the coach.

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