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The county's tentative 2005 budget holds the line on property taxes. This is welcome news after two difficult years of tax increases caused by rising costs and falling revenues. The 2005 budget plan is a sign that we are turning the corner, thanks to the hard work of legislators, the county administrator, and county employees.

The tentative budget was presented Oct. 7 to the Ways, Means and Budget Committee, a month earlier than required by law. In his presentation, County Administrator Steve Lyman said the budget theme for 2005 is "No." No new taxes, no new fees, and no funding for new programs or positions. It also means no funding for equipment, vehicles, or community organizations. It is an austerity budget.

Over the past several months, legislative committees reviewed programs and scrutinized costs. County staff re-evaluated services and limited expenditures. The budget document shows that the legislature is working together and fully committed to holding the line on property taxes. County departments are doing more with less.

Even though the county has been diligent in reducing and limiting costs, there are factors that impact the county's budget that we have no control over. They include the county's share of Medicaid costs, which are running 14 percent over last year's costs. We are projecting that costs in 2004 will reach or exceed the budgeted amount of $23,731,125.

Another mandated service is pre-school educational service for young children with developmental delays and disabilities. The county must pay for 40 percent of the program and its transportation costs.

These are problems that impact every county's budget, not just ours.

During the past two years, county government made significant, oftentimes painful, decisions to reduce and consolidate. The county eliminated over 300 positions, closed the Materials Recovery Facility, put a freeze on purchasing equipment, and eliminated funding to museums, libraries, the arts and other non-profits. Overtime for employees, funds for economic development and tourism, counseling contracts in social service and mental health programs, and the senior nutrition program were all reduced.

What happens next? Over the next few weeks, legislative committees will be reviewing the tentative budgets of county departments and may recommend changes to the Ways, Means and Budget Committee, which may make further changes of it own. (It already made one by eliminating legislative raises.) The committee will then propose the complete budget to the full County Legislature, which will schedule a public hearing and work on the document some more. December 20 is the legal deadline for the County Legislature to adopt the 2005 budget.

It's been a time full of difficult choices, but the Legislature continues to be responsible and responsive to the taxpayers of Oswego County. Holding the line on taxes is a goal we need to focus on over the next few years. And we will!