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Like other county governments around New York State, Oswego County legislators and department heads have spent the past several months developing a tentative budget for 2005. This has been a careful and deliberate process with the goal of holding the line on property taxes, while maintaining current government services to county residents. I am happy to report that the proposed budget calls for no increase in the average property tax rate. The average property tax rate remains at $9.20 per $1,000 of assessed value.

The 2005 budget maintains tight controls on spending. Although the county must continue to increase appropriations for mandated programs such as Medicaid and services to children with developmental disabilities, the proposed budget strengthens important programs such as senior citizen meals and economic development efforts. We will enter 2005 free of all debt, thanks to decisions made earlier this year to securitize tobacco settlement revenues and retire bond anticipation notes.

All legislators and all legislative committees have been involved in this process. When asked to maintain services without increasing spending, our department heads worked hard to comply with that directive.

This work did not come without painful sacrifices, difficult decisions, and elimination of hundreds of county jobs over the past few years. The 2005 budget calls for no new positions, no highway or automotive equipment, and no increase in the contingency account. Due to factors beyond local government control, we must make provisions for increases in big-ticket items such as Medicaid and pension costs.

The 2005 budget stabilizes current operations while the Legislature looks ahead. The strategic planning process that we began in the spring is providing a number of opportunities. Many talented citizens from throughout the county have devoted thousands of hours of their time to study programs and issues that affect the day-to-day services of county government. The task force committees will be wrapping up their work over the next few months. Their input will be invaluable as we create a work plan to take county government into 2005 and beyond.

The tentative budget calls for $155,472,117 in spending, with $120,515,907 in anticipated revenue. With adjustments in interfund transfers, allowance for uncollected taxes, and other factors, the estimated real property tax levy is $37,954,307. The Legislature will hold a public hearing on the proposed budget at 7 p.m. Dec. 2 in the legislative chambers of the County Office Building at 46 E. Bridge St., Oswego.

Oswego County is on the road to financial recovery. I am confident that the proposed budget reflects the Legislature's goal of achieving a responsible balance - to hold the line on property taxes while providing necessary services to county residents.