Mayor Walsh on Council Unanimous Overrides of Targeted Vetoes

Published on May 27, 2025

Statement by Syracuse Mayor Ben Walsh:
 
The Syracuse Common Council plowed ahead with drastic cuts to the city budget unanimously overriding my targeted vetoes to protect our constituents. Like the secret process they used before their amendments, Council leadership drove the process without any meaningful public engagement or any apparent consideration of input from city workers.
 
Make no mistake: this is the Common Council’s budget, and it will be harmful to constituent services, quality of life, public safety and city employees. Council leadership flatly rejected my proposals to eliminate any increase in the property tax rate and to make other cuts. Now, I have no choice but to ask my department heads to develop contingency spending plans to deal with the across-the-board reductions made by the Council so we are ready for the start of the new budget year on July 1.
 
We will be transparent with the Council and the public about what is coming. If Councilors don’t support the cuts we put forth, they will have to provide alternatives. This is their budget, and they will need to respond to unhappy taxpayers who don’t deserve to face the consequences of the Council’s actions.

 

Media Inquiries

For media inquiries, members of the press should contact the Office of Communications by emailing press@syr.gov.

 

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