Mayor's Vetoes to FY26 Council Budget Cuts

Published on May 22, 2025

The table below outlines the full list of Mayor Walsh's objections (vetoes) to Common Council amendments to the proposed FY 2025-26 City Budget. The list includes a total of 45 amendments believed to be most harmful to our constituents and employees and provides a brief explanation for each objection. The list does not include 37 Council amendments totaling approximately $3.4 million in spending cuts. Through these reductions the need for an increase in the tax rate is eliminated. This measured approach results in a budget that achieves the Council's goals of maintaining the tax rate and lowering spending. It also ensures that no employee loses their job, invaluable city services are maintained at their current levels, and we protect the quality of life for our constituents.

Mayor Walsh Objections to Common Council FY26 Budget Amendments:

Amendment Number	Department	Description	Proposed Budget	Amended Amount	Justification
City Expense Reductions
12	Office of Communications	Other Services	$22,300	($19,394)	Elimination of Language Line translation and interpretation services that impact accessibility for residents as well as budget for all outside expenses related to constituent communications.
13	Office of Accountability, Performance & Innovation (API)	"Factual & Informational"	$2,710,000	($649,723)	The reduction in funding for software and enterprise service platforms puts multiple core operational applications at risk
26	Bureau of Information Technology	"Professional Services"	$575,000	($250,000)	Reduction in City’s ability to partner with vendors to accomplish projects citywide, including public safety technology improvements and the implementation of the school zone traffic enforcement program
28	Parking Violations Bureau	Salaries	$689,144	($74,652)	Limits the ability to implement school zone traffic enforcement just as it prepares to launch, one of the few opportunities to generate new revenue.
29	Office of the City Auditor	"Professional Services"	$25,000	($24,421)	Elimination of the Auditor’s ability to hire outside legal counsel, limiting the use of subpoena power, granted to the Office by the Common Council.
31	Department of Assessment	"Professional Services"	$1,060,000	($1,000,000)	Elimination of the opportunity for a city-wide revaluation, undermining tax fairness and reducing long-term revenue growth
34	Law Department	"Professional Services"	$1,680,000	($869,067)	Severely limits the City’s ability to hold bad actors accountable and protect vulnerable residents with a 50% reduction in funding for outside counsel.
36	Neighborhood & Business Development	Contracted Services-Related Parties	$1,155,237	($97,234)	Elimination of two full-time positions which support code enforcement and the emergency repair program for unaddressed violations in rental housing, as well as coordination with community ambassadors.
37	Division of Code Enforcement	"Professional Services"	$545,000	($250,000)	Limits the City’s ability to expedite reviews for developers and small contractors, creating delays that disproportionately harm those unable to pay for private plan review and negatively impacts revenue from permitting.
38	Division of Code Enforcement	Contracted Services-Related Parties	$2,230,692	($210,000)	Elimination of two existing positions essential to daily zoning and permit functions, further weakening operational capacity.
39	Division of Code Enforcement	Salaries	$2,815,659	($120,000)	Elimination of two housing inspector roles at a time when the City’s stated goal is to hold landlords accountable and improve housing quality for tenants.
42	DPW Environmental Services	"Overtime Wages"	$100,000	($43,387)	Reduction of overtime for the team responsible for litter pickup, brush removal, and addressing illegal setouts will diminish the City’s ability to keep neighborhoods clean.
43	DPW Environmental Services	"Temporary Services-P/T"	$109,200	($49,000)	Reduction in temporary staff for the team responsible for litter pickup, brush removal, and addressing illegal setouts will diminish the City’s ability to keep neighborhoods clean.
44	DPW Building Services	Wages- F/T Weekly	$2,874,238	($305,022)	Elimination of positions (plumbers, electricians, carpenters) necessary for summer festivals and events downtown.
45	DPW Street Repair	Salaries	$510,684	($98,880)	Funding reductions for road crews will slow pothole repairs and delay street paving, impacting roadway conditions citywide.
46	DPW Motor Equipment Maintenance	"Fuels"	$2,600,000	($521,148)	Fuel is a core operational need; funding reduction may result in staffing cuts and limited service delivery.
47	DPW Motor Equipment Maintenance	"Automotive Repairs"	$1,500,000	($500,000)	Automotive repair is a core operational need; funding reduction may result in staffing cuts and limited service delivery.
48	DPW Snow & Ice Control	"Consumable Supplies & Materials"	$1,600,000	($324,092)	Salt is a core operational need; funding reduction may result in staffing cuts and limited service delivery.
49	DPW Waste Collection, Recycling & Disposal	Other Services	$4,008,000	($600,874)	Reduction in funding for tipping fees paid to Onondaga County Resource Recovery Agency (OCRRA) for disposal of trash and debris; a core operational need.
50	DPW Street Cleaning	"Manual Services"	$170,000	($70,000)	Reduction in funding for disposal of street sweeper debris; a core operational need.
51	DPW Street Cleaning	Other Services	$108,000	($45,077)	Reduction in funding for disposal of construction debris set to curb by residents; a core operational need.
53	Police Field Services - Sworn	"Factual & Informational"	$3,173,100	($1,000,000)	Elimination of critical technology applications, such as Shotspotter, Flock Safety (License Plate Reader technology), Police 1, Tip411 (Platform for residents to submit tips anonymously), and Gangscope.
54	Police Field Services - Sworn	"Overtime Wages"	$6,500,000	($1,000,000)	Elimination of police details for Armory Square, Downtown proactive detail, Police Academy, background investigations, and various special events and festivals.
55	Police Field Services - Sworn	"Professional Services"	$2,347,000	($884,865)	Elimination of critical services and community outreach, which may include but are not limited to Liberty Resources, community dialogues, recruiting and public relations
56	Police Field Services - Civilian	"Temporary Services-P/T"	$2,725,000	($415,000)	Elimination of 10 crossing guard positions and 10 Special Patrol Officers.
57	Police Field Services - Civilian	Salaries	$3,809,392	($239,000)	Elimination of two full-time positions for parking checkers impacting potential revenue generation, and four full-time positions for Community Service Officers.
58	Fire Main - Sworn	"Overtime Wages"	$5,262,135	($1,000,000)	Compromises fire prevention efforts and prolongs timelines for permit reviews
59	Fire Main - Sworn	Other Services	$312,000	($136,000)	Reduction in essential support systems that directly affect firefighter safety, operational readiness, and the department’s ability to deliver emergency medical care, fire suppression and special operation services, conduct effective training, and maintain healthy working conditions.
60	Fire Main - Sworn	"Manual Services"	$13,500	($4,000)	Reduction in essential support systems that directly affect firefighter safety, operational readiness, and the department’s ability to deliver emergency medical care, fire suppression and special operation services, conduct effective training, and maintain healthy working conditions.
61	Fire Main - Sworn	"Consumable Supplies & Materials"	$161,000	($50,000)	Elimination or delay in critical testing and maintenance of emergency equipment, increasing the likelihood of failure during an emergency.
62	Fire Main - Sworn	"Factual & Informational"	$173,000	($25,000)	Compromises dispatch systems, record management, emergency communication infrastructure.
63	Fire Main - Sworn	"Facility Repair"	$443,500	($225,000)	Reduction in funding to ensure stations are free from hazards ground ladders, fire extinguishers, fire apparatus, lift equipment, etc.
64	Fire Main - Sworn	"Technical Devices & Tools"	$605,000	($300,000)	Reduction in funding for emergency radios, digital command tools, hindering ability to communicate and coordinate responses in emergency situations.
65	Fire Main - Sworn	"Emergency, Medical & Safety Supplies"	$640,000	($260,000)	Reduction in funding for helmets, gloves, boots and fall protection – all of which must be regularly tested, repaired and replaced in order to reduce likelihood of serious injury to firefighters
66	Fire Main - Sworn	"Professional Services"	$610,000	($330,000)	Threatens department’s ability to meet new federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) regulations requiring medical evaluations for firefighters, ongoing fitness for duty, wellness monitoring, etc.
67	Fire Main - Sworn	"Motor Equipment Repair Supplies"	$656,500	($42,500)	Reduction in funding to ensure vehicle readiness in response to emergencies.
68	Fire Main - Civilian	Salaries	$539,740	($67,000)	Elimination of a dedicated LAN technician to manage network and computer systems across the department and ensure the continuous functionality of essential systems like staffing software, mandated incident reporting and the maintenance and operation of portable radios, 911 alerting systems, and apparatus communications equipment.
70	Parks Grounds Maintenance	Contracted Services-Related Parties	$237,905	($74,360)	Elimination of one filled and one vacant grant-funded positions in the Forestry division.
71	Parks Grounds Maintenance	"Manual Services"	$2,428,221	($408,640)	Reduction in funding for contracted services will limit grass mowing on athletic fields, city-owned land, medians, and vacant lots in neighborhoods.
72	Parks Recreation	Salaries	$1,716,380	($165,000)	Reduction in Support for Special Events with staffing cuts that will impact the City’s ability to support festivals and special events.
73	Parks Recreation	"Temporary Services-P/T"	$2,003,040	($165,000)	Elimination of 36 Seasonal recreation and lifeguard positions will lead to reduced public pool operations and fewer youth-focused programs during the summer.
74	Dog Control Division	Salaries	$317,912	($37,164)	Elimination of a necessary full-time position at the dog shelter in order to ensure adequate staff coverage.
City Revenues Changes
79	Surpluses and Balances - Fund Balance	Surpluses and Balances - Fund Balance	$27,194,047	$12,800,238	The amendment reduces the draw on the fund balance, putting city services, employees and safety at risk, at a time when the reserve is well above the recommended level for municipalities according to the City’s own auditors.
Water Fund Revenues Changes
77	Surplus and Balances	Fund Balance	$2,105,846	$520,000	The amendment increases the reliance on the water fund balance as opposed to an increase in water rates (an average increase of $5/year for residential properties), counter to the recommendations in Bonadio’s budget analysis.
78	Sale of Water	Sale of Water	$26,520,000	$(520,000)	The amendment eliminates the 2% increase in water rates, which would have amounted to an average increase of $5/year for residential properties. The failure to raise water rates comes at a time when the City is facing aging infrastructure and embarking on thousands of lead service replacements citywide. This is counter to the advice from Bonadio’s budget analysis, which recommended an increase in water rates. This amendment increases the reliance on the water fund balance, decreasing the amount in the reserves.