Oneida County Board of Legislators Passes 2012 Operating Budget

After the public raised issues earlier this week, the Oneida County Board of Legislators took a vote on next year's proposed budget. The board of legislators voted 18 to 8, passing next year's $360M operating budget.

But, for some legislators, they say it was a difficult budget to pass. The 2012 Oneida County budget was officially passed today with three legislators absent.

With next year's budget, many services like the DMV, public libraries and health clinics will lose funding come July 1st, 2012. Members of the Board of Legislators will also lose benefits.

"The money we cut out of our health insurance. We defunded legislators health insurance.. That money will be used for DMV restoration or the health clinics," says Majority Leader David Wood.

Health insurance will also be eliminated for part- time county employees. The county covered eighty-percent of the health insurance. But eliminating the health insurance will save the county more than $200,000.

Majority leader David Wood says the board also deferred state pension charges. He says that would have resulted in an increase in property taxes.

Now, taxes will remain stable, but, Mr. Wood says the county may face some challenges along the way.

" The budget stays under the legally imposed two percent cap but there are some worries that come along with it... The worry is that the state of New York will not follow through with mandate relief," says Wood.

Mr. Woods says most of the money comes from state mandated programs or the criminal justice system.