Central Current reporter Patrick McCarthy appeared Friday on NewsChannel 9’s “Newsmakers with Andrew Donovan” program to talk about the city’s budget process.
This year’s budget cycle became a political battleground as two members of the Common Council — councilors Pat Hogan and Chol Majok — run for mayor against Deputy Mayor Sharon Owens.
Councilors have accused Mayor Ben Walsh and Owens of failing to propose a fiscally responsible budget, while Walsh and Owens have said the council is trying to cut critical resources.
Ultimately, the council cut $16 million in spending from the mayor’s proposed budget. The cuts eliminated a 2% tax hike and reduced the amount of money the city will pull from its general fund by about half.
In a recent mayoral debate hosted by Central Current, the budget became a point of contention between Majok, Hogan and Owens. You can read more about the debate and the candidates’ views here.
“Newsmakers” is a weekly public affairs and news talk show hosted by Donovan. It airs Fridays at 12:30 p.m., Saturdays at 5:30 a.m. and Sundays at 5:30 p.m. You can find the program and learn more about it here.
Read more of Central Current’s budget coverage below:
- May 28: ‘This is their budget’: Syracuse lawmakers override mayor’s vetoes, lock in $16M cuts
- May 20: Mayor Ben Walsh vetoes 45 budget amendments; Common Council to vote whether to override vetoes
- May 17: What could the Common Council’s budget amendments mean for code enforcement, police, and public works?
- May 15: Compromise tough to come by as Walsh, Common Council leaders meet about budget
- May 11: Did Syracuse lawmakers abuse the state’s open meetings law while making budget cuts?
- May 9: How Syracuse officials anticipate budget cuts could affect city operations
- May 9: Syracuse lawmakers unanimously approve about $16M in cuts from mayor’s proposed budget
- May 7: Syracuse lawmakers used a taxpayer-funded analysis to inform its budget cuts. You can’t read it yet.
- April 9: What’s in Mayor Ben Walsh’s last proposed budget?
Read more of Central Current’s coverage
Dem legislators approve term limits, ability appoint legislators but need approval from the county executive and voters
Onondaga County Executive Ryan McMahon panned process of the legislature’s move to limit how many terms he can serve.
Inside the Onondaga County Legislature’s new majority Pt. 1
Onondaga County Reporter Laura Robertson discusses how county Republicans and Democrats are adjusting to their new roles, and shares which stories she thinks will be most important to follow ahead of the November elections.
Sean Kirst: For John Kucko, envoy of woodlands and waterfalls, hard new journey for guy whose work unveils the nature of a region
Shortly after witnessing a moment at Letchworth that Kucko describes as intensely beautiful, a seizure and the great challenge of his life.
Onondaga County lawmaker proposes buffer zone for protests outside houses of worship; civil liberties expert calls it ‘flatly unconstitutional’
Republican legislator Tim Burtis’ effort to create safe spaces outside places of worship met skepticism from Democratic legislators — and the promise of a lawsuit from a First Amendment expert.
Democrats flipped control of the Onondaga County Legislature in 2025. Will they keep it?
Voter registration trends and even-year elections may benefit Democrats. But they have just 10 months to convince voters they deserve four more years.
