Syracuse council debates FY26 budget, agrees to advertise Truth in Taxation hearing

Syracuse City Mayor and council members spent the bulk of a recent meeting reviewing proposed changes to the fiscal year 2026 budget and directed staff to advertise a Truth in Taxation hearing to notify the public about a possible property tax action.

Councilors and staff framed the meeting as a working session to balance rising costs and city services. Finance and department leaders presented a short-term approach to recruitment and retention pay rules and recommended a temporary, one-year adjustment to reduce near-term personnel cost pressure while staff performs a fuller policy review later in the year.

The discussion focused on several budget levers. City staff proposed a one-year “temporary measure” that would lower the multiplier used in the pay/benchmark calculations (the packet suggested reducing a proposed 2.0 multiplier to 1.5 for FY26) so the cost fits within the next fiscal-year budget. Police and fire staffing also drew sustained debate: the police department recommended freezing two currently open sworn positions (identified internally as a traffic officer and a DARE officer) for at least part of the year to reduce payroll costs. Syracuse Fire leadership and several council members pushed back, saying partial staffing of the new fire station would fall short of national standards and weaken local emergency response.

Fire Chief Atkin told the council that a three-person crew at the new station would staff either an engine or an ambulance but would not provide the full engine-plus-ambulance staffing the chief described as the department’s target. Chief Atkin also said city call volume has risen substantially year over year, increasing pressure on existing stations and on mutual-aid partners.

Council members weighed the alternatives: some urged tapping the city’s “rainy day” reserves to avoid another tax increase immediately, while others said relying on reserves shifts the burden into future years and preferred modest, ongoing revenue increases. The mayor and other councilors noted the city expects new sales-tax revenue when a Costco and related development come online, but those revenues are uncertain and likely lag construction by months.

After extended discussion the council directed staff to advertise a Truth in Taxation hearing. Council members said they will present a proposed tentative budget at the next meeting that reflects the council direction (including the temporary personnel changes and specified position freezes) and that the hearing notice will identify the purposes the council expects the additional revenue to cover.

Council members repeatedly emphasized the decision is not final and that staff will return with refined numbers and options before final adoption in June.

Ending: The administration will proceed with public notice for the Truth in Taxation hearing; staff will return with a tentative balanced budget that incorporates the council’s direction on temporary changes to the recruitment/retention schedule and selective, time-limited hiring freezes.