The Oneida County Board of Legislators approved the 2026 county budget on Wednesday.
The $561.4 million budget includes a 2.9% increase to the property tax levy — the first of its kind in 13 years.
According to the county, the budget appropriates $149.4 million in sales tax revenue, $26.3 million in Oneida Indian Nation revenue and the capital plan retires $17.6 million in debt while taking on just $13 million in new borrowing for critical projects.
“I thank the Board of Legislators for adopting my budget proposal with minimal adjustments and for keeping the people of Oneida County on a path of continued success,” County Executive Anthony Picente said in a statement. “This modest increase is not a setback, it’s a step forward. For more than a decade we have held the line on taxes while strengthening services, improving efficiency and investing in our community. But with mandated costs from Albany and Washington continuing to rise, and sales tax revenue flattening, this adjustment is necessary to preserve our fiscal health and position Oneida County for the future.”