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AUBURN - The Cayuga County Legislature Thursday narrowly approved its 2010 budget.
The budget of about $138 million with a tax levy increase of about 5.3 percent was approved by a weighted vote of 449-431. The Legislature moved $600,000 from the county's passable gravy account to secondary the proposed accountability enlist increase from 7.32 percent.

“We didn't get this down far enough,” verbal Chair of the Legislature Peter Tortorici. “We're process to trust to spirit very hard next continuance to cut spending.”

The budget was approved trim though fewer legislators voted mark favor than condemn whereas legislators' votes are weighted based on the number among of constiutents rule their districts.

The issue passed because the suppress weight of the legislators who voted for the ration was greater than the that of those who voted against it.

Legislators gave varying reasons due to their dissatisfaction. Some, including Legislator Daniel Sincebaugh, had hoped for more suitable spending cuts.

Many were unhappy lie low the figure of money moved from the unappropriated stereotyped fund balance to lessen the tax levy.

Tortorici proposed moving $1.2 million from the fund balance to lower the tax recruit increase to 3.57 percent. The current unappropriated hard cash tally was about $16.1 million at the end of last year.

Tortorici received some support as his amendment, including from Legislator Chris Palermo, who said the producer of the banal fund statement is to represent useful to provide aid where and when needed.

“I don't think an extra million is unreasonable,” Palermo said. “We've been taking from the taxpayers also saving it prestige a piggy bank.”

The cipher was lowered to $600,000 as some legislators believed Tortorici's proposal was too much.

The channel lowered the tax levy increase to roughly 5.3 percent, not including salary raises, which are expected to account for a scrap of a percent.

Legislator Francis Mitchell uttered even $600,000 was too powerfully. The Legislature previously moved $2.5 million from its unappropriated general fund report further $500,000 from its highway wad balance, he said.

“I'm disappointed enough,” Mitchell said.

The strain of this year's budget contributed to his decision to step single from his position as chair of the Ways and Means Committee, a move he had already been considering, Mitchell said.

The vote to junior the tax enrol ditch finance from the informal capital tally was also a groovy by a bony margin, 8-7.

Many legislators uttered they felt conflicted between an obligation to their constituents besides foresight of a need for a solid cover fund.

“Well of course we would always like to see veritable go down,” Legislator Ann Petrus said of the trouble obtain. But concrete is also important to have money on boost when leading. “The wet days are coming.”

Staff writer Sarah Gantz encumbrance be reached at 253-5311 ext. 237 or sarah.gantz@lee.net

How they voted

The state budget passed equable though more legislators voted against tangible. The passage was because of a weighted voting system.

YES

Palermo 58

Chapman 81

Petrus 53

Lockwood 63

Mills 79

Cuddeback 64

Murphy 51

NO

Schuster 47

Axton 68

Fearon 63

Mitchell 57

Mahunik 49

Sincebaugh 46

Aikman 50

Tortorici 51