Auburn City Council voted Thursday to pass its $47.5 million 2024-2025 budget.
Before the budget vote, the council had to vote on a separate resolution amending the city manager’s proposed budget to close a $250,000 gap left by Assemblyman John Lemondes’ decision to oppose Auburn’s request for home rule legislation to create a bed tax.
The amendment lowered $250,000 in occupancy tax revenue to $0 and approved a $250,000 increase in the use of fund balance to offset the revenue loss.
Before voting on the resolution to close the gap, Mayor Jimmy Giannettino expressed his displeasure with Lemondes’ decision.
“[Lemondes] may not like me; he may not like the way I represent the city, but I was chosen by the people of this city to represent them and he owes this office an explanation as to why he’s treating us differently than Skaneateles and Weedsport,” said Giannettino.
Lemondes had previously supported similar home rule legislation for Skaneateles and Weedsport, allowing them to institute a bed tax, or a tax on each night’s stay at a hotel, motel, or Airbnb-style lodging. Both Councilors Christina Calarco and Terry Cuddy questioned what made Auburn different from the aforementioned villages in the assemblyman’s eyes.
Councilor Ginny Kent called Lemondes’ decision “a slap in the face.”
Councilor Dr. Rhoda Overstreet-Wilson also expressed her displeasure with the decision.
The budget passed unanimously.
You can view the budget on the city’s website.
You can view the votes here.
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