Auburn’s $49.6 million budget for the 2026-27 fiscal year is now officially in place after the City Council approved the spending plan during Thursday night’s meeting.
The budget vote came one week later than originally scheduled, following months of review and discussion by city officials.
Speaking on Finger Lakes News Radio’s FLX Morning on Friday, City Clerk Chuck Mason said the council first approved the city’s fee schedule by a 4-1 vote. Mayor Jimmy Giannettino and Councilors Rhoda Overstreet-Wilson, Terry Cuddy, and Christina Calarco voted in favor, while Councilor Craig Diego opposed the measure.
Mason said approval of the fee schedule was necessary because many of the fees help support programs and services included in the budget.
The council then voted 3-2 to adopt the final budget. Giannettino, Calarco, and Cuddy voted in favor, while Diego and Overstreet-Wilson voted against it.
“The budget is adopted,” Mason said. “It just takes three votes to adopt the budget.”
The spending plan includes eliminating 23 positions, including 13 vacant full-time jobs and 10 part-time positions. According to Mason, seven of those reductions were achieved through retirements and two through employee resignations.
Mason said council members spent more than two months closely examining departmental budgets before reaching a final agreement.
“It was an eventful year as far as us taking a good close look at each department’s budget,” Mason said.
He added that additional financial assistance from New York State helped city officials fund several items that were added late in the budget process, including the reopening of the Casey Park Pool.
The new budget takes effect July 1.
