February 2024 - Ways & Means Committee

The Onondaga County Legislature's Ways & Means Committee meeting in February 2024 focused extensively on procurement and budget approvals across multiple county departments. Key procurement discussions included approval of $90,000 for upgrades to the county's mail processing machine, $30,000 for HVAC filter replacements, and $125,000 for a shade structure at the new pickleball courts and new radios for park rangers to replace 20-year-old equipment. The library requested funds to replace 39 public computers, install new security cameras, and add drinking fountains at branch locations. Environmental Protection sought funding for digitizing permitting processes with a cloud-based software solution, OpenGov. The Health Department requested $95,000 for forensic equipment and vehicles, $50,000 for new computers, and $10,000 for data visualization software to support tick-borne disease surveillance, including reopening a tick testing lab with a fee-for-service model. The Sheriff’s Office requested budget transfers to cover overtime and contractual expenses. The County Clerk’s Office sought approval for a $516,000 state reimbursement for salaries. Additionally, a $75,000 budget amendment was approved to continue digitizing payroll records. Personnel discussed recruitment challenges and the impact of new state hiring programs to expedite entry-level hiring. Motions for all procurement and budget items were approved unanimously or without opposition, reflecting broad legislative support for these expenditures and initiatives.