From the Desk of Legislator Keith Schiebel

As 2024 enters its final quarter, County officials are busy putting in place Oneida County spending plans for 2025.  This past week, County Executive Picente unveiled his proposed operating budget and capital plans of $549,872,906, an increase of roughly 20 million dollars from 2024.  For the 12th consecutive year, the proposed budget carries no increase in the property tax levy.  

Before adopting the budget on November 13th, the Oneida County Board of Legislators will conduct a series of meetings with various County departments to review each department’s spending plan and culminate with two public

hearings.  The first hearing will take place on Thursday, November 7th at 6:00 PM in the Legislative Chambers, County Office Building 10th floor, 800 Park Ave, Utica while the second hearing is scheduled in Rome at the MVCC campus at 6:00 PM on November 12th.  The public is invited and encouraged to attend either or both hearings and make public statements or comments relative to the proposed budget.

Approximately 90% of the budget makeup is state-mandated services and expenses.  In addition to property taxes, other major sources of revenues for the County include sales tax and the Oneida Indian Nation agreement.   

The Oneida County Board of Legislators meetings and activities, including the County Executive’s budget address, may be viewed at: Oneida County Board of Legislators | Oneida County (ocgov.net) 

Oneida County Legislator Keith Schiebel from District 1

Oneida County Legislator Keith Schiebel represents District 1 of the Oneida County Board of Legislators.  Schiebel is currently in his fifth two-year term as a legislator and represents the Town of Vernon, City of Sherrill, villages of Vernon and Oneida Castle, and parts of the Town of Verona including election districts 3 and 5.

Schiebel is currently chair of the County’s Economic Development and Tourism committee and a member of Public Works, Government Operations, and Ways and Means committees.  Schiebel is also the Board of Legislator’s representative to the State Association of Counties Agriculture Committee and the CNY (Syracuse) Regional Marketing Authority Board of Directors.