Seneca County approved a $116.5 million budget for 2026 that lowers the tax rate and preserves reserves, according to the Finger Lakes Times.
Supervisors shifted $250K from reserves to projected sales tax revenue to avoid tapping savings while holding the tax levy steady. The tax rate dropped from $4.85 to $4.19 per $1,000 assessed value. A separate vote imposed a 90-day hiring freeze for all vacant county jobs.
The budget passed narrowly, with some supervisors citing long-term financial concerns despite months of collaborative work.
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