Auburn residents returned to City Council last week with familiar but urgent concerns: rising taxes, public safety, policing, e-bike crashes and whether city officials are doing enough to control costs after a difficult budget season.
The comments came during the public-to-be-heard portion of Thursday’s meeting, weeks after council adopted a budget that exceeded the state tax cap and after months of debate over staffing, city services and long-term finances.
1. Senior and disabled homeowner tax exemptions remain a pressure point
James Udall of Osborne Street again urged council to update the city’s income limits for senior and disabled homeowner property tax exemptions.
Udall said the limits have not been updated since 2020 and argued that fixed-income homeowners are being squeezed by multiple layers of rising costs. He pointed to higher assessments, the city’s tax increase, school taxes and county taxes as combined pressures that could push some residents out of their homes.
He said hundreds of homeowners may qualify for relief if the income limits are updated. He also noted that several current council members had either supported the 2020 local law or indicated support for revisiting the issue.
His message was direct: This is not just a budget issue. For lower-income seniors and disabled homeowners, he said, it could determine whether they can afford to stay in Auburn.
2. Residents are still watching the city’s budget decisions closely
The city’s 2026-27 budget may be adopted, but public scrutiny has not faded.
Lon Fricano of Backus Road told council he wanted to know what city officials are doing now that the budget is passed. He asked whether department heads are being required to identify additional savings, reduce costs and eliminate spending that is no longer affordable.
Fricano said he did not believe the city’s financial crisis was over and warned that Auburn still faces serious structural issues. He said residents would have more confidence if they could see what city leaders are doing behind the scenes to keep costs under control.
His comments reflected a broader concern that has surfaced repeatedly during the budget process: Residents are not only worried about this year’s tax bill, but about whether the city has a sustainable financial plan.
3. Policing remains a divided issue
Public safety also remained a flashpoint.
Pamela O’Kussick of Chapman Avenue questioned the idea that crime is down in Auburn, pointing to recent police calls, crashes and other incidents. She referenced two e-bike crashes in one evening, additional serious e-bike crashes in recent weeks, a vehicle crash on Garrow Street and a recent death investigation.
She also criticized the way policing was discussed during the budget process, saying the police department avoided staffing cuts while other departments faced reductions.
Another resident, South Waco of Washington Street, pushed back on her comments. He said he believes crime is down and that Auburn police deserve support. At the same time, he said e-bike and bicycle safety issues should not be treated primarily as a law enforcement problem.
The exchange showed the divide still shaping local debate: Some residents want more focus on enforcement and police resources, while others argue the city needs prevention, education and broader community responsibility.
4. E-bike safety is becoming a larger concern
Several comments pointed to growing concern over e-bikes, bicycles and traffic safety.
O’Kussick cited multiple recent e-bike crashes, including incidents where riders were seriously injured and transported for emergency care. She used those examples to argue that public safety problems remain serious in the city.
Waco said the real issue is education. He said many young riders do not understand how to safely ride in city traffic and argued that families, residents and the broader community need to take responsibility for teaching safer behavior.
His point was that police cannot solve the problem alone. Pulling people over on bikes, he said, will not fix the underlying lack of education.
The comments came the same night council accepted $28,290 in state traffic safety funding for the Auburn Police Department. That money will support overtime for enforcement efforts aimed at increasing seat belt use and reducing dangerous driving behaviors.
5. Patriotism and public symbols also surfaced
Not every public comment focused on taxes or safety.
Nate Mavone, chair of the Cayuga County Republican Committee, thanked city officials for plans to decorate City Hall and the Equal Rights Heritage Center with American flags and bunting for Independence Day and the nation’s 250th anniversary.
He said he came to the meeting after a prior discussion about replacing Ukrainian bunting at City Hall with American flags for the holiday. Mavone said the Cayuga County Republican and Conservative committees purchased two large flags that could be displayed on the pillars of City Hall.
Mayor James Giannettino Jr. said earlier in the meeting that City Hall and the Equal Rights Heritage Center would be decorated for the Fourth of July and the semiquincentennial. He also said council plans to plant a commemorative tree across from City Hall in July using urban forestry grant funding.
The comments added another layer to the meeting’s broader theme: Residents are not just debating dollars and services. They are also weighing what kind of civic message the city sends during a year of national commemoration.
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