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Record of Proceedings

Syracuse Common Council Special Meeting - May 8, 2026

Public Meetings — Friday, May 8, 2026
BodySyracuse, New York
SessionPublic Meetings
DateFriday, May 8, 2026
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 17:30

Transcript — Verbatim
5:03

Counselor Cartwell.

5:04

President.

5:05

Councilor Michelle.

5:06

Here.

5:06

Counselor Aaron Wright.

5:07

And any counselor Hudson?

5:09

Here.

5:09

Councilor Nave.

5:11

Here.

5:11

Counselor Moore.

5:12

Here.

5:12

Councillor Williams.

5:14

Here.

5:14

Councilor Jones Rousser.

5:17

Councilor Mato.

5:19

Here.

5:19

All present with deception.

5:20

Councillor Jones Rousser.

5:22

Thank you.

5:23

Are there any communications?

5:26

Yes, Madam President.

5:28

Aye.

5:31

Communication from you directing me to give this notice to the common council of the special meeting.

5:37

I have a notice from myself to you that I have um gave that notice pursued into the charter.

5:45

And also have a notice that I have sent it out to the directors, media directors for the special meeting.

5:53

Okay, thank you.

5:54

Public hearings.

5:56

I would like to recognize there was a public hearing on May 4th at 1 p.m.

6:00

No appearances.

6:02

All right, so moving on.

6:04

I will entertain a motion for the individual items seven through 60.

6:09

Councillor Williams.

6:11

Thank you, Madam President.

6:12

I'd like to make a motion to introduce item number seven.

6:15

Second.

6:19

Discussion.

6:20

Any discussion.

6:23

Please clear please call the roll.

6:25

All in favor?

6:26

Aye.

6:26

Opposed.

6:27

Unanimous.

6:28

Madam President, I'd like to make a motion to introduce item number eight.

6:31

Second.

6:35

Any discussion?

6:36

Clerk, please call the roll.

6:38

All in favor?

6:39

Aye.

6:39

Opposed.

6:40

Unanimous.

6:41

Madam President, I'd like to make a motion to introduce item number nine.

6:45

Second.

6:46

Any discussion.

6:49

Please call the roll.

6:50

All in favor?

6:51

Aye.

6:52

Opposed?

6:52

Unanimous.

6:53

Madam President, I'd like to make a motion to introduce item number 10.

6:57

Second.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Procedural█████████████████████████████████████████████81%
Budget Equity Analysis███████████19%
Summary of Proceedings

Syracuse Common Council Special Meeting - May 8, 2026

This special meeting of the Syracuse Common Council was convened to consider the amended fiscal year 2027 budget, introduce and vote on a series of routine items, and adopt related resolutions. All councilors were present except Councillor Jones Rousser, who arrived during item 26. The meeting featured a single public hearing (held previously) with no appearances, and all votes were unanimous.

Public Comments & Testimony

  • A public hearing held on May 4, 2026 at 1 p.m. had no appearances.

Discussion Items

  • Budget Adoption (Item 6A): Councillor Williams presented the amended budget for fiscal year 2027. He noted that the mayor's original proposal included a $24 million draw on the fund balance. Through collaboration with the budget office and department heads, the council reduced the draw to below $20 million by making a general reduction of approximately $4 million from large special objects of expense, allowing administration flexibility to backfill based on spending patterns. The council added funding for housing, parks, dog control (advocated by Councillor Morris), and three new positions to better serve city employees and residents. The short title was clarified to read "fiscal year July 1st, 2026 to 2027." Councillor Williams thanked council staff, the budget office, department heads, and the mayor's office for their cooperation.
  • Items 7 through 60: Each item was introduced individually by Councillor Williams, seconded, and voted on unanimously with no discussion. These are presumed to be routine administrative approvals.
  • Items 6B and 6C: Councillor Majok introduced and urged adoption of both items. They were seconded and passed unanimously.

Key Outcomes

  • Budget Adoption: The amended fiscal year 2027 budget (Item 6A) was adopted unanimously. The budget reduces the fund balance draw from $24 million to below $20 million, includes a $4 million general reduction, and adds funding for housing, parks, dog control, and three new positions.
  • Items 6B and 6C: Adopted unanimously.
  • Items 7 through 60: All introduced and passed unanimously.
  • The meeting adjourned by motion.

Meeting Transcript

Counselor Cartwell. President. Councilor Michelle. Here. Counselor Aaron Wright. And any counselor Hudson? Here. Councilor Nave. Here. Counselor Moore. Here. Councillor Williams. Here. Councilor Jones Rousser. Councilor Mato. Here. All present with deception. Councillor Jones Rousser. Thank you. Are there any communications? Yes, Madam President. Aye. Communication from you directing me to give this notice to the common council of the special meeting. I have a notice from myself to you that I have um gave that notice pursued into the charter. And also have a notice that I have sent it out to the directors, media directors for the special meeting. Okay, thank you. Public hearings. I would like to recognize there was a public hearing on May 4th at 1 p.m. No appearances. All right, so moving on. I will entertain a motion for the individual items seven through 60. Councillor Williams. Thank you, Madam President. I'd like to make a motion to introduce item number seven. Second. Discussion. Any discussion. Please clear please call the roll. All in favor? Aye. Opposed. Unanimous. Madam President, I'd like to make a motion to introduce item number eight. Second. Any discussion? Clerk, please call the roll. All in favor? Aye. Opposed. Unanimous.

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