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In his comments, McMahon emphasized the importance of villages in the county’s plans for growth over the next decade.

“How we’re going to grow, is we’re going to grow on Main Street,” McMahon said. “To do that you need strong village governments, and you need the ability to deliver services, you need the infrastructure.”

McMahon said the county has provided more than $2 million in municipal grants that have in turn created more than $5.5 million in investment in community streetscapes.

“At no point in our community’s history, probably since the Erie Canal, have we seen the economic opportunity that we’re seeing today. That means there’s going to be investment,” McMahon said. “Village hall looks great, and we were happy to be a part of it.” hicle for $54,000 plus various payments to help improve the village hall’s roof and its heating, ventilation and air-conditioning system. The 2023-24 budget includes $70,000 to update the village’s comprehensive plan.

Last year’s village budget came in at $2,944,337, while the proposed budget calls for $670,000 more spending. To balance the budget, $455,789 will need to be transferred from the village fund balance, according to Village Clerk Mary Ellen Sims.

on its way to L’pool

Five village businesses will use funds for storefront improvements

By rUSS tArBy ConTribuTing WriTer

On March 13, County Executive Ryan McMahon informed the village of Liverpool that five businesses will receive Main Street grants designed to improve their storefronts and streetscapes.

In January, 10 village businesses applied to the Onondaga County Community Development office for a total of $500,000 in grants.

This month, the county announced that $209,814 in Main Street money would go to half of those applicants.

“The application promised a match of $69,938 for a total investment of $279,752,” McMahon wrote in his March 13 letter to Liverpool Mayor Gary White.

The businesses whose applications were approved include Heid’s $76,550, Sunoco $4,125, Ziaie Commercial Center $40,650, Liverpool Lumber $44,650 and Ancora Productions $113,734.

Village Codes Officer Bill Reagan, who coordinated the applications, pointed out that each of those recipients was awarded 59 percent of the amount they had requested.

An initial round of Main Street funding was administered in 2021. Some of the money for the Village Main Street program comes from the $89 million which Onondaga County received from the federal American Rescue Plan.

“As a result of under-spending, we currently have $1 million in our fund balance,” Mayor Gary White observed. “We’ve got to get that fund down to a reasonable number.”

The 2021-22 budget reduced the village’s tax rate from $12.45 per $1,000 of assessed value to $11.95 per $1,000, after the 2020 reassessment of village properties by the town of Salina.

If the budget is passed as is, a village property assessed at $100,000 will receive a tax bill for $1,195. White told the trustees that he’d like to see a nominal lowering of the tax rate.

Along with the taxes, village property owners must also pay a $130 annual sewer-fund assessment.

The trustees must adopt its 2023-24 spending plan by May 1.

Residents and property owners are welcome to comment on the proposed budget at the April 10 public hearing at the village hall, 310 Sycamore St.