By Jasmyn Belcher
Oswego, NY – Syracuse Mayor Stephanie Miner is trying to maintain the city's share of sales tax revenue.
To help address fiscal problems, Onondaga County wants a larger share of more then $200 million in sales tax revenue. The agreement between the county, Syracuse, towns, villages and school districts ends later this year.
But Mayor Miner said Syracuse cannot afford to lose sales tax revenue to the county and neither can Central N.Y.
"We are the economic development center of the region, the government center of the region, the recreational center of the region, the cultural center of the region. All of those things are vital and integral to having a healthy community," said Miner, "We know in this community we are far from being healthy in terms of our economic growth. We need to focus our resources on the places that will help us create more and more economic development growth and more and better paying jobs for our people here in this community."
Miner said the city of Syracuse is facing a $35 million deficit. School districts are expected to make their case next week. They said they would be forced to make even deeper cuts if the county keeps more sales tax revenue.