Last November, Democrats swept the competitive races for Onondaga County Legislature seats, promising change.  Throughout the campaign season, fledgling candidates and party leaders vowed to focus on housing and transportation, potentially dipping into the county’s controversial fund balance account to improve the lives of county residents.  But three months after the election, and nearly a month and a half into their term, Democrats with wide ranging levels of experience do not have a clearly stated plan for what they will do and when.  “The legislators are still setting their legislative priorities,” said legislature spokesperson Ruthnie Angrand in a text to Central Current. “It’s a fluid process but we’re planning a few engagements to inform them. I don’t expect those to be in place until the end of [quarter one].”  Legislators have a guiding acronym: “bettering LIFE,” according to Majority Leader Nodesia Hernandez. Their decisions will be made based on how they fit into the goals of Leveraging Infrastructure, Family, and Economic Development — or life.  After riding a historic electoral wave that flipped the legislature blue, the new legislators are still educating themselves on what they can do. They also want more transparency, and to connect constituents with services. Legislators told Central Current they have a few specific immediate goals: three resolutions, one proposed local law and a new committee.  Democrats proposed a law addressing biometric data collection by local businesses and passed a memorializing resolution to stop overreach from the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Some long-tenured county Democrats say they have doubts about the legislature majority’s current long-term strategy, but they remain optimistic about the term as a whole. “I think they want to have big plans. I think they can have big plans. I think they’re working hard enough to be able to do a good job,” said Comptroller Marty Masterpole. “But they’re just not there yet.”  Democrats do have larger goals — including further developing public housing and improving transportation options — but say they are now bound by the timing of the budget cycle.  The 2026 budget is already set, and only County Executive Ryan McMahon can initiate transfers of more than $7,500.  Section 608 of the county charter provides a way for the county executive to transfer funds. It does not explicitly mention a way for the legislature to do the same. This has, in the past, been interpreted by county lawyers to mean that the legislature should not be able to initiate transfers, according to a Feb. 2024 email from then-deputy county attorney Benjamin Yaus to Legislator Maurice Brown.  In order for the legislature to propose a transfer during the budget cycle, they would need to change the charter itself. Under New York State law, there are two ways to change a charter: Either the legislature can pass a local law subject to mandatory referendum, or it can create a charter commission and act on its recommendations. Democrats, Watts said, are looking into making a number of charter changes, but no decisions have been made yet to pursue those changes. “That might be something we can prepare for, but not fully move ahead on this term,” Watts said. She did not rule out the possibility of attempting a change to the charter this year. “I do believe there are some things we need to address regarding checks and balances,” said Watts.  Legislator Maurice Brown said he had brought up the potential change to section 608 at least three times but other proposals had always taken priority.  That leaves the September and October budget cycle as a critical opportunity for the legislature to make more sweeping changes.  “Our greatest power is within the actual budget cycle,” said Chairwoman Nicole Watts. “We have a particular, very limited scope outside of the budget in what we are able to do.” But some members of the caucus have urged leadership for action. So far no concrete plans have materialized. “We’re not moving at a pace that I’d love to see,” Brown said, “but I remain optimistic.”  ‘It’s going to be a refreshing feeling’ Democrats’ plans have changed since election night.  That night, Democrats spoke to Central Current reporters about their plans. Majority Leader Hernandez worried about the loss of federal funding and the lack of affordable housing options in the face of large-scale projects like the aquarium. Hernandez said at the time that using the county’s fund balance — which has often sat above $200 million — could shore up the costs of projects that would address these problems.   “It’s going to be a refreshing feeling… it’s going to be our ability to use some funds to do what’s right in the county,” Hernandez said at the county Democrats’ election watch party. But more concrete solutions have not yet been presented to Democratic allies with financial oversight of county finances. When Hernandez in February asked Masterpole to find a pool of money Democrats could use to advance their agenda, Masterpole asked Hernandez what they would use it for. Hernandez was unable to give an answer, even at the department level, he said. Masterpole said he assumes he will get guidance soon, but he doesn’t have it yet.  Hernandez recalled the conversation differently. The Democrats, then the minority party, failed to pass budget amendments in 2025 and went to Masterpole to find money to help their districts. She said they had followed up more recently after not getting answers. When asked by Central Current in February, the two specific policy plans Hernandez provided were passing two memorializing resolutions: one which would allow big game rifle hunting in the county, and another which would opt the county into the Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad Byway. Legislators also passed a memorializing resolution to combat ICE overreach and proposed a law limiting biometric technology.  Hernandez still wants to make large investments in public housing and other key legislative priorities. Hernandez would like to make an $85 million investment in housing, similar to one she voted for in 2024 that ultimately did not pass.  The legislator is conflicted on making deals to get legislation passed, she said. “Something just doesn’t feel right morally” when making deals, she said. “I’m in the majority now and we don’t owe anybody anything because I didn’t make any deals in the minority,” Hernandez said.  As Democrats await their chance at negotiating the budget for the first time in decades as a majority, the legislators hope to focus on education, transparency, and accountability, said Watts and Hernandez. Instead of waiting for the next budget cycle, legislators are bringing every department in to present on their departments, including their budgets, to legislators. “We cannot surpass the tax levy,” said Watts. “However, we are able to work with the numbers within that.”  Democrats are looking into grant funds in the budget, where money dedicated to a specific project can sit for years or decades. Watts would like to find budget lines where money may be unspent. Closing a grant fund would require the approval of Masterpole and Chief Financial Officer Kristi Smiley. Masterpole previously told Central Current that he has worked to close many grant funds with Smiley.  Democrats are also looking to have a more fluid and proactive dialogue throughout the budget process. Watts said she was “keenly interested” in working together with the County Executive Ryan McMahon on the budget this year.  McMahon plans to have monthly meetings with Hernandez, Watts, and Minority Leader Brian May, Hernandez said. Those have not been scheduled yet,Hernandez said, though McMahon has met directly with Watts. Typically, the county executive’s office presents a proposed budget without conferring with the legislature, Watts said.  The budget presentations at the committee meetings are intended to make the legislature’s role in that process more proactive, Watts explained.  “It won’t have been for naught. It’s just, we will have wasted months,” said Brown. He said that despite the delay, he was optimistic that the caucus would make significant changes by the end of the year.  To study housing and transportation issues, Watts is working on creating a housing and transportation advisory committee. The committee could include up to 40 members from around the community. The resolution to create that committee will be on the March agenda, she said.  Before the next budget cycle, the caucus will also be able to pass local laws and resolutions, said Hernandez. She compared it to the state legislature process. “The budget process happens, then legislation happens. But the legislation that happens after the budget can’t have a dime attached to it, right?” said Hernandez. “So we can kind of follow that model.”  The county executive can veto resolutions that the majority passes. Memorializing resolutions, which the county had stopped using for several years, are “nonbinding, but they are our voice,” said Hernandez.  As Democrats continue to form a strategy that will help them keep their majority, Masterpole, a longtime fixture of county Democratic politics, said legislators in the majority should focus on the most pressing issues in the county. Masterpole noted that previous Republican-led legislatures would invest in housing development and infrastructure whenever they needed a political boost. “Democrats are trying to be right. Republicans are trying to win,” Brown said, echoing Masterpole’s comments. “I would rather win.”  The post As Democrats take power in the Onondaga County Legislature, they’re reckoning with what they can — and can’t — do appeared first on Central Current. ...read more read less