The Common Council plans to audit the budget Mayor Ben Walsh proposed Wednesday to city lawmakers.   The audit could cost taxpayers a little more than $20,000 and councilors could vote to approve the audit as soon as Monday afternoon. The council plans to contract with the Bonadio Group, the sam e company performing an audit of the city’s payroll modernization project. The budget audit would take 30 days and cost $20,750.Council Finance, Taxation and Assessment Committee Chair Corey Williams provided Central Current with a written statement on behalf of the committee.“For anyone following the national or local news, it is clear that we are in uncertain financial times,” the statement read. “The Common Council is using every tool at its disposal to try to save the taxpayers money. We believe that seeking expert advice is the responsible thing to do.”The audit comes as two councilors — Pat Hogan and Chol Majok — gear up for a heated mayoral primary against Deputy Mayor Sharon Owens. Pat Hogan, president pro tempore of the council, won the Democratic Party’s mayoral candidate designation, setting up a primary showdown with Owens and Councilor Chol Majok.Hogan, Majok and Owens did not pick up calls from a Central Current reporter requesting comment. “The Administration is ready to work with the Council and any outside advisors it feels the need to retain to assist with their budget review,” Mayor’s office spokesperson Greg Loh said in a statement.Williams declined further comment beyond his own statement.The audit could be the second approved this year by the Council. Lawmakers previously approved an audit of the city’s Bureau of Information Technology and the city’s payroll modernization project. FoxPointe Solutions, a division of Bonadio, is performing that audit. Lawmakers called for that audit after Central Current’s reporting revealed extensive delays in the multimillion dollar IT project.Walsh’s proposed budget would implement a 2% property tax hike, while pulling about $27 million from the city’s savings to address shortcomings. He argued he’s leaving the city in a better fiscal position than when he was elected mayor. For the first time since 2021, the city will not receive the federal funds it has relied on to counteract pandemic-era economic losses. Without these American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) dollars, Walsh has had to pull from the city’s coffers.Walsh’s budget included a number of new initiatives, including:Adding two codes inspectors  Third-party permitting to speed up the permitting process while also increasing the number of permits that get approved A restructuring of the city’s Bureau of Information Technology, Digital Services and Analytics, Performance and Innovation read more of central current’s coverage Syracuse lawmakers propose auditing Mayor Ben Walsh’s budget The proposal comes as two members of the council are running for mayor. Walsh’s proposed budget would pull about $27 million from the city’s reserves. by Patrick McCarthy April 11, 2025April 11, 2025 Syracuse tenants face high eviction rates despite few owing back rent, report finds The report, conducted by Community Service Society of New York, was based on a survey of 4,789 renters in New York. by Eddie Velazquez April 11, 2025April 11, 2025 Current Conversations: Dem. Primary Mayoral Forum On Thursday, May 29th our newsroom staff will interview candidates running in this year’s Democratic primary for the Syracuse mayoral nomination at the Everson Museum of Art. by Chris Libonati April 10, 2025April 10, 2025 What’s in Mayor Ben Walsh’s last proposed budget? Taxes, code enforcement staffing and permitting could all see increases while the city’s reserves could take a hit. by Andie Vigliotti April 9, 2025April 10, 2025 Introducing our board: Chris Van Patten Chris Van Patten is a software engineering leader with a passion for journalism and hands-on experience working with category-leading media brands. by Central Current staff April 7, 2025April 7, 2025 The post Syracuse lawmakers propose auditing Mayor Ben Walsh’s budget appeared first on Central Current. ...read more read less