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State aid

The city of Auburn receives unrestricted funding through the state's Aid and Incentives for Municipalities program. Aid levels have remained flat, despite calls from the city's leadership to increase the support.

The 2025-26 budget does not increase funding for the Aid and Incentives for Municipalities program, which means Auburn will get more than $4.9 million — the same amount it has received for more than a decade.

However, the budget continues "temporary municipal assistance" initially included in the 2024-25 spending plan. The city will receive over $578,000.

Hotel tax

As Ë®¹ûÅÉAV reported on Wednesday, the city of Auburn received authorization to charge a hotel tax of up to 5%.

Occupancy taxes are common in New York — Cayuga County charges a 5% tax on hotel stays — but the city does not have a so-called "bed tax."

City leaders expressed interest in instituting a hotel tax in 2023, shortly after Gov. Kathy Hochul signed legislation allowing Skaneateles and Weedsport to tax hotel stays.

However, Auburn's pursuit of a hotel tax was stymied by Assemblyman John Lemondes. Lemondes, who represents the city and part of Cayuga County, opposed the city's hotel tax proposal.

This year, state Sen. Rachel May secured the tax in the state budget. 

The city estimates the tax could generate $500,000 in annual revenue.

Equal Rights Heritage Center

For the second consecutive year, the budget includes a $200,000 payment to the city of Auburn.

While the budget does not identify a specific use for the money, it is intended to help the city with operational expenses for the New York State Equal Rights Heritage Center.

The state paid $10 million to build the center, which opened in 2018. Aside from a $50,000 in the first year, it did not provide additional support to the city for running the facility.

That changed in 2024 when May, D-Syracuse, secured the $200,000 payment for Auburn. The funding will continue this year.

Meanwhile, a bill has advanced in the state Legislature to move the central New York welcome center from Destiny USA in Syracuse to the Equal Rights Heritage Center in Auburn. Lemondes, R-LaFayette, and May are the sponsors of the bill. The state Senate passed it in March.