In Auburn, the police and fire departments face layoffs. In Watertown, the city could do away with trash pickup service. In Cortland, city workers might see their pay cut.
Across Central New York, mid-sized cities like these are reckoning with million-dollar budget shortfalls. There are no easy answers.
For many, costs are skyrocketing and revenue is almost flat. They’re spending a lot more than they’re generating, and local officials are desperately trying to come up with new sources of revenue. They’re battling rising costs of health insurance, basic services, and personnel…