Civic Issues
Topics getting the most attention in Town of Manlius public meetings, ranked by how frequently they are discussed.
9 issues in taxes budget with medium priority
Highway equipment fleet renewal
The highway department landed $350,000 in state funding toward a new hydro-excavator that finds underground utilities and cleans pipes without putting workers in harm's way. The current machine is 20 years old.
Highway department project costs
The highway department landed $350,000 in state funding toward a new hydro-excavator that finds underground utilities and cleans pipes without putting workers in harm's way. The current machine is 20 years old.
Trash and brush collection bid extension
A resident asked whether brush drop-off will return to five days a week after construction; the town said it will stay at one day a week through fall, then revisit options like extended spring/fall hours.
Town Clerk compensation
The board debated whether the Town Clerk should get a 6% or 5% raise, noting most town employees earning over $60,000 are getting only about 3.1%. They landed on 5%, citing comparable towns and her extra website and social media duties.
B-Fund Budget Deficit
The B-Fund is short because the Twin Ponds project hasn't started construction, so expected building permit fees haven't come in. Budget adjustments are coming.
Maxwell facility study and police department review
The study group is touring the police department and town hall, with community engagement starting in September. Village representatives will brief their boards and feed advice into the process.
Property Assessments and Taxes
A new state law offering a full property tax exemption for 100% disabled veterans is being rewritten because its eligibility rules currently exclude nearly everyone. A veterans advocate praised the town's existing alternative veterans exemption as among the most generous locally.
IT services rebid for budget savings
The board wants to rebid its IT services contract this spring — one of the town's pricier services — to find savings before next year's budget.
2026 Fee Schedule Increases
The board approved 2026 code, professional and Town Clerk fee schedules with proposed increases. Residents and businesses using town permits and clerk services will pay more this year.