See Article: In quest to pay for aquarium, McMahon raids little-known fund for Onondaga Lake amenities
This project is no where near complete and it is already draining taxpayer funds. Now the county executive has pulled funds set aside to improve trails, parks and other amenities around Onondaga Lake for his expensive aquarium.
The county legislature voted this March on a local law allowing Onondaga County to accept donations for the aquarium. It stated “The Legislature… does not intend, presently or in the future, to appropriate any additional funds for the Aquarium project.” Yet the county executive continues to take from taxpayers to fund his vanity project. This is not okay.
With federal budget cuts looming, we need to fund services that support families, invest in our current infrastructure, some of which is so toxic workers can’t even go inside and build affordable, healthy homes.
I am running for county legislature to increase transparency & accountability in county government and to ensure fiscal oversight on our taxpayer dollars.
Aquarium Funding/Timeline As of July 2025
| Legislature Approves Aquarium 2022 | $85,000,000 |
| Legislature Approves Land Purchase 2023 | $1,705,807 |
| County Executive takes ARPA 2024 | $6,600,000 |
| County Executive asks for more $$$ Legislature Denies 2024 | |
| Legislature Passes Law to Accept Donations 2025 | |
| County Executive raids Onondaga Lake Fund | $2,500,000 |
| Total To Date | Taxpayer Dollars $95,805,807 |
| Approximate Amount Still Needed $8,500,000 |
