With the future of the Onondaga County executive’s proposed $85 million aquarium hanging in the balance, members of the Onondaga County Planning and Economic Development Committee met Thursday to learn more about the 600,000-gallon aquarium that would be built in the inner harbor.
Right now, the county executive’s staff is presenting the project plans to various legislative committees.
“I have not heard a lot of push back and criticism, other than perhaps from some of the legislators,” said Mary Beth Primo, deputy county executive.
County Executive Ryan McMahon originally asked the legislature to spend $85 million as part of the $1.4 billion budget for 2022.
Legislators decided to remove it from the budget and instead set aside money while they considered the plan.
The aquarium is a project the county has long tried to make a reality. Over the years, four consulting firms hired by the county conducted three feasibility studies.
A consultant estimated the site could bring in 490,000 visitors a year and create 120 full-time jobs, not including construction and additional development.
“I’m concerned we continue to act as though we’re not in crisis,” Onondaga County Legislator Mary Kuhn said.
Legislator Julie Abbott said she was really pleased with the numbers presented.
“I think it does make a lot of sense in terms of driving tourism and tax dollars,” she said.
McMahon’s staff reported the studies showed the aquarium could generate $796,000 in annual sales and hotel tax revenue.
The studies were conducted with the presumption the economy will “return to normal,” a fact that concerned some legislators.
“What are the fiscal risks if our numbers don’t work?” Kuhn said. “I don’t do that deep dive, but I want someone to.”
“I’m not so concerned about the if it goes back to normal. I actually think now is the time we need to be forward-thinking about our future,” Abbott said.
McMahon is looking to pay for the project with cash, partly with an estimated $60 million surplus from 2021.
