UTICA, N.Y. (WKTV) - Oneida County Executive Anthony Picente, Jr. released his 2009 budget proposal today. Picente's proposal carries an 8.9% increase in the property tax levy. The plan also calls for the gasoline tax cap to be lifted. Picente acknowledges that difficult times call for tough decisions.

"And if we did not take the actions we took this year next year would surely be a 15 or 20% property tax increase and I said last year I wouldn't do that to the people of this county but I have an obligation to fix things about here and provide the services," said Picente during his budget address to county legislators and department heads this morning.

Legislative minority leader Michael Hennessy has concerns about the proposal--specifically, the increased obligation to taxpayers.

'I'm concerned because when you look at the property tax and the fact that we're going to remove the cap on the gasoline sales tax this is more of a double digit increase to the taxpayers of Oneida County."

The budget is not a done deal; the county legislature has a month to look it over before they vote on it.