SYRACUSE -- Onondaga County Executive Joanie Mahoney will present her $1.2 billion proposed budget to the County Legislature Wednesday morning.

Mahoney says there will not be a property tax increase even though the cost of mandated programs from the state continues to go up.

"It's balanced (the budget), and we have a surplus from 2011 but we know that there is trouble on the horizon if we don't get mandate relief so I'm recommending a very careful budget that keeps the levy flat, the rate will go down a bit," Mahoney says.

The proposed budget is for the fiscal year that begins in January. The county has to pay more for fixed costs from New York State, the biggest one being Medicaid. To keep taxes from going up, Mahoney says they are going to use the $4 million surplus from this year, also known as the "rainy day fund."

Mahoney says the surplus is from an increase in sales tax revenue. She says it's the first time the county is exceeding levels from 2008. Mahoney is stressing that there is trouble in the future if they don't get relief from those state mandates. Property taxes go to pay for those state mandates. Just to put into perspective of how much they've gone up, Mahoney says the increased costs from state mandates are greater than all the money the county spends on the parks department.

The tax rate for the proposed 2012 budget will be $5.77 per $1,000. So, if you live in a $100,000 house, your county tax bill would be $577.

Here are how mandates break down: According to Mahoney, $389 of that money would go to pay for Medicaid only. The remaining state mandated costs would total $273. Mahoney says the county has to throw in the additional $85 in sales tax just to finish paying the bills Albany passes on to Onondaga County. 

"I would like people to know that that Onondaga County is not in the dire situation that other counties around the state are, but we're not far away from it," Mahoney said. "We all instead of aiming at each other, the towns, villages, the city and county ought to be facing toward New York State and asking that they relieve us some of the mandates."

There's also been consolidation in the county which Mahoney says is helping. She says budget gaps are forecasted for 2013 and 2014, something she wants legislators to keep in mind.

The legisature will review the proposal and have it returned by October 15th.