The Broome County Legislature is the elected lawmaking body for Broome County, New York, made up of 15 members who each represent a single district and together control local laws, the county budget, and confirmations of the County Executive’s department heads.1Broome County. Broome County Legislature It meets monthly at the Edwin L. Crawford County Office Building on Government Plaza in Binghamton.2Broome County. Meetings
Who Serves and How They’re Elected
Fifteen legislators, one per district, are elected to two-year terms. Every seat is on the ballot in each odd-year general election. To qualify, a candidate must be a registered voter living in the district they want to represent.1Broome County. Broome County Legislature
Districts are drawn to hold roughly equal populations. After each federal decennial census, the Clerk of the County Legislature announces the results and the legislature reconsiders its district lines, redrawing them where population has shifted.3Broome County New York. Notice of Formation of the Ad Hoc Committee on Redistricting
What the Legislature Does
Under the Broome County Charter, the legislature enacts local laws, ordinances, and resolutions governing county operations. Three areas carry the most weight: money, appointments, and debt.
The County Budget
Each year, the County Executive submits a proposed budget, capital program, and budget message. The legislature reviews the plan and holds an initial public hearing no later than October 31, followed by a second hearing on any proposed changes no later than November 14.4Broome County. Budget Process Legislators can strike or reduce line items, with exceptions for appropriations required by law and debt service, and can add items if stated separately.
Property Taxes and the Tax Cap
The legislature sets the property tax rates that fund the budget. New York caps how much local governments can raise the tax levy each year, but the legislature can override that cap by passing a local law or resolution with a 60 percent supermajority. In a 15-member body, that means at least nine yes votes.5Office of the New York State Comptroller. What is the Real Property Tax Cap?
Confirmations and Borrowing
Department head appointments made by the County Executive require legislative confirmation. Without it, an appointee cannot permanently take charge of a county agency. The legislature also authorizes the county to issue debt for major infrastructure and capital projects.
Leadership and Pay
Each January, the legislature picks a Chair from its own membership. The Chair runs sessions, keeps order during debate, and appoints committee members and leaders. Daniel J. Reynolds currently serves as Chair.1Broome County. Broome County Legislature Majority and Minority Leaders coordinate their party caucuses. The Clerk of the Legislature, based on the sixth floor of the Crawford Building, handles records, the legislative calendar, meeting notices, and public records requests.
Legislators are part-time. Under a local law adopted in 2025, the annual salary rises to $20,000 starting January 1, 2027, with future adjustments tied to the Consumer Price Index for Northeast urban areas. The Chair receives an additional $10,000, and the Majority and Minority Leaders each receive an additional $2,500.6Broome County. Local Law Perm 2 of 2025
How Work Moves Through Committees
Before a resolution reaches the full legislature, it goes through one or more standing committees. A smaller group of members works through the fiscal and operational details, hears from county staff, and recommends changes. A resolution generally needs a majority in committee before it lands on the session agenda, and proposals that fail in committee rarely get a floor vote. Seven standing committees currently handle that work:7Broome County. Committees
- County Administration, covering internal government operations
- Economic Development, Education and Culture
- Finance, covering the budget, revenue, and fiscal policy
- Health and Human Services
- Personnel, covering employee relations and civil service
- Public Safety and Emergency Services
- Public Works and Transportation
Finance touches the widest range of legislation because most resolutions carry a fiscal impact.
Meetings, Public Comment, and Records
Regular sessions are held on the third Thursday of most months at 5:00 p.m. in the Legislative Chambers on the sixth floor of the Crawford Building at Government Plaza in Binghamton.2Broome County. Meetings Committee meetings are scheduled separately. Under New York’s Open Meetings Law, sessions are open to the public, with narrow exceptions for executive sessions.8New York State Senate. New York Code PBO – Open Meetings Law
Residents can speak during the public comment period, though most sessions require signing a register before the meeting starts. Agendas are published in advance on the county website, sessions are available for remote viewing, and video archives are kept for later viewing.
For records, the Clerk of the Legislature serves as the Records Access Officer under New York’s Freedom of Information Law. Requests can be filed online, by email to foil.broome@broomecountyny.gov, in person at the Clerk’s office, by mail, or by fax.9Broome County, New York. FOIL FAQ – Records
Ethics Complaints
The county Code of Ethics covers all officers and employees, including legislators, and supplements Article 18 of New York’s General Municipal Law. Legislators cannot solicit or accept any gift worth more than a nominal value if a reasonable person could infer it was meant to influence official action.10Broome County, New York. Chapter 19 – Ethics A three-member Board of Ethics, appointed by the County Executive and confirmed by the legislature, reviews written complaints filed at the Crawford Building.11Broome County, NY. Board of Ethics Legislators also file annual financial disclosure statements.
Running for a Seat
Any registered voter who lives in a district can run for that district’s seat, but getting on the ballot requires signatures. Under New York Election Law, a candidate for a county legislative district needs 500 valid signatures on a designating petition from enrolled party members inside the district.12New York State Senate. New York Election Law 6-136 Independent candidates follow a separate petition track.
For the 2026 cycle, the Broome County Board of Elections set these filing windows:
- Designating party petitions: March 30 through April 6
- Opportunity-to-ballot petitions: March 21 through April 9
- Independent petitions: May 19 through May 26
Dates shift year to year, so candidates should confirm current deadlines with the Broome County Board of Elections.13Broome County Board of Elections. Candidates