Onondaga County’s Inner Harbor Aquarium project is expected to cost $100 million. With $85 million already approved, the county Legislature met Tuesday to work out how the remainder of the funds will be allocated.

A local law authorizes Onondaga County to accept and appropriate anonymous gifts, contributions and donations for the aquarium project without the need for legislative approval. The item passed 13-4.

The four legislators who opposed the measure expressed their concerns, including having issues with transparency and opening the door for potential quid pro quo situations. That includes Democratic Legislator Maurice Brown, who said during the meeting “public projects come with public transparency.”

Others, like Republican Legislator Julie Abbott, said the “pay-for-play” concept was insulting, and that this measure will be beneficial for taxpayers.

“We won’t know what their intentions are, and what they’re expecting in return of it," Brown said. "We kind of forgo that in doing it and as the county Legislature, we have powers invested in us through oversight. And we are derelict in those duties, and that’s just not something I’m comfortable with.”

“I just wanna make sure that we’re not using public funds, taxpayer dollars, any further with this aquarium," Abbott said. "This today solidifies that, and it allows people who really do want this in the community to donate and help be part of the process.”

Any donations received will be directed to the nonprofit Friends of the Onondaga County aquarium.

The Legislature will also receive quarterly reports of donations, though anonymous contributions would not be included in those reports.

The aquarium is slated to open in the fall of 2026.