Onondaga County

BIOGRAPHY

Legislator Timothy T. Burtis represents the 3rd District in the Onondaga County Legislature, covering the Town of Cicero. He has called the Cicero home for more than 40 years and now lives in Brewerton with his wife, Chris, and their two grown sons, Theo and Alex. Legislator Burtis graduated from Twin Tiers Christian Academy in Horseheads before earning his degree in business administration from Onondaga Community College and attending Liberty University.

Before joining the Legislature, Legislator Burtis served as a Town Board member and Deputy Supervisor in the Town of Cicero. Voters first elected him to the County Legislature in 2015, and his colleagues chose him to serve as Chairman of the Legislature from 2024 to 2025. He currently serves as a member of the Ways & Means Committee and the Health & Human Services Committee, and he sits on the boards of the county’s Community Development Block Grant program and the Onondaga County Housing Initiative Program (O-CHIP).

Professionally, Legislator Burtis draws on over 28 years of financial experience, including his time as Dealer Relations Manager with Empower Federal Credit Union. He says that experience shapes how he approaches the county budget, looking at the long-term costs and benefits of every project rather than just the impact on the next month or year.

Legislator Burtis has volunteered in civic, educational, and religious organizations throughout his life, including many years as a basketball coach for teenagers.

Legislative priorities include:

• Keeping taxes low through fiscally responsible budgeting

• Expanding affordable housing through the county’s CDBG and O-CHIP programs

• Protecting Onondaga County’s natural resources and wildlife

• Strengthening community ties across Cicero, Brewerton, and Bridgeport