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AUBURN | There was a changing of the guard at the Cayuga County Legislature on Monday night. Democrats took over the majority for the first time in the county Legislature's history during the reorganization meeting.

Legislator Keith Batman, a Democrat, was elected as chairman for the body, and Legislator Patrick Mahunik, also a Democrat, was elected as vice chair.

After being sworn in, Batman took his place in the chairman's seat and addressed the body with his plans for 2016 and reflections on 2015.

"We have many challenges before us," Batman said. "To name a few, the challenge of a budget, which draws too much from our fund balance while providing too little for needed capital and infrastructure investment; the challenge of deteriorating water quality in our lakes; the challenge of communication within our many constituencies; and the challenge of finding ways to efficiently work with other governmental units to consolidate in meaningful and cost effective ways. Confronting these challenges will be our focus as we move into 2016 and beyond."

Batman said the most immediate challenge to tackle will be county finances. He plans to have the Legislature make "significant progress" on the financial and budgetary process by April 15, 2016.