Saratoga Springs city commissioners last night agreed on two basic facts: the budget process this year was unlike any other they had seen, and it was very tough at times.
The vote on the city's budget during a special session of the council Monday night followed city charter rules that required a vote by Nov. 30, though it came to light that there are no “charter police,” and the penalties for voting late might not have been so bad.
Had the vote not been taken, the comprehensive budget, proposed and argued over in October, would have become the default budget under the rules.
The amended budget passed last night with the caveat that commissioners who control spending in their own departments bring fees changes to the Dec. 15 council meeting and that the budget, as with any budget, can be amended as 2021 progresses and the budget situation changes.
Future discussions mean that the numbers presented were not etched in stone, but might be fungible.
“I am pleased that we have found our way to a budget that I believe we can all support this evening,” Michele Madigan, commissioner of finance, said before the vote.
Some major points of the budget as passed:
$46.2 million budget. That is up from the comprehensive budget first outlined in October but down almost $3 million from the 2020 approved budget.
City wages and social security were restored to their 2020 contractual levels, and financial stimulus from the federal government will be applied to paying those lines on the budget, if the aid becomes available. To help meet the need, police and fire fighter comp time and overtime will be reduced.
[Earlier today, members of the U.S. Senate outlined a “bipartisan, bicameral” stimulus proposal that includes $160 billion for state, local and tribal government aid. The House's “Problem Solvers Caucus,” which drafted the plan, wants to see it passed before Congress leaves for the Christmas holiday.]
The New York State comptroller recently told localities to wait and see if federal aid would come before cutting municiple services, a press release on the budget said.
Real estate taxes will go up by 5.97% for the city's inside tax district and by 6.03% for the outside district, for a $7.7 million property tax levy for the general fund.
“This tax increase equates to an approximate monthly payment on a home assessed at $200,000 of $6; a home assessed at $400,000 of $12; a home assessed at $650,000 of $20,” a statement on the budget says.
The budget also plans to see $215,000 from the New York Racing Association, but that considers a season at the racetrack that is only running at 50%.
As well, the city hopes to pull in $1.16 million from the VLT, the video lottery terminal tax.
The city plans to see $9.5 million from sales tax.
During the council’s final discussion of the budget before the vote, the mood and tone was generally happy with commissioners saying that their concerns were heard, despite meetings that at times were acrimonious.
John Franck, commissioner of accounts, admitted that moving deadlines and changing the process might require a vote to change some charter rules, which people might be weary of. Others at the dais agreed that it was tough to complete, especially with the timing that meant a rush, during Thanksgiving.
Franck felt rushed and as though he was making a decision without everything he needed.
“We really don’t have enough information,” Franck said. “I just don’t know how you do a budget when you don’t have all of the numbers."
This story was updated for clarity.