City Council

October 8, 2015 CITY OF SARATOGA SPRINGS Budget Workshop City Council Room 5:00 PM PRESENT: Joanne Yepsen, Mayor Michele Madigan, Commissioner of Finance John Franck, Commissioner of Accounts Anthony Scirocco, Commissioner of DPW Christian Mathiesen, Commissioner of DPS STAFF PRESENT: Joe Ogden, Deputy Mayor Lynn Bachner, Deputy Commissioner, Finance Maire Masterson, Deputy Commissioner, Accounts Eileen Finneran, Deputy Commissioner, DPS EXCUSED: Tim Cogan, Deputy Commissioner, DPW RECORDING OF PROCEEDING The proceedings of this meeting were taped for the benefit of the secretary. Because the minutes are not a verbatim record of the proceedings, the minutes are not a word-for-word transcript. CALL TO ORDER Mayor Yepsen called the meeting to order at 5:05 p.m. PUBLIC COMMENT Mayor Yepsen opened the public comment period at 5:06 p.m. No one spoke. Mayor Yepsen closed the public comment period at 5:06 p.m. BUDGET WORKSHOP Commissioner Madigan advised this is the first budget workshop for the 2016 Comprehensive Budget. Tonight they will be discussion the Capital Budget, Finance Department Budget, and the Accounts Department budget.  Capital Budget: Commissioner Madigan advised all projects that were recommended by the Capital Budget Committee have been included in the 2016 – 2021 capital program. Total project costs for all 23 projects is $5,874,094 of which $5,169,324 will be bonded through the debt service fund; $319,770 will be covered by the recreation trust fund; $100,000 will be covered by state grants; $100,000 will be covered by donations; $100,000 will be covered by the park land reserve; $50,000 will be drawn from the building reserve fund; and $35,000 is from the City school district. Budget Workshop 10/8/15 Mayor Yepsen thanked Commissioner Madigan for including all the items recommended by the Capital Budget Committee. She feels it will include public safety and improve public works.  Finance Department: Commissioner Madigan advised the 2016 budget is about the same as the 2015 budget on the expense side but includes a 3% decrease. Equipment is almost the same, contracted services went up, and there is a small increase in IT service contracts. The contingency line has been increased by $160,000 and the interfund transfer is down by $370,000. On the revenue side; the sales tax for August is expected to be in sometime next week. Overall sales tax is up 6% from last year. Accounts Department Commissioner Franck stated he is good with the budget. He thanked the Finance Department for the time they spent with him on his budget. City Council had no additional comments. Commissioner Madigan advised the first public hearing will be Tuesday, October 20, 2015 at 6:45 p.m. The next budget workshop will be Wednesday, October 14, 2015 at 1:00 p.m. for the Recreation Department and DPW. The budget workshop for the Mayor’s Department has been moved to Wednesday, October 21, 2015 at 1:00 p.m. to be held with the Department of Public Safety. ADJOURNMENT There being no further business, Mayor Yepsen adjourned the meeting at 5:17 p.m. Respectfully submitted, Lisa Ribis Clerk Approved: 10/20/15 Vote: 5 - 0 Page 2 of 2