City Council

October 26, 2015 CITY OF SARATOGA SPRINGS Budget Workshop City Council Room 6:00 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: Lynn Bachner, Deputy Commissioner, Finance Maire Masterson, Deputy Commissioner, Accounts Eileen Finneran, Deputy Commissioner, DPS EXCUSED: Joe Ogden, Deputy Mayor 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 6:11 p.m. BUDGET WORKSHOP Commissioner Madigan advised this is the fourth budget workshop for the 2016 Comprehensive Budget. The amended budget includes changes to add a full time Administrator of Parks, Open Land and Historic Preservation; and changes required as a result of the recently settled PBA contract. This results in an amended 2016 general fund budget of $44,013,015. The comprehensive budget presented in October was for $43,841,077. The tax rate remains the same with an average decrease of .14%. Expense changes net out at an increase of $171,938 and include:  Administrator of Parks, Open Land and Historic Preservation position at a salary of $45,000 plus benefits for a total cost of $77,401. The new budget total for the Mayor’s Office will be $2,308,750.  PBA settled contract results in increases to various wage and social security lines for investigators, sergeants and police officers totaling $488,938. This will be partially funded by the savings from the health insurance line due to the terms of the MOA and some health insurance rates have come in lower than figures provided when putting together the comprehensive budget. This resulted in a decrease in expense for DPS health insurance line by $135,650. Total change from comprehensive to amended is $353,287.34 increase with a new budget total of $24,848,162.  The Finance Department has a change from comprehensive to amended of a $225,000 decrease and the new Finance total budget is $2,938,679. The Department of Public Works, Accounts Department, and Recreation Department have not requested any changes. Budget Workshop 10/26/15 Revenue changes net out at an increase of $171,938 and include:  Employee hospitalization contribution line for the Department of Public Safety has been revised to reflect the new PBA contract. It increases the cap from $1,000 to $1,500 which results in a revenue increase of $21,938 and a new budget amount of $161,000.  NYRA admissions tax was received last week for 2015 in the amount of $627,552.  August sales tax figures show an 11.2% increase over last August. Commissioner Madigan reminded all that the proposed amended budget includes a 0.14% decrease in the average tax rate. Commissioner Scirocco stated this is one of the best budgets since he has been here. Mayor Yepsen stated this is a great budget and appreciates accommodating the need for the POSH position. Commissioner Mathiesen stated this is a good budget. It was a big undertaking and the citizens should appreciate what was done with this budget. Commissioner Franck stated he agrees with all. He asked if there are plans to vote on the amended budget at Monday’s meeting. Commissioner Madigan advised she is inclined to do that. ADJOURNMENT There being no further business, Mayor Yepsen adjourned the meeting at 6:32 p.m. Respectfully submitted, Lisa Ribis Clerk Approved: 11/2/15 Vote: 4 - 0 Page 2 of 2