City Council

October 11, 2017 CITY OF SARATOGA SPRINGS Budget Workshop City Council Room 1:00 PM 1:00 PM CALL TO ORDER ROLL CALL SALUTE TO FLAG PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD / 15 MINUTES PRESENTATIONS 1. Nothing at this time. CONSENT AGENDA 1. Nothing at this time. MAYOR’S DEPARTMENT 1. Nothing at this time. ACCOUNTS DEPARTMENT 1. Nothing at this time. FINANCE DEPARTMENT 1. Discussion: 2018 Budget Workshop: Capital Budget, Finance Department, Accounts Department 2. Discussion and Vote: Authorization for the Mayor to Sign “Intent to Apply for Restore NY Funding” PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT 1. Nothing at this time. PUBLIC SAFETY DEPARTMENT 1. Nothing at this time. SUPERVISORS Matthew Veitch 1. Nothing at this time. Peter Martin 1. Nothing at this time. ADJOURN Budget Workshop 10/11/17 October 11, 2017 CITY OF SARATOGA SPRINGS City Council Meeting City Council Room 1:00 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: Meg Kelly, Deputy Mayor Mike Sharp, Deputy Commissioner, Finance Maire Masterson, Deputy Commissioner, Accounts Eileen Finneran, Deputy Commissioner, DPS EXCUSED: Frank Coppola, Deputy Commissioner, DPW Vincent DeLeonardis Matthew Veitch, Supervisor Peter Martin, Supervisor 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 1:02 p.m. PUBLIC COMENT Mayor Yepsen reminded the public and Council that rules have been adopted regarding the public comment period. She reviewed these rules for all. Mayor Yepsen opened the public comment period at 1:03 p.m. No one spoke. Mayor Yepsen closed the public comment period at 1:03 p.m. Page 2 of 4 Budget Workshop 10/11/17 FINANCE DEPARTMENT Commissioner Madigan verified with the Council they were in agreement to move item #2 on her agenda to be the first item. Discussion and Vote: Authorization for the Mayor to Sign “Intent to Apply for Restore NY Funding” (17_ Commissioner Madigan advised Phillip Morris of Proctor’s Theatre contacted her regarding this program as he believes up to $1 million dollars of funding may be possible for the redevelopment of the vacant Universal Preservation Hall. The rehabilitation of the Universal Preservation Hall is expected to cost $8.7 million and will generate year round business. At this point a letter of intent is required from the City Council with future requirements. Commissioner Madigan moved and Mayor Yepsen seconded to approve the mayor to sign the intent to apply for Restore New York Funding form as previously distributed with the agenda. Mayor Yepsen stated the City can submit as many projects as they want but the grant application can only be one project. Other projects have come to her attention; the Adelphi would also like the City to submit an intent letter by Friday. Commissioner Madigan suggested the letters be presented to the Council. She would like a vote to support this letter of intent. Brad Birge of the Planning Department advised the Universal Preservation Hall and the Adelphi are great projects for this. The garbage transfer station on Putnam Street is a property that may be a good project for this; there are 2 vacant Phila Street properties that are feasible for this; and the old Nimex building on Henry Street. The properties have to be under municipal ownership or with absolute consent of the property owners. The program is directed towards distressed communities. Ayes - All BUDGET WORKSHOP Capital Budget Commissioner Madigan stated this year’s capital budget includes 23 projects with a total cost of $8,069,323; $5.1 million will be bonded through the debt service fund, $30,000 will be funded by the Recreation Trust Fund, $35,000 will be from the City School District, and $2.8 million is for water and sewer projects. Water and sewer now have a reserve for capital improvements. She has removed 2 capital budget items – the replacement of a fire engine and the east side fire/EMS facility. The fire engine replacement has been moved to the 2019 capital budget. The capital budget and program can be flexible when appropriate. The debt service budget reflects principle and interest payments on the City’s outstanding bonds for capital projects except those included in the water and sewer funds. The total proposed 2018 debt service budget is $3,593,680 with the main revenue source being property tax. The total tax levy has increased from $19.2 million to $19.5 million in the 2018 comprehensive budget. This levy is allocated to the general operating budget and debt service budget. The City’s growth has had a positive impact on the City’s tax levy. Finance Department Commissioner Madigan advised the comprehensive expense budget is up $243,000 (8.1%) compared to the 2017 adopted budget. Benefits are up due to health insurance costs and equipment is down do to IT hardware needs. Contingency was increased by $100,000 for the 2018 comprehensive budget to give the City fiscal flexibility and will just enough to cover contract settlements. The Finance Department has no Page 3 of 4 Budget Workshop 10/11/17 change to their expense budget at this time. Most departments saw a decrease from requested budget to comprehensive budget. Accounts Department Commissioner Madigan advised the Accounts Department 2018 comprehensive budget is up approximately $45,000 compared to the 2017 adopted budget. Personal services is up $28,000 largely due to contractual salary increases; benefits are up $7,000 due increase health insurance costs; and contracted services is up approximately $10,000 due to risk and safety programming. The revenue budget is up approximately $11,000 due to an expected increase in vital statistics revenue. Account requested 3 new positions for 2018 which are not included in the 2018 comprehensive budget and requested a $7,000 increase related to an upgrade of an assessment clerk position which is also not included. Commissioner Franck stated the positions we put in for are positions we once had and lost in 2009/2010. He still put a 2018 request form relating to our assessment clerk. We had our assistant assessor, full time data collector, assessment clerk, and part time assessment clerk and were knocked down to just the assistant assessor and the assessment clerk. The upgrade of the assessment clerk would allow her to work different duties that she cannot work right now. This is the only revised request we submitted. We are trying to expand the roll and with that would come the expansion of the salary. Commissioner Madigan advised she has Commissioner Franck’s change form and will be sure to take a look at that as his priority as they go through the budget process. Commissioner Madigan advised the first public hearing for the budget is scheduled for October 17, 2017 at 6:45 p.m. The next budget workshop is Thursday, October 19, 2017 at 3:00 p.m. for Public Works and the Recreation Department. ADJOURNMENT There being no further business, Mayor Yepsen adjourned the meeting at 1:32 p.m. Respectfully submitted, Margaret LoPresti Clerk Approved: 11/6/17 Vote: 5 - 0 Page 4 of 4