City Council

October 28, 2022 CITY OF SARATOGA SPRINGS Budget Workshop City Hall 474 Broadway 3:00 PM 3:00 PM CALL TO ORDER ROLL CALL SALUTE TO FLAG PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD / 15 MINUTES PRESENTATIONS CONSENT AGENDA MAYOR’S DEPARTMENT ACCOUNTS DEPARTMENT FINANCE DEPARTMENT 1. Budget Overview 2. Discussion: 2023 Budget Workshop – Department of Public Safety PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT PUBLIC SAFETY DEPARTMENT SUPERVISORS ADJOURN Budget Workshop 10/28/22 October 28, 2022 CITY OF SARATOGA SPRINGS Budget Workshop City Hall 3:00 PM PRESENT: Ron Kim, Mayor Minita Sanghvi, Commissioner of Finance Dillon Moran, Commissioner of Accounts (via Zoom) James Montagnino, Commissioner of Department of Public Safety STAFF PRESENT: Angela Rella, Deputy Mayor Heather Crocker, Deputy Commissioner, Finance Stacy Connors, Deputy Commissioner, Accounts (via Zoom) Jason Tetu, Deputy Commissioner, Department of Public Safety EXCUSED: Jason Golub, Commissioner of Department of Public Works Joe O’Neill, Deputy Commissioner, Department of Public Works 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 Kim called the meeting to order at 3:04 p.m. PUBLIC COMMENT Mayor Kim opened the public comment period at 3:05 p.m. No one spoke. Mayor Kim closed the public comment period at 3:05 p.m. Finance Department Mayor Kim read Commissioner Sanghvi’s opening statements (full statement attached) as Commissioner Sanghvi lost her voice. Page 2 of 4 Budget Workshop 10/28/22 Mayor Kim read that today’s meeting will focus on the Department of Public Safety with a presentation from the Police Department. The Finance Department requested each of the other departments to propose 10- 15% cuts from each of their respective departments. The Department of Public Safety did present substantial changes to their requested budget, which was used as a starting point. Their updated requested budget is $39,507,722.16. The Finance Department prioritized maintaining current staffing, trimmed lines for conference fees, office supplies, and other items. Funding was not provided in 2023 for positions that had not been filled in 2022. The critical priority of this budget is to ensure the safety of the citizens by prioritizing budgeting for the third fire station. Department of Public Safety Mayor Kim read that the Department of Public Safety accounts for 59% of the 2023 budget at $31,954,101.02. Chief Crooks presented the Police Department budget and focused on the negative impact of the Police Department if the comprehensive budget is passed. This budget defunds three currently vacant sergeant positions. Positions are not always filled right away if they are low on the other end of staffing levels, as they need staffing for inside and outside supervision. I also defunds a portion of the investigator lines, seven current officer positions, four dispatch positions, identification clerk, part time parking enforcement to assist during summer months, part time police cleaner, and cuts funding for track crossing guards. Chief Crooks provided the history and background regarding each position that will be defunded. Chief Crooks stated the 2022 budget funded for 80 sworn officers, which does not take into account that Saratoga Springs is a year round destination. This is a unique city with having the track, SPAC, and the racino bringing in over one million visitors per year. The Police Department doesn’t just police the residents. If this budget goes through, the Department will drop to 73 sworn officers. The police officers in the training process do not count towards the number of working officers. There is a 50% drop in applicants to take the civil service test and some don’t show to take the test. Some, if they make it through the background check, physical fitness test, polygraph test, and the interview, the candidate goes on to the psychological and medical – this is where they lose people. They can only hire a certain number at a time; it is a balance. Chief Crooks stated the City is approximately 29 square miles. If a major event were to happen, they would be easily overwhelmed. Chief Crooks explained how the City can run into not being able to meet contractual obligations, such as the uniform line was cut, the holiday pay was cut, and there are no funds in the line to cover retirement incentives. Cuts were made to lines that directly affect the Axon contract for police body cameras. If the line isn’t funded, they will lose their body cams and storage of that footage. The utilities lines are for the downtown cameras and if cut they will not be able to watch the cameras live to avoid issues. Cuts to the repair and maintenance of vehicles is less than the allowance for 2021; without vehicles, officers can’t get to calls. Additional cuts in lines such as prisoner meals, ammunition line, gas and oil, ballistic vests, etc. does not allow the department to meet legal requirements and purchase items required to do their job. Chief Crooks stated he would like to come up with a comprehensive budget that sets the Police Department up for success. Commissioner Sanghvi stated they will work with the department to best figure out their needs. She now has a better understanding of their needs. Commissioner Moran asked for a total number of cuts that was in the presentation alone. Chief Crooks stated he needs $400,000 just to maintain staffing. Commissioner Sanghvi stated she believes it is around $1.5 million dollars. Commissioner Montagnino stated it has been said the comprehensive budget does not cut existing staff but it does. Page 3 of 4 Budget Workshop 10/28/22 Chief Crooks stated it cuts three dispatchers and two police officers. Commissioner Montagnino stated he doesn’t see any change to the comprehensive budget when the statement read by the mayor states the Finance Department used the budget revised by the department as a starting point. Commissioner Sanghvi stated they used the budget submitted by Danielle Willard as a starting point. She thought Commissioner Montagnino was indicating there was another ‘changed’ budget. Commissioner Montagnino stated their amended budget as to the Police Department, the only change from 2022 to 2023 is the 2% increase mandated by the contractual arrangement and no fluff. There is more than the maximum amount in the unassigned fund that needs to be drawn down and should be used to fund lines to maintain services. Additional money will roll to unassigned funds for 2022 from the Police Department not having transferred money from unstaffed salary lines to any other line. Mayor Kim asked if the Police Department gets the 80 officers, does that include the traffic safety unit. Commissioner Montagnino stated it allows them to resurrect the traffic unit, which then creates revenue. Mayor Kim stated the City needs to figure out how to put the traffic unit back into service. Chief Crooks stated the City needs to retain the people they have and plan for long-term of what the City wants out of their police force. He is looking to maintain at least what they have. Commissioner Moran stated he is concerned about the comment ‘editorial choice’ made by Commissioner Sanghvi regarding which budget to use as a starting point for the Department of Public Safety. He is concerned about the message being circulated because it is not accurate. He asked Commissioner Sanghvi if they knew what they were cutting. He doesn’t feel the Council has accurate information or a true view of what is going on. He is not going to agree to an increase in taxes and a cut in services. Commissioner Sanghvi stated they looked at historical data over several years to see the actual usage. There is a $250,000 assignment set aside for the Axon contract. There was a change in the dispatchers’ salaries, which caused a discrepancy in the amount for the dispatchers. If the revenue is not there, there isn’t much she can do. ADJOURNMENT Commissioner Sanghvi moved and Commissioner Montagnino seconded to adjourn the meeting at 4:11 p.m. Ayes – All (Commissioner Moran, Commissioner Sanghvi, Commissioner Montagnino, and Mayor Kim) Nays - 0 Respectfully submitted, Lisa Ribis Secretary to the City Council Approved: 3/21/2023 Vote: 4 - 0 Page 4 of 4