Saratoga Springs finance presentation lays out 2026 'comp' budget, proposes revenue options and cuts to nonprofits

Finance Commissioner Minita opened a presentation on the city’s 2026 comprehensive budget, saying rising retirement, insurance and health-care costs have made previously sustainable spending levels no longer tenable. "We have seen a, 89% increase in retirement, a 188% increase in liability insurance," Minita said during the meeting, and noted health insurance rises of about 27% and higher capital costs for vehicles: an ambulance bought in 2019 for about $180,000 was bonded in 2025 for $587,000, which Minita characterized as an increase of roughly 226%.

Minita told the council the comp budget currently assumes a 2% property tax increase but outlined an option that would allow up to a 4.5% increase because the city did not increase taxes last year; she said that the larger tax cap would add roughly $620,000 to the budget. She also described removing a 2.25% early-payment property tax discount (per the charter) as another revenue source, which she estimated would add about $280,000. "The 620,000 essentially add up to $900,000," she said, and described one example allocation: DPS would receive roughly $500,000, DPW about $180,000, finance…