Saratoga Springs officials outline 2026 budget shortfalls, propose paid-parking expansion and fee increases

Saratoga Springs City officials spent a budget workshop on rising costs for the Department of Public Works and the Recreation Department and on options to close a projected funding gap for the 2026 fiscal year. Presenters highlighted steep increases in benefits and equipment costs, recommended expanding paid parking and other fee increases, and discussed the limits of using reserves and fund balance.

Mayor Stafford told the council that health insurance, retirement and liability premiums and capital prices have jumped sharply and are outpacing revenue growth. “Health insurance have gone up about 26%. Retirement has gone up 89%. Liability insurance has gone up 188%,” Mayor Stafford said, adding that an ambulance that cost about $180,000 in 2019 now costs about $587,000. He said the city’s revenues have not kept pace with those cost increases and urged departments to evaluate fees and other revenue sources.

The workshop focused on three linked themes: (1) operating pressures in DPW, (2) Recreation Department requests to expand programming while offsetting costs, and (3) where to find one-time or recurring revenue to reduce reliance on fund balance.

Why it matters: DPW provides essential services — snow removal, street repairs, event support and facility maintenance — and Recreation runs popular programs that generate revenue. Both departments…