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Ogdensburg controller presents fiscal 2025 first‑quarter update; sewer revenue lags
Summary
City Controller Angela Gray told the Ogdensburg City Council that first‑quarter 2025 revenues were close to last year overall, with a roughly $50,000 shortfall in sewer fund receipts and early spending pressures in utilities and certain contracts.
City Controller Angela Gray presented the City of Ogdensburg’s fiscal 2025 first‑quarter financial report at the council meeting and described small year‑to‑date revenue variances and several timing issues in expenses.
Gray said the packet included four reports and walked council through revenue comparisons by fund, budget reports by expense code and department, and an expense‑type breakdown. “Included in your packet this evening are 4 reports, and I would just like to take a couple moments and walk you through each 1 of them,” Gray said.
Gray reported the general fund showed a year‑to‑date variance of about $33,000 compared with the same period in 2024. She described the water fund as essentially flat, noting a $425 increase year‑over‑year through the first quarter, and said the sewer fund was showing a revenue shortfall of about $50,000, which she tied to the fund’s significant debt payment that is due early in the year.
The controller pointed to several explainable items in the underlying detail: code‑enforcement revenue now shows fines and two demolitions that together contributed to the revenue lines; the SPCA contract of $16,000 has already received about $8,000 in the first quarter; and some service contracts are paid early in the fiscal year, which depresses the percent remaining in certain department budgets. Gray also flagged utilities costs—“heat, lights, and electric”—as an area running ahead of budget and under ongoing review.
Councilors asked questions about a sharp increase in snow removal costs and about the timing of specific accounts. Gray deferred one operational question to the Department of Public Works director, noting that some storm or snow events can create one‑time spikes in costs. City Manager Bonnie confirmed the council would receive this fiscal packet monthly and would receive a deeper quarterly presentation going forward.
Gray and councilors emphasized timing as the principal driver of many line‑item variances and said they would continue monitoring the sales tax and other revenue sources. The city manager told the council staff had already warned members about potential sales‑tax weakness driven in part by declines in cross‑border (Canadian) shopping.
The controller and city manager recommended continued monitoring and said no immediate corrective actions were necessary based on the first‑quarter snapshot, but that certain categories would be watched as the year progressed.
Ending
Councilors thanked Gray and city staff for the new monthly and quarterly reporting; the materials will remain part of the council packet and will be the basis for periodic fiscal briefings.
