Ballston Spa trustees approve fiscal 2025–26 budget after contentious debate

The Village of Ballston Spa Board of Trustees voted 3–2 April 28 to adopt the final budget for the fiscal year beginning June 1, 2025, and ending May 31, 2026, following an extended debate about reserve funds, alleged “padding” of department lines and the board’s involvement in the workshop process.

The vote followed public comments urging greater transparency and several trustees pressing the mayor to move planned capital funding into formal reserve accounts rather than listing large amounts inside operating lines.

The budget includes a capital plan that Mayor Frank Rossi described in his executive summary as a roughly $12,500,000 list of contemplated projects. Trustee Price Bush said the budget was “bloated” and criticized specific line-item increases she said had been added by the mayor rather than requested by departments. “As I stated in the budget workshop, I am not comfortable with the way that we are setting aside reserve funds. I think they should be put in the reserve fund,” Price Bush said during debate.

Mayor Frank Rossi defended the timing and content of the tentative budget and the workshop process, saying he had presented the tentative budget as his responsibility and that workshops were the trustees’ opportunity to convene and propose changes. “I presented a tentative budget as is my responsibility, and my job from there is only to facilitate a workshop,” Rossi said.

Trustees and public commenters pressed several related points during the discussion: - Several residents and speakers at public comment urged use of formal reserve funds rather than running large operating-line “rollovers” at year-end. - A public commenter and a trustee criticized the administration for scheduling the public hearing and the budget workshop dates in a way that limited trustees’ ability to propose changes before the public hearing closed. - Trustee Price Bush cited line‑item differences between department requests and mayoral allocations for several fire-related and sidewalk items and said the mayor had added transfers she characterized as “padding” for equipment reserves.

After discussion, the board took a roll-call vote. The record shows the motion to approve the attached proposed final budget carried by a 3–2 margin. The board then moved to implement rate and fee changes that are tied to the adopted budget (see separate coverage of water and sewer rates).

Why it matters: The budget sets operating and capital priorities for the village for the coming year, affects the property tax levy (the board debated a levy increase above the state tax cap), and determines the village’s immediate ability to fund infrastructure projects including sidewalks, the library, and fire equipment.

What happens next: The budget passed at the meeting will be implemented for fiscal 2025–26. Trustees and staff said they will continue work to formalize reserve funds and to move identified capital dollars into designated capital/project accounts where legally and practically feasible.

Votes at the meeting and related actions are recorded separately in the board’s official minutes.