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Council hears amended 2025 budget; proposal to raise property taxes fails
Summary
Council reviewed an amended 2025 budget that trims some projected costs and reallocates health-insurance savings; a motion to raise property taxes (up to 2% under the state cap) to cover public-safety overtime and other shortfalls failed after lengthy debate.
The Saratoga Springs City Council heard a full presentation of the amended 2025 budget and debated whether to increase property taxes to close department funding gaps. The finance presentation said the comprehensive budget rose slightly from $62,590,000 to $62,600,000 and described revenue and spending assumptions that left certain departments short on overtime and program needs.
Speaker 9, who presented the budget, summarized the change in totals: “The comp budget, was 62,590,000. Our amended budget comes at 62,600,000.” The presentation credited lower-than-expected health-insurance costs for producing roughly $1.6 million in savings that were reallocated across departments, and it flagged a likely need to add funding in 2026 when a federal SAFER grant for firefighters ends. Finance also recommended a public hearing on the amended budget on Nov. 19.
Council members pressed for options to cover immediate shortfalls. Commissioner 12 proposed a motion to raise property taxes by up to 2% (below the state cap) to shore up public-safety overtime and other critical holes; the motion was seconded and discussed at length, with supporters arguing the overtime exposure and essential services justify a modest increase and opponents urging patience for new local revenues from short-term-rental and licensing changes. The motion did not pass on the council floor.
The council approved other budget-related procedural items and set next steps: a public hearing on the amended budget is scheduled for Nov. 19 and the body will revisit specific transfers or additional revenue options, including short-term-rental licensing and other local fees. No final adoption of the amended budget occurred in this session.
