For a taxpayer with a home at an assessed value of $200,000, this is an increase of $8.61 in 2012, to a total of $1,221.41.
Ivins, who said that this was “one of the smoothest budget processes” since he took office, noted greater than expected sales tax revenues, restoration of video lottery terminal funds from the state and a smaller rise in health care costs than expected as some of the significant factors in keeping the tax rate increase low. He also noted that the rate increase could go even lower as more actual 2011 numbers come in before the deadline to pass the budget.
Unlike previous years, there were no layoffs contemplated in the 2012 budget, however, a casino reservation coordinator position in the department of public works, which was just established during the last council meeting on September 20, was left unfunded. There does not appear to be any significant revenue assumptions used to bring the budget into balance as well.
The entire budget is scheduled to be posted on the city’s website (www.saratoga-springs.org) by the end of the week. There will be public hearings on the budget before the council meetings on October 18 and November 15. Between November 1 and November 30, the council can amend and/or vote on the budget. If the council does not pass a budget by November 30, the comprehensive budget presented on Tuesday becomes the budget for 2012.
In other council news:
- Following a discussion and public comment, the council unanimously voted to authorize Mayor Scott Johnson to send an extension of the Time Warner franchise agreement to the state Public Service Commission, which is the next step required in the process. The agreement, which is non-exclusive, extends Time Warner’s franchise for 10 years; the city will receive the maximum franchise fee of five percent of revenues, although the base services upon which this fee is calculated will be expanded somewhat, which should increase the city’s annual revenue by about $25,000 per year. The mayor noted that franchise fee revenues are passed onto Time Warner customers in the city on their cable bills. A senior citizen discount on some cable rates was retained in this new agreement.
- The mayor announced the launching of a new website for the Saratoga Springs Visitor Center(www.saratogaspringsvisitorcenter.org), which is designed to be adaptable for mobile devices and other user-friendly applications.
- The mayor re-appointed Jamin Totino to the planning board.
Mr. Totino was formerly vice-chairman of the board. The mayor also appointed attorney Gillian A. Hirsch to the zoning board of appeals.
- Following public comments by advocate Charlie Samuels and discussion by the council, the council decided to request the risk and safety committee in the accounts department to re-visit the issues which led to the bowl in the East Side Recreation Field’s skate park to be filled with dirt last year. Issues that were factors in the decision to fill the bowl at that time included budget, potential liability and effectively combating graffiti. The Saratoga Springs School Board, which owns the land where the skate park is located, will also be asked for guidance.
