Saratoga County Approves$432 Million Annual Budget for 2025 

BALLSTON SPA — The Saratoga County Board of Supervisors approved the county’s $432 million budget for 2025, following a vote during a special meeting at the county complex in Ballston Spa on Dec. 10.  

The 2025 spending plan is up from $410.1 million budget adopted for this year, and the $378.3 million budget adopted for 2023.  

The County’s 2025 budget reduces the property tax rate for the fourth consecutive year, and “maintaining its position as having the lowest property tax rate of all 55 upstate counties,” according to the county. The sales tax revenue projection for 2025 is $170 million. 

That sales tax projection is a conservative one, according to the board “as the County saw a slower growth rate during the second half of 2024, a trend which officials expect to continue in 2025.”  

The Board also authorized on Dec. 10 a variety of agreements to take effect Jan. 1, 2025 appropriating funds for a variety of public benefit organizations. These include: Heritage Tourism services provided by Saratoga County History Center ($5,000), The Friends of the Ulysses S. Grant Cottage, Inc. ($5,000), and Campaign for Saratoga 250th, Inc. ($325,000); Economic Development and/or marketing services provided by Saratoga Convention & Tourism Bureau, Inc. AKA Discover Saratoga ($400,000); Saratoga Economic Development Corporation ($325,000); Capital Region Chamber of Commerce, Inc.  – formerly known as the Chamber of Southern Saratoga County ($60,000), Saratoga Performing Arts Center, Inc. ($105,000), and Saratoga County Prosperity Partnership, Inc., as well as $26,000 to the Saratoga County Agricultural Society for County Fair advertising. 

Additionally, the Board set a public hearing for Jan. 15, 2025 in advance of a proposed Local Law to amend the 2025 County compensation schedule to provide a salary and cost-of-living increase for certain county officials. 

That 2025 compensation proposal specifies increases for the following County Officials to the following levels, effective Jan. 1, 2025: ELECTED OFFICIALS – Susan Hayes-Masa, Coroner $42,723; David DeCelle, Coroner $42,723; Craig Hayner, County Clerk $136,262; Michael Zurlo, Sheriff $155,962. 

APPOINTED OFFICIALS – Lauren Roberts, Historian $78,602; Matthew Maiello, Conflict Defender $121,416; George Conway, County Attorney $159,616; John Warmt, Director of Purchasing $107,633; Scot Chamberlain, Director of Human Resources $142,203; Daniel Kuhles, Commissioner of Public Health $221,103; Andrew Blumenberg, Public Defender $155,847; Anna Stanko, Director of Real Property Tax Services $104,310; Patrick Maxwell, Commissioner of Social Services $142,203, and Chad Cooke, Commissioner of Public Works $163,319. 

The 2025 adopted budget may be viewed in its entirety as a 133-page document at: saratogacountyny.gov. On the main page under GOVERNMENT, click on BUDGETS, then click on 2025 ADOPTED BUDGET.