Author: Saratoga TODAY

There will be Five Statewide Proposals on Election Ballots in 2021. This is Ballot Proposal 4:

Authorizing No-Excuse Absentee Ballot Voting

The proposed amendment would delete from the current provision on absentee ballots the requirement that an absentee voter must be unable to appear at the polls by reason of absence from the county or illness or physical disability. Shall the proposed amendment be approved?

Explanation: The purpose of this proposal is to eliminate the requirement that a voter provide a reason for voting by absentee ballot. The proposed amendment would do so by deleting the requirement currently in the Constitution that restricts absentee voting to people under one of two specific circumstances: (1) those who expect to be absent from the county of their residence, or from New York City for residents of that city, on Election Day, and (2) those who are unable to appear at their polling place because of illness or physical disability.

BALLSTON SPA – Saratoga County officials this week released the tentative 2022 County Budget. 

Highlights of the proposed $381 million budget include more than $4 million in new investments in the Sheriff’s and District Attorney’s offices – for body cameras, judicial discovery laws, officer training, and mandated jail programs, and more than $3 million to support health and human services initiatives and the county’s Public Health Services department’s transition to a full-service Department of Health.

Additional items include: $5 million in community support grants and $1 million to economic development and tourism for the county.

Approximately $141 million is anticipated in sales tax receipts by year’s end, to be used as the baseline sales tax revenue figure for 2022. 

The 2022 budget also anticipates a slight decrease in the property tax rate without exceeding the state’s property tax cap. The county will hold a budget workshop Nov. 10, a Public Hearing on the budget is scheduled for Nov. 30. It is anticipated the budget adoption date will be Dec. 8. 

“On the revenue side, it appears the county is going to have approximately $9 million more in sales tax for 2021. This is mostly dependent on the rising costs in goods and fuel, and we’re also starting to see the benefit of collecting sales tax from online purchases as more and more people buy goods online,” Saratoga Springs Supervisor Matt Veitch said. 

“On the expense side, we’re going to increase our Open Space funding to $400,000 and we’re increasing our Trails funding to $150,000. We do have $25 million in Capital projects, which is substantially higher than we’ve had in the past.   

“We did have $35,000 in there for the Saratoga Performing Arts Center – which has not been founded for a long time from the county – and requests for $30,000 for the Military Museum, $250,000 for the Saratoga Springs City Center for lost revenue, and $300,000 for assistance for the third fire station,” said Veitch, regarding budget requests for Saratoga Springs sites specifically. 

City Supervisor Tara Gaston said while pleased with the budget, she does have some concerns, and requested the public actively attend upcoming budget workshops. “This budget allocates $4 million to the Sheriff’s Department, and only $3 million for the expansion of the Public Health services. I think (Public Health) has been an under-resourced and under-funded department for a long time, and especially as we’re now moving to full-service, we need more funding there. The county is in general a good financial state, so it doesn’t make sense to not do that.” 

As part of the multi-million Capital Budget for 2022, the Long-Range Capital Planning Committee in September authorized the option of a Capital Facilities bond to fund up to $12 million in proposed capital investments to spread the county’s costs over 10 years. Specific projects include highway equipment and maintenance, bridge upgrades, and facilities improvements. 

The budget includes nearly $5 million in community support grants, including a new $2 million non-profit grant program, which will assist organizations in need to recover from the pandemic.

At its monthly board meeting Oct. 19, the county Board of Supervisors authorized the acceptance of just over $645,000 in COVID-19 Vaccine Response grant funding in state aid, from the New York State Department of Health. The funding period is Jan. 1, 2021 through June 30, 2024 and aims to increase COVID-19 vaccine administration equity, and to implement vaccine confidence strategies for COVID-19 and routine vaccinations. 

To view the 2022 Tentative Budget and County Administrator’s Budget Message visit: www.saratogacountyny.gov 

SARATOGA SPRINGS — A proposed ordinance to adopt a new chapter of the City Code, entitled “Community Police Board,” was tabled by Public Safety Commissioner Robin Dalton at the meeting of the City Council on Oct. 19. 

The proposal calls for the establishment of a five-member citizen board to act as a liaison between the community and the Police Department. Those five members would be chosen by each of the members of the City Council. 

“We have received some really good feedback on it and there are some changes we will be making,” explained Commissioner Dalton. 

In advance of the council meeting, Lexis Figuereo, a leader of Black Lives Matter Saratoga, spoke outside City Hall in opposition of the proposal as it currently stands, calling it lacking in substantive “teeth and power,” and citing a specific absence of subpoena powers and investigate powers as particularly troubling. 

Later in the evening, the council unanimously approved a resolution set forth by Finance Commissioner Michele Madigan to establish a $250,000 “assignment” to fund recommendations and initiatives adopted by council in response to the Police Reform Task Force. An assignment is a set-aside of cash which the council can subsequently vote to bring into the budget and make available for use, Madigan explained. “We’ll work with the Police Department and the Commissioner of Public Safety to assist them with their needs as we start to cost things out from the Police Reform Task Force.” 

Earlier this year, the council voted to adopt most, but not all of the 50-points of the plan submitted by the ad hoc Saratoga Springs Police Reform Task Force. It deemed the implementation of a Civilian Review Board, or CRB, as requiring further review. That review concluded late last month with an update regarding the formation of a potential city Civilian Review Board provided to the council by Jason Golub, who summarized: “I think there is plenty of evidence that a Civilian Review Board will add value to our community. I think it protects civilians, I think it protects police, I think it adds transparency and accountability.”

Golub said securing the support and involvement of police and political leaders, ensuring the board is comprised of credible and impartial members, and setting appropriate funding that would secure budgetary needs over multiple years.

*Cannabis Legislation: Cities in New York have until Dec. 31 to opt-out of potentially siting dispensaries, and/or on-site consumption facilities as it relates to a local cannabis industry in their respective communities. 

To opt out, a Local Law would need to be adopted and public hearings held in advance of a Local Law, so any move to opt-out would need to be conducted sooner rather than later. Municipalities must opt out to not be a part of the measure moving forward. If interested in permitting marijuana retailers and/or social consumption sites, the city need not do anything. 

Financial ramifications: a 4% local tax is to be imposed if the city allows the measure to move forward –3% would come to the city of Saratoga Springs, and 1% would go to the county.

The city is asking residents to weigh in, and city Attorney Vince DeLeonardis said while the city has thus far received only about a dozen comments, “of those comments we have received, I can indicate that a 3-to-1 margin were in favor of ultimately allowing dispensaries and on-site consumption facilities in the city of Saratoga Springs.” 

The public is invited to submit comments to the City Council regarding adult-use cannabis retail dispensaries, or on-site consumption facilities in Saratoga Springs. These are two separate entities. Comments to the Mayor and all Commissioners should be emailed to public.comment@saratoga-springs.org with the subject line “Cannabis.”

• The first Public Hearing of the city’s 2022 proposed $54 million comprehensive budget was held Oct. 19. There were no public speakers. The council will continue to host budget workshops, and a second public hearing is anticipated to take place in November. 

• Due to Election Day falling on Tuesday, Nov. 2, the next meeting of the City Council was moved and will take place Monday, Nov. 1. 

• The council approved a resolution brought forward by Accounts Commissioner John Franck to extend temporary outdoor seating areas to Nov. 30, 2021. The current extension, approved on July 6, was due to expire Oct. 30. 

• Resolution In Memory of William E. Benton III, a lifelong resident of Saratoga Springs who died on Oct. 12. “Billy’s sudden passing has brought great sadness to the many Saratogians who regarded him as a friend and colleague,” said Mayor Meg Kelly, who cited Benton as “a kind and generous man who loved his family, his friends, and his community. In one of his more recent contributions to our city, he brought his talent and knowledge to City Hall when it was threatened by water damage after a lightning strike. His quick action and organization helped to prevent further damage, and he made a critical difference in the preservation of this historic building.”

•Approval of Resolution Recommending the Saratoga Springs School District Rename the East Side Recreation Major Field in Honor of William J. McNeary, III. McNeary, who died in 2011, was remembered “for all the countless hours he spent improving facilities and raising funds so all youngsters could have the opportunity to participate in sporting events (his) time and energy is in evidence at the baseball diamonds in East Side Recreation Park (and his) dedicated service to his community make it fitting and appropriate for the City and School District to remember him and his family, to mark his passing and to honor his memory.”