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Author: Thomas Dimopoulos

Saratoga County Unveils $432 Million Tentative Budget For 2025

Written by Thomas Dimopoulos on . Posted in Featured, News.

BALLSTON SPA — Saratoga County officials have proposed a $432 million budget for 2025, up from $410.1 million budget adopted for this year, and the $378.3 million budget adopted for 2023.  

The County’s 2025 tentative 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 statement, released on Nov. 6.  

Budget Workshops are slated to take place this month with a proposed Public Hearing tentatively slated to take place Dec. 3 and proposed budget adoption on Dec. 11.  

The tentative $432 million budget:

-Keeps the levy within the state’s property tax cap and reduces the property tax rate by 5%. Tax rate: $1.87 per $1,000 of assessed value. This equates to a 15% reduction in the property tax rate over the past four years. 

– Sales tax revenue projection for 2025: $170 million. The conservative projection comes as the County saw a slower growth rate during the second half of 2024, a trend which officials expect to continue in 2025. 

“In the face of higher inflation, unfunded mandates, and a sluggish economy, the 2025 tentative budget is a testament that Saratoga County’s conservative fiscal practices and responsible spending choices that help to maintain the County’s low property tax rate while also delivering robust programs and services our residents rely on,” Saratoga Springs Supervisor and Saratoga County Board of Supervisors Vice Chairman Matthew Veitch said in a statement. 

In 2025, unfunded state and federal mandates will cost Saratoga County more than $80 million.  According to the county release: This is more than the county’s share of the property tax levy, requiring 100% of the County property tax to be allocated to unfunded mandates, which includes Medicaid, temporary assistance, early intervention, among many others. The burden of unfunded mandates was further strained in 2024 when the State shifted federal Medicaid Assistance Percentage payments from localities to its own coffers. 

-Saratoga County continues to invest in its public safety workforce, welcoming more than 30 new deputies over the past 12 months and ensuring ongoing funding for key training initiatives for seasoned staff as well as new hires. These efforts supported in the 2025 budget will ensure first responders have the necessary skills and equipment to respond to man-made or natural disasters, such as the July 2024 tornado in the towns of Edinburg and Day, as well as day-to-day public safety matters.  

-The 2025 tentative budget prioritizes: resources for health and human services initiatives and programs, funding and staffing for social services programs residents of all ages depend on, including early intervention, child welfare, foster care, Medicaid, and temporary assistance. In 2025, the County will also continue to pursue a permanent Code Blue Shelter location to help address homelessness. 

-The proposed budget also continues the County’s commitment to veterans. With the largest veteran population in the Capital District, Saratoga County’s proposed 2025 budget provides support for the PFC Joseph P. Dwyer Peer Support program, which helps veterans re-assimilate to civilian life. 

-Saratoga County continues to support youth and families through funding for programs that encourage youth to abstain from drugs, alcohol, tobacco, and vaping. This includes welcoming back its special speaker’s series for school districts, which addresses addiction and empowers students to choose abstinence.  The tentative budget also provides for increased funding for the Adolescent Tobacco Use Prevention Act (ATUPA) program to prevent the sale of tobacco products, electronic cigarettes, and accessories to anyone under the age of 21. 

-Environmental health expansion: the 2025 tentative budget provides for a funding increase of more than $1 million for the Department of Health for technology upgrades including a new online payment and permitting system and clean water supply testing equipment. 

-Elections security and integrity initiatives: to ensure safe and secure elections across Saratoga County, investments include equipment upgrades, including new voting machines, and staff training. 

-Commitment to preserving open space: maintaining its partnership with Saratoga PLAN as land manager for the Graphite Range Community Forest and with its expansion of the popular Zim Smith Trail, which sees more than 300,000 travelers annually. 

-Economic development: partnerships with organizations such as SEDC and Discover Saratoga as well as support of the 250th Anniversary of the Battles of Saratoga commemoration and the Belmont Stakes at Saratoga. 

For more information, to view the budget brief, and to read the full 2025 tentative budget, visit https://www.saratogacountyny.gov/county-budgets/.

Proposal 1: New York State, Saratoga County Approve Equal Rights Amendment 

Written by Thomas Dimopoulos on . Posted in News.

SARATOGA SPRINGS —Proposal One, which amends the state constitution to extend protection against unequal treatment in New York, was overwhelmingly approved by state voters. 

Ballot Proposal 1 garnered nearly 4.5 million votes in favor, to just under 2.8 votes against.  

In Saratoga County 65,058 voted in favor to 56,888 against, according to the NY State Board of Elections. 

In counties located in proximity to Saratoga, voters in Albany, Rensselaer and Schenectady also favored the proposal, while those in Warren and Washington counties voted against it.     

While the state constitution offers protection against unequal treatment based on race, color, creed, and religion, the amendment specifically extends protections “against unequal treatment based on ethnicity, national origin, age, disability, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, pregnancy, and pregnancy outcomes, as well as reproductive healthcare and autonomy.” 

Election ’24: Familiar Faces Return to Represent Saratoga County

Written by Thomas Dimopoulos on . Posted in Featured, News.

SARATOGA SPRINGS —Several political leaders familiar to area residents respectively secured newly elected terms this week. 

In races specific to Saratoga, incumbent U.S. Rep. Paul Tonko (D, WF) defeated challenger Kevin Waltz (R,C) in the 20th Congressional District – which represents the majority of Saratoga County, and more than 140,000 county voters. Tonko was elected to the U.S. House in 2008 to represent District 21, which he served to 2013, and since 2013 has representing New York’s 20th Congressional District. Tonko secured the majority of votes both – in the overall multi-county district (58.6% – 37.7%), and among Saratoga County voters (53.5% – 43.1%). 

Newly redistricted this year, the 21st Congressional District represents northern Saratoga County and the northeastern edge of the county (more than 40,000 voters), which includes including the towns of Saratoga, Greenfield and Moreau, among others in their entirety, as well as a portion of Wilton.     

In the 21st District Elise Stefanik (R,C) secured her sixth term in a victory over challenger Paula Collins (D,WF), emerging victorious in both the overall district (60.3% – 36.5%), and among Saratoga County voters (57.3% – 39.8%).     

Incumbent State Sen. James Tedisco (R,C) was re-elected to the 44th District over challenger Minita Sanghvi (D,WF) 56.1% to 40.2% . Sanghvi is currently city Finance Commissioner and member of the City Council in Saratoga Springs. 

Incumbent Democratic Assemblywoman Carrie Woerner was re-elected to the 113th District, by defeating Jeremy Messina (R,C), and Republican Mary Beth Walsh, of the 112th Assembly District, bested Democrat Joe Seeman.  

Interim County Treasurer JoAnn Kupferman (R) was elected to a full term, defeating longtime city Finance Commissioner and current Saratoga Springs Supervisor Michele Madigan (D) 56 – 43 in the Saratoga County Treasurer race.  

More than 125,000 – nearly 70% of Saratoga County’s registered voters – cast a ballot in the 2024 election.  

Donald Trump secured a second term as U.S. President.  Overall in New York State, Kamala Harris/ Tim Walz (D, WF) received more than one million votes more than Donald Trump/ JD Vance (R,C) in the Presidential race  (54.65% to 43.25%).

The Harris/Walz ticket garnered a slight majority of the votes – 49.71% to 48.49% – among Saratoga County voters, a difference of just over 1,500 votes.  

In the race for U.S. Senator, incumbent Kirsten Gillibrand (D, WF) defeated challengers Michael Sapraicone (R,C) and independent candidate Diane Sare. 

Saratoga County sited six polling locations for nine days of Early Voting. Early voting accounted for one-third of all ballots cast in Saratoga County for the 2024 election.  

Note, all tallies are unofficial results and likely to change. The deadlines for the Board of Elections to receive absentee/ early mail ballots by mail is Nov. 12 and military/ special federal by mail is Nov. 18. Official Election results are anticipated Nov. 30, and Election certification on Dec. 9, according to the Saratoga County Board of Elections.                           

Saratoga County by The Numbers

Total Registered voters: 181,203. 

Total Votes 2024: 125,688.

Saratoga County ranks 16th highest of NY State’s 62 counties in number of active registered voters.   

By Party: Republican (35.3%), Democratic (29.4%),
No Party (29.0%), Independent & all others (6.3%). 

Presidential Race: Harris/Walz – 63,852 votes (49.71%),
to Trump/Vance 62,278 votes (48.49%). 

Previously – 2016: Donald Trump over Hillary Clinton (54,575-50,913). 2020: Joe Biden over Donald Trump (68,471-61,305).   

Ballots Cast – Early Voting: just over 41,700.
Election Day: just over 83,900. 

City Issues RFP for Homeless Shelter Services – Bids To Be Opened Nov. 12

Written by Thomas Dimopoulos on . Posted in News.

SARATOGA SPRINGS —A Request For Proposal (RFP) for homeless shelter services has been issued by the city seeking qualified nonprofit organizations to operate a temporary low-barrier homeless shelter in Saratoga Springs. 

According to the RFP, the contractor selected would provide a temporary shelter to individuals experiencing homelessness and provide access to at least two meals a day, advocacy services, staff to manage the program and welcome guests 24 hours a day/7 days a week.  

Funding for the operation of the program by the Contractor will be provided by the City of Saratoga Springs, to be supplemented by fundraising activities conducted by the Contractor – who would provide at least 15% of its proposed operating budget to supplement the program delivery budget of city funding. 

The proposed temporary low-barrier shelter is sought as an interim solution and the city anticipates awarding a 12 month contract. 

The deadline for sealed bids is 2 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 12, at which time those received will be opened and publicly read.   

Early Voting In Saratoga County Returns Nearly 25% of All Registered Voter Ballots  

Written by Thomas Dimopoulos on . Posted in News.

BALLSTON SPA— Nearly one of every four registered voters in Saratoga County cast their ballot during the nine-day Early Voting period that took place Oct. 26-Nov. 3 at six county polling locations.   

State lawmakers approved the change to the state’s election law in 2019, and the first activated Presidential race when the system was used in New York was in 2020, when COVID was a major concern. 

The unofficial tallies of the nine days of Early Voting in Saratoga County indicate a total of 41,769 votes. 

That breakdown by party: 

Registered Democratic Party: 15,002. 

Registered Republican Party: 14,456.

Registered as unaffiliated with any Party (NoP): 9,687.

The remaining 2,600-plus votes are from those registered with all other third or independent. 

The nine days of Early Voting took place Oct. 26 – Nov. 3. Each day had more than 4,000 voters. The busiest day was Day 9 – Sunday, Nov. 3, when more than 5,100 votes were cast. 

Note, the figures showcase voters by their registered party, not the candidate they voted for.

Voter Registration Up 16.6% in Saratoga County Since 2016: Dems, “Blank” See Biggest Growth

Written by Thomas Dimopoulos on . Posted in News.

BALLSTON SPA — There are just over 177,000 registered active voters in Saratoga County according to the most recent state Board of Election statistics, up from 169,000 registered voters during the 2020 election, and just under 152,000 in 2016. 

That 16.6% increase of overall county registered voters during the past eight years – up more than 25,000 in actual numbers – has also led to a fluctuation in party affiliation. 

Voters registering with the Democratic Party, and those registering to vote with NO Party affiliation, or “blanks,” have seen the largest growth.   

Saratoga County voters registered with the Democratic Party has grown by 29.4% – up nearly 12,000 since 2016, whereas members registered with the Republican Party has increased by 3.5% – an increase of just over 2,100 voters in that same time. 

Voter registration with the Conservative Party has grown by about 785, and the Working Families Party by about 125. Voters registered with “other” parties has decreased by nearly 1,700, while “blanks” – that is registered voters with No Party affiliation – has increased by more than 12,000 voters, a growth of more than 30%.      

In the 2016 Presidential Election, Donald Trump/ Mike Pence received 54,575 votes from Saratoga County voters, compared to 50,913 received by Hillary Clinton/ Tim Kaine. 

In 2020, the Joe Biden/ Kamala Harris ticket received 68,471 (51.62%) county votes, against 61,305 (46.21%) votes by the incumbent Donald Trump/ Mike Pence (R,C) campaign. 

For the past several years running, the presidential candidate receiving the most votes in Saratoga County has also secured the White House.    

County Registered Voters and Party Affiliation, according to the NYS Board of Elections 2024   

Saratoga County Active Registered Voters

Democrat – 52,331 

Republican – 62,874

Blank / No Party – 50,217

Other – 8,019

Conservative – 3,208

Working Families – 575

Total – 177,214

Council Seat Filled: Hank Kuczynski Appointed on Interim Basis, But May Complete Full DPW Term

Written by Thomas Dimopoulos on . Posted in Featured, News.


Hank Kuczynski at City Hall on Oct. 29, 2024, just after being sworn-in as Commissioner of Public Works.
Photo by Thomas Dimopoulos.

SARATOGA SPRINGS —And now they are five. 

The four currently serving members of the Saratoga Springs City Council unanimously approved the appointment of Hank Kuczynski as interim Commissioner of Public Works, during a pre-scheduled Finance Department budget workshop attended by about one dozen people at City Hall Oct. 29.

The position – which is both departmental and legislative – has been vacant for two-and-a-half months, and Kuczynski will “stay on as long as he needs to,” Mayor John Safford said. 

That service period may be as brief as 13 weeks – which would include six regular meetings of the council, which is now in its budget season – or somewhat longer. 

Earlier this month the council approved a resolution to request a “special” election be held Tuesday, Jan. 28, 2025 to elect a Commissioner of Public Works/City Council member to complete the term through Dec. 31, 2025, identical to the term of the other four currently held City Council seats. 

County Board of Elections approval of that Jan. 28 date, however, has yet to move forward with Saratoga County Republican Election Commissioner Joseph Suhrada saying he had “three points of concern” related to the matter – legal, practical and financial. That first concern seems to have been satisfied this week.   

“The Attorney General sent back a letter a couple of days ago which says: seems like it is (legal),” Suhrada said on Oct. 30, “so that removes that issue.” He said his other concerns were utilizing the new incoming voting machines with “a steep learning curve” and the city of Saratoga Springs paying the costs associated with the January election, which he estimated at $40,000 to $50,000.

Saratoga Springs Accounts Commissioner and City Assessor Dillon Moran countered that given the tax revenue the city of Saratoga Springs forwards the county, the finances ought be the county’s responsibility, and that the long-standing voting machines currently in use could be used for the special election. 

At its monthly meeting on Sept. 17, the Saratoga County Board of Supervisors approved the purchase of 241 new voting machines and associated equipment from Clear Ballot Group, Inc. at a total cost of $1.76 million to replace the voting machines currently in use. The county board resolution states the new machines will be in operation for six years and cites a purchase agreement commencing Sept. 18, 2024, but does not appear to signal an implementation date associated with their use, only that “the County Board of Elections need to replace the fleet of voting machines currently in use.”  Suhrada noted that this week’s election is utilizing the long-standing equipment, and that the new machines have yet to arrive.   

Attorney Sarah Burger, founding member of the multi-practice law firm Burger Law Group, and former Saratoga Springs city attorney, is anticipated to be the Democratic Party candidate for DPW Commissioner.     

Chuck Marshall, who works as director of real estate at Stewart’s Shops and as chairman of the Saratoga Springs Planning Board, is anticipated to be the Republican Party candidate for DPW Commissioner. 

UPDATED NOV. 6: A measure to approve the Special Election Calendar was pulled, and indications are that Hank Kuczynski – originally appointed on an interim basis – may be seated for the duration of the term through 2025.    

Hank Kuczynski Approved as Interim Commissioner of Public Works

Kuczynski, whose wife and grandchildren were present for his appointment as interim DPW Commissioner/ City Council member Oct. 29, had previously served as city deputy mayor. In late 2001, then-Saratoga Springs Mayor Ken Klotz appointed Kuczynski as the first deputy mayor in the city’s history. 

The Commissioner of Public Works is departmentally responsible for oversight of Saratoga Springs’ street and highway maintenance, its buildings and grounds, and for ensuring that the water system provides sufficient quantities of safe potable water, among other duties. 

The position also plays a role in the legislative body of city government by placing the commissioner at the City Council table. The Council proposes and enacts legislation and establishes policy for the city. The mayor and four commissioners form the five-member City Council, and having five members is key in potentially acting as a tiebreaking vote in any deadlocked city-related decisions at the table where majority rules.    Prior DPW Commissioner Jason Golub announced his pending resignation in mid-July with a departure date in mid-August. 

Paid Parking in Spa City: Here To Stay, or Gone Tomorrow?  

Written by Thomas Dimopoulos on . Posted in Featured, News.

SARATOGA SPRINGS —More than two dozen downtown business owners convened at City Hall last week to meet with city Mayor John Safford. The group of entrepreneurs largely expressed displeasure with the inaugural paid parking system the city implemented during the summer season, and pointed to the paid parking plan as a cause for lost sales revenue while requesting its planned return for summer 2025 be terminated. 

How successful their plea was, has yet to be determined, however.    

“We are asking that the paid parking program in Saratoga Springs be halted,” said John Nemjo, owner of Saratoga Outdoors and Life is Good Saratoga, on Broadway. 

“My intention right now is to try it for another year,” said Mayor Safford, whose response was largely met with groans of disapproval from those in attendance. 

In early 2024, the City Council unanimously approved a paid parking project slated to run from Memorial Day to Labor Day. The plan would charge motorists coming to the city from outside Saratoga Springs $2 per hour to park at six city-owned parking garages and surface lots, while local residents would be provided free parking passes.

The anticipated seasonal revenue for 2024 was approximately $1.6 million, with expenses estimated at about $450,000, resulting in an estimated first year net gain of over $1.1 million. Of that, the city says it would re-invest $100,000 of the revenue gained in the Downtown Business Association. 

In real-time application, the program didn’t go into effect until mid-June and generated just over $275,000. The project cost about $144,000 to implement the first year – nearly $124,000 of which was for the one-time purchase of equipment, according to city DPW manager Michael Veitch, who also noted any potential income coming from parking ticket fees was not included in the figures. 

The near $131,000 net revenue produced for the city was far below its $1.1 million net projections. As such, it appears the $100,000 earmarked for DBA won’t be coming. 

“We were told we weren’t going to get it,” said Heidi West, owner of Lifestyles Saratoga, Caroline + Main, and Union Hall Supply Co.  

“Promises were broken, (and) the revenue forecast – totally unrealistic.” Nemjo added. 

The merchants say paid parking is a deterrent to their nearby, non-city resident customer base coming into town, and that having a ticking time limit imposed upon visitors who do park keep from walking around town and taking full advantage of the multitude of the city’s offerings.     

“The thing is the city needs revenue,” Mayor Safford told the group, explaining he is opposed to raising taxes, but that Saratoga Springs faces a problem where income is not meeting expenses. “The city is in that situation. You guys are the creative ones,” the mayor said, tossing the baton of inspiring revenue generating ideas to business owners. “Maybe we need some feedback: if not paid parking, how can we solve this problem?”   

“Why would you need to balance your budget on the backs of the small business owner?” responded one business operator in attendance. “We need to be competitive with all the other communities that exist around here, and if people have to pay to park here, we’re not competitive anymore.”   

“The city’s financial gain should not be at our expense. You’re hurting us and it will hurt the city in the long run if this keeps up,” Nemjo said.   “I think people would come back in great numbers if you did suspend it for next year. What we are asking is that the paid parking program in Saratoga Springs be halted.”  

“I’d like them to pause it for at least a year. Right from the start, we had ideas about what the program would look like, told them all the problems that might occur and – here we are. It’s all happened,” West added. “My hope is that they will listen to us as the small business community listened to the people who live here and really hear what’s being said: people really don’t want this.” 

The mayor and the downtown business owners agreed to have more dialogue in the future and exchange ideas about where to go next. The plan is set to go into effect Memorial Day 2025. Veitch estimated revenue for a full-seasonal program in 2025 at $465,000. Just over 13,700 parking permits were issued to residents, and downtown business employees. Library patrons are also included in the permit-issued tally.  

Timeline: How We Got Here

December 2023 – City Council presentation. Proposal of a seasonal tourism parking program would charge visitors for parking at three city-owned parking garages, two surface lots and implement time-limited parking on some downtown streets beginning May 1, 2024 and extend through Sept. 30. On-street permits would provide free parking for residents and downtown business employees. The program is estimated to return nearly $2.5 million in revenue to the city. 

February 2024 – City Officials provide an update. The plan, changed in name from “Tourism Parking” to “Seasonal Parking,” looks to implement a program to affect more than 2,000 existing parking spaces (1,300 on-street and 800 in garages and lots) in the downtown area located east and west of Broadway, with Broadway remaining unchanged. Anticipated first-season gross revenue: just over $2 million, offset by about $750,000 in costs, leaving a net income of just over $1.2 million. Some of those initial costs would be first-year implementation expenses, so the city’s net income could conceivably be higher in future years. 

March 2024 – Following a presentation to more than 50 downtown business owners, the city announces it has made “streamlined adjustments in response to great stakeholder feedback.” The new proposal suggests seasonal paid parking in garages and atop surface lots only, with plans for on-street paid parking altogether eliminated. The plan is also looking at a shorter timeframe compared to the initial May 1-Sept. 30 proposal. Implementation is now proposed for Memorial Day to Labor Day.

April 2024 – A 65-minute Public Hearing is held regarding the proposal at City Hall. Plan includes both free permit (for downtown businesses owners and city residents) and paid parking (for those outside the city limits) in six city-owned garages and surface lots only. Visitors can pay $2 an hour to park in the garages and surface lots. 

Anticipated seasonal revenue for 2024 expected to be approximately $1.6 million, with expenses estimated at about $450,000, resulting in an estimated first year net gain of over $1.1 million.

Of that, the city says it will invest $100,000 of revenue gained in the DBA (“a dedicated marketing professional for the Downtown Business Association”), $50,000 into Parking Structure Capital Reserve, $75,000 into a Downtown Improvement Reserve, and $40,000 into a Recreation Parking program. 

The City Council votes 5-0 to unanimously approve the plan. An online portal where residents and downtown business owners may apply for permits is anticipated to roll out by the end of April. 

“We have a three-month period here to see how it works and I think it’s worth doing,” said Mayor John Safford, adding that some of the revenue generated will be earmarked to help resolve homeless issues, although how much of, or where those funds would be applied was not specified. 

May 2024 – The city public library announces its parking lot with approximately 75 spaces will go to a paid parking scheme during the summer, with provisions made to allow city library cardholders to continue to park free of charge during the library’s normal hours of operation. The Saratoga Springs City Council unanimously approved a pair of measures during its May 7 meeting, allowing the proposal to come to fruition, and estimates the library lot is anticipated to return approximately $52,000 in revenues. 

The city also announces its previously anticipated Memorial Day garage and surface lot pay plan has been pushed to a post-June 9 start, following the conclusion of the Belmont Stakes.  The pay station plan eventually gets underway in mid-June. 

Guide for Saratoga County Voters: New Geographical Lines This Year for Congressional Districts 20, 21

Written by Thomas Dimopoulos on . Posted in News.


Town of Wilton map depicting Congressional Districts 20 and 21. Map image: latfor.state.ny.us. 

SARATOGA COUNTY —Redistricting Legislation earlier this year stipulates that Saratoga County voters, depending on where in the county they live, will this year see one of two different Congressional races to elect a congressperson to represent them, according to NYS Legislative Task Force on Demographic Research and Reapportionment, or LATFOR.      

The District 20 congressperson will represent about 180,000 of Saratoga County’s approximately 235,000 residents, while the District 21 congressperson will represent about 55,000 county residents.  

Congressional District 20 race: incumbent Paul Tonko (D, WF) vs. challenger Kevin Waltz (R, C). 

Within Saratoga County, Congressional District 20 includes the following town and cities in their entirety: Ballston, Charlton, Clifton Park, Galway, Halfmoon, Malta, Mechanicville, Milton, Saratoga Springs, Stillwater, Waterford, and the mostly southern portion of Wilton.   

Congressional District 21 race: incumbent Elise Stefanik (R, C) vs. challenger Paula Collins (D, WF). 

Within Saratoga County, Congressional District 21 includes the following towns in their entirety: Corinth, Day, Edinburg, Greenfield, Hadley, Moreau, Northumberland, Providence, Saratoga, and the mostly northern portion of the town of Wilton.  

If you are unsure about your polling site, visit this Board of Elections site at: https://voterlookup.elections.ny.gov/. 

Saratoga Springs Approves Jan. 28 “Special” Election for Vacant Council Seat 

Written by Thomas Dimopoulos on . Posted in Featured, News.

SARATOGA SPRINGS —It is the day some of the music world’s biggest stars came together to record the song “We Are The World,” and the day of tragedy when millions watched NASA’s Space Shuttle Challenger explode shortly after liftoff on live TV. January 28 marks the date Jackson Pollock was born, the date W.B. Yeats died, and in 2025 will potentially be the day when voters in Saratoga Springs head to local polls to elect a member who will fill the City Council’s vacant fifth seat. 

The City Council on Oct. 15 approved a resolution to request a “special” election be held Tuesday, Jan. 28, 2025 to elect a Commissioner of Public Works/City Council member. 

The Jan. 28 proposal now heads to the Saratoga County Board of Elections to seek the approval of county election commissioners Cassandra Bagramian (D) and Joseph Suhrada (R) and onward for the ultimate approval from the state Board of Elections. 

The Commissioner of Public Works is departmentally responsible for oversight of Saratoga Springs’ street and highway maintenance, its buildings and grounds, and for ensuring that the water system provides sufficient quantities of safe potable water, among other duties. 

The position also plays a role in the legislative body of city government by placing the commissioner at the City Council table. The Council proposes and enacts legislation and establishes policy for the city. The mayor and four commissioners form the five-member City Council, and having five members is key in potentially acting as a tiebreaking vote in any deadlocked city-related decisions at the table where majority rules.    

The seat has been vacant for two months. Prior DPW Commissioner Jason Golub announced his pending resignation in mid-July with a departure date in mid-August. The remaining four-member City Council had been unable to come to majority consensus regarding how it should proceed to fill the seat, until this week’s agreement on a “special” election date.  

Additional resolutions aimed at finding a temporary solution by appointing someone as DPW Commissioner/City Council member, however, were unsuccessful. Those plans sought to first appoint members to an ad hoc committee to invite, interview and recommend – in a non-binding way – qualified candidates to assist the council in determining who would meet their ultimate approval. A revised version may potentially be presented at the council’s next scheduled meeting in early November.  

The term of the seat to be filled, like all current City Council seats, would be active through Dec. 31, 2025.