Skip to main content

Saratoga Springs: $62.6 Million Budget Proposed for 2025; No Increase in Tax Rates  

Written by Saratoga TODAY on . Posted in Featured, News.


Saratoga Springs Comprehensive Budget presentation by Finance Commissioner Minita Sanghvi on Oct. 1.

SARATOGA SPRINGS —Finance Commissioner Minita Sanghvi presented the city’s 2025 Comprehensive Budget on Oct. 1.  The proposed $62.6 million budget for 2025 is up $1.3 million compared to the budget adopted for the current year. 

The highest percentage of revenue in 2025 is anticipated to come via Sales Tax (31% – or nearly $20 million) and Property Tax (29% – or just over $18 million). 

“I am pleased to announce that we’re not increasing our tax rates,” Sanghvi said.  

Sanghvi noted increases in retirement ($1.2 million), hospitalization ($1.2 million), and liability insurance ($300,000) as challenges in 2025, and tax income resulting from the pending state Short Term Rental legislation, as well as a full roll-out of the local seasonal parking program and retail cannabis sales as potential opportunities. 

The Public Safety department (which includes police and fire) accounts for the largest percentage of departmental budget costs (58%), with the Department of Public Works – at 20% – as second highest. It is notable that 2025 represents the final year of full funding for 16 firefighters through a Federal SAFER grant.  

Overtime costs of all departments have combined for more than $1 million in each of the past three years. In 2025, $600,000 has been budgeted for overtime.   

The $62.6 million budget proposal depicts a $3.6 million reduction of the total amount all departments requested.  

The city was eyeing property it owns at 5 Williams St. or the lot behind City Hall for a new $25 million police station, with the first $1.5 million set aside in 2025 as part of a long-range capital plan (see: https://saratogatodaynewspaper.com/city-eyes-new-25-million-police-station/), but that initial set-aside of funds won’t happen in 2025.  

“Preliminary work on planning a new police station: We support the idea but we need a full plan with a proposed site and a timeline before we can start allocating money,” Sanghvi said. “While I’m concerned about the current police department facility – and we have just given monies for improvements to the facility – as the city’s chief financial officer I have to also consider the debt limit and the city’s debt service budget.”     

Budget Workshops, open to the public at City Hall, are slated to take place 4 p.m. on Tuesdays – Oct. 8 (Public Safety, Finance), Oct. 22 (Public Works, Capital), Oct. 29 (Mayor, Recreation, Accounts). Public Hearings regarding the budget will take place during regular City Council meetings Oct. 15 and Nov. 6.  The City Council is charged with adopting the 2025 budget by Nov. 30. If potential changes cannot be agreed upon by that point, the $62.6 million budget stands as is. 

Saratoga Turning Point Events

Written by Saratoga TODAY on . Posted in Featured, News.


Saratoga National Historical Park Special Events

STILLWATER — Saratoga National Historical continues its special events season in September with the following offerings:

Soldier Encampment at Saratoga Battlefield: Saturday, Oct. 12 and Sunday, Oct. 13

10 am to 4 pm, Battlefield Tour Road. Activities include soldiers drilling, posting guard, cooking, and sewing clothing. Experience the life of a Revolutionary War soldier!

Homefront at the Schuyler Estate: Saturday, Oct. 12 and Sunday, Oct. 13, 10:00 am to 4:00 pm, Schuyler House. Renowned blacksmith Jymm Hoffman will demonstrate 18th century techniques at the forge. Living Historian Anne Clothier will share the stories of Women in Healing from the time of the Battles of Saratoga. Living Historian Sara Evenson will discuss and demonstrate 18th Century cooking techniques. The Saratoga County 250th Commission will be there with their tent full of fun activities for the whole family. And you can visit General Philip Schuyler’s home.

18th Century Medicine: Saturday, Oct. 12 and Sunday, Oct. 13, 10:00 am to 4:00 pm

Visitor Center Lawn. Volunteer Joe Craig explains the Healing Arts at the time of the Revolutionary War.

Whitcomb’s Rangers Encampment: Saturday, Oct. 12 and Sunday, Oct. 13, 10:00 am to 4:00 pm, Saratoga Monument.  Whitcomb’s Rangers, an independent company of Continental Army rangers who hailed from NH and VT, will be encamped at the Saratoga Monument. Meet some of the men whose unit helped trap the British here in Saratoga, leading to the first surrender of a British army in history.

Siege of Saratoga Walking Tour: Monday, Oct. 14, 2:00 pm, Meet at the Saratoga Monument. Discover the Siege of Saratoga. Following their defeat in the Battle of Bemus Heights, Burgoyne’s army struggled to retreat. They made it this far before being surrounded by superior American forces, beginning the short but unpleasant siege. Park Ranger Eric Schnitzer will lead a walking tour from the Saratoga Monument through part of Burgoyne’s camp. Bug spray is highly recommended.

Saratoga Surrender Day: Thursday, Oct. 17, 10:00 am to 4:00 pm, Saratoga Surrender Site. Visit with a park ranger to learn more about the surrender of General Burgoyne and his forces.

Visit go.nps.gov/saraevents for a complete and updated list. 


View from recently developed “Sword Surrender” site observation plaza that overlooks the Hudson River.
Photo by Thomas Dimopoulos.  


Are Eggs Benedict Named After Benedict Arnold? Revolutionary Trivia Night in Milton

BALLSTON SPA — In commemoration of the October 16, 1780, British raid along Middleline Road, The Milton 250th Revolutionary War Committee will sponsor a trivia night at Milton Tavern, 430 Geyser Road, Ballston Spa, at 7 p.m. on Oct. 17.

Organizers say: arrive early, enjoy a dinner, and chat with the Town of Milton Historian about The Raid.  Share your knowledge of local history, win Prizes, and take a photo with living historians in period attire.  For more information contact Michael Golden at mgolden1775@gmail.com.


Victory Season at Saratoga Oct. 17

BALLSTON SPA — “Victory Season at Saratoga,” presented by America’s Turning Point, features a series of events commemorating the 247th anniversary of the Battles of Saratoga culminating in the surrender of the British on Oct. 17, 1777. 

Highlights of the 2024 “Victory Season at Saratoga” include:

-The “American Revolution Experience,” a national traveling exhibit produced by the National Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution and the American Battlefield Trust. It showcases diverse perspectives of common people on the lead up to, and during, the War for Independence. It will be on display at the Champlain Canal Region Gateway Visitor Center, 30 Ferry Street, Schuylerville, NY from October 13 – October 27, 2024. 

-”Surrender Day,” October 17 celebrating the surrender of a British Army for the first time in world history, marking the Turning Point of the American Revolution, features multiple events. 

– Surrender Day Ceremony at Fort Hardy Park, Schuylerville, 10 a.m. This free, family event features a reenactment of the surrender by British General Burgoyne to American General Gates by the banks of the Hudson River, interactive music, and cannon firing. This annual event is a favorite of families with young children and elementary school classes. (weather permitting)

– Siege and Surrender Tour – Join licensed battlefield guide Pat Niles for a tour of key sites tied to the siege and surrender at Saratoga. The tour departs from America’s Turning Point Heritage Center at 30 Ferry St. Schuylerville. This is a ticketed event from 1PM – 3:30PM with limited seats on private coach. Visit www.saratoga250.com to purchase tickets. 

– An inaugural Surrender Day Benefit co-presented with SPAC and Friends of the Saratoga Springs Public Library/Saratoga Book Festival at Spa Little Theater from 6:30PM to 8PM featuring Dr. Kevin J. Weddle, US Army Colonel (Ret.), author of the award-winning recent book, “The Compleat Victory: Saratoga and the American Revolution” and County Historian, Saratoga 250 Chair and NYS 250 Commissioner, Lauren Roberts.  Local students will also be featured in the program. All proceeds benefit Campaign for Saratoga 250 & Friends of the Saratoga Springs Public Library. Visit www.saratoga250.com to purchase tickets. 


“Sword Surrender” marker off Route 4 in the town of Saratoga, a half-mile south of the village of Schuylerville, where British General John Burgoyne surrendered his army to American General Horatio Gates.
Photo by Thomas Dimopoulos.

Saratoga Olympic Rowers Visit White House

Written by Jonathon Norcross on . Posted in Featured, Sports.

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Kristi Wagner and Lauren O’Connor, both members of the Saratoga Rowing Association who competed in the 2024 Paris Olympics, visited the White House on Monday along with the rest of the Olympic and Paralympic teams.

President Joe Biden spoke to the athletes on the White House South Lawn.

“Yes, you’ve sacrificed,” Biden said, “but you have to look at who you lift up. Your families wept with joy, filled with pride. Your hometowns honor you. And to your fellow Americans, most of whom have never known…you’ve become their heroes.”

Wagner and O’Connor both finished ninth overall in their respective events in Paris. Wagner and her partner Sophia Vitas competed in double sculls, while O’Connor was part of the quadruple sculls team.

Wagner and Vitas were fifth in double sculls at the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo. O’Connor made her Olympics debut in Paris.

Pipe Manufacturer Opens First U.S. Factory in Saratoga Springs, Hires Former Quad Graphics Workers

Written by Jonathon Norcross on . Posted in Business, Featured.


The interior of Soleno’s first U.S. factory located at the W.J. Grande Industrial Park in Saratoga Springs. Photo by Jonathon Norcross.

SARATOGA SPRINGS — Soleno, a water sustainability company based in Quebec, officially opened its first U.S. factory in Saratoga Springs last Thursday. The facility manufactures and distributes high-density polyethylene pipes for the American water management market.

Soleno said it’s investing more than $22 million into the 45,000-square-foot plant, which began operations in August and has already shipped its first orders to Maine, Vermont, and Massachusetts.

“Saratoga Springs was selected as the ideal location for the facility due to easy access to multiple major markets throughout the Northeast,” said Heidi Pasos, a deputy director at Empire State Development, during the plant’s opening ceremonies.

The plant is located in the W.J. Grande Industrial Park, near the former Quad Graphics facility that closed in May. The closure resulted in hundreds of lost jobs, but Soleno said that “nearly 30” of its 35 employees were former Quad workers.

Mathieu Cornellier, general manager of the Soleno plant, said that the ex-Quad Graphics employees “had great integrity, teamwork, leadership, collaboration, and honestly today we’re producing good quality pipes because of them.”

Soleno’s KUSTOMFLO pipes can be made from recycled plastics, which help reduce plastic pollution in landfills. The pipes are considered environmentally friendly alternatives to traditional concrete pipes.

Developed using German Krah technology, the pipes offer some of the largest diameters on the market, the company said. The pipes are also billed as highly customizable and durable, lasting for more than a century.

Soleno said it hopes to add an additional 25,000 square feet of workspace to its Saratoga facility. Plans for the expansion are currently under review. 

Multi-Billion Dollar Firm Buys Former Quad Graphics Facility

Written by Jonathon Norcross on . Posted in Business, Featured.


The entrance to the former Quad Graphics facility in Saratoga Springs’ WJ Grande Industrial Park. Photo by Super Source Media.

SARATOGA SPRINGS — Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, a biotechnology firm based in Tarrytown, New York, has purchased the former Quad Graphics printing facility in Saratoga Springs for an undisclosed sum.

“This acquisition underscores our commitment to growing together with the local community by investing in local economies and creating high-quality jobs in the area and across New York State,” Regneron said in a company statement. “The immediate use for the new facility will be for production support activities.”

Quad Graphics closed in May, causing hundreds of workers to lose their jobs. Some of those jobs were recouped thanks to Soleno, a sustainable pipe manufacturing company that opened its first U.S. factory last week next to the former Quad facility in the WJ Grande Industrial Park.

Regeneron did not immediately provide an estimate of the number of jobs its new facility would create.

“[The Saratoga Economic Development Corporation] welcomes Regeneron,” said SEDC President Greg Connors. “Saratoga County’s newest international company has made their next capital investment in the community we all call home.”

According to its corporate fact sheet, Regeneron has more than 13,000 employees worldwide. The company has offices scattered across the globe, including its headquarters in Tarrytown and an industrial operations and product supply facility in Rensselaer.

Regeneron, called “one of the region’s largest employers” by the SEDC, had a reported revenue of more than $13 billion last year. In 2020, the company signed a $450 million contract with the U.S. government to manufacture and supply REGN-COV2, a double-antibody cocktail designed to combat the coronavirus. The cocktail was administered to then-President Donald Trump when he was infected with COVID-19 in October 2020.

The firm received a number of accolades this year, including Time Magazine’s “World’s Most Sustainable Companies,” and U.S. News and World Report’s “Best Companies to Work For.”

Stewart’s Expands, Purchases 45 Jolley Convenience Stores

Written by Saratoga TODAY on . Posted in Business, Featured.


Photo of a Jolley convenience store provided by Stewart’s Shops

SARATOGA SPRINGS — Stewart’s Shops announced last Friday that it had signed an agreement to purchase the assets of the Jolley Associates convenience store chain.

The acquisition includes 45 Jolley stores total — 38 in Vermont, 5 in New York, and 2 in New Hampshire. Local Jolley locations include Clifton Park, Lake George, Queensbury, and Plattsburgh. The shops will operate as Jolley stores in the short term, but will eventually rebrand as Stewart’s over the next few years, according to Stewart’s Public Relations Manager Robin Cooper.

The deal is expected to close by the end of the year. Terms are being kept confidential.

“We are thrilled to have this opportunity to acquire a company with such an impressive reputation in a market that we’ve been watching for many years,” said Stewart’s Shops president Gary Dake in a statement. “One of the primary reasons we were drawn to this deal is because of the quality and the character of Jolley’s employees.”

Jolley Associates was formed in 1977 by brothers Bruce and Robert Jolley, who had owned convenience stores since 1974. Robert passed away in 2009, and his ownership stocks were passed on to his wife Mary Ellen Jolley.

“We are proud of what we have accomplished over the years and we are happy to know that Stewart’s is providing our employees an opportunity to have ownership in the business and will continue to treat them well,” said Bruce Jolley, president and co-founder of Jolley Associates. 

Stewart’s has also agreed to purchase Jolly’s sister companies S.B. Collins, a petroleum products company, and Clarence Brown, a heating fuel oil company. Both of the sister organizations are based in St. Albans, Vermont.

Saratoga Springs City Council Remains Deadlocked in Process to Fill Fifth-Seat Vacancy

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

Saratoga Springs, NY – USA – Mar. 6, 2021: A landscape view of the Saratoga Springs City Hall, an ornate three-story brick Italianate building built in 1871 by Cummings and Burt of Troy.

SARATOGA SPRINGS —Two measures that could have potentially filled the fifth-seat vacancy on the City Council failed to garner majority approval on Oct. 1 at City Hall, resulting in a deadlocked council in disagreement about the best way to move forward.      

The first measure, proposed by city Mayor John Safford, sought to appoint an ad hoc advisory committee charged with interviewing candidates and subsequently leading to the eventual council-appointment of an interim Commissioner of Public Works. 

That appointed position would be seated on a temporary basis until a councilmember is elected by city voters to complete the term through 2025. The most recently amended resolution calls for four  members to be on the ad hoc advisory committee, with each councilmember appointing one person to the committee. 

The second measure, proposed by Accounts Commissioner Dillon Moran, sought to set a date for the “special” election as Dec. 10, with that newly elected commissioner presumably being seated on the council Jan. 1, 2025.    

The council opened its Oct. 1 meeting by recognizing Tom McTygue, who died last week at the age of 83. McTygue, a longtime city Commissioner of Public Works, served 16 terms and a total of 32 years in service to the city. His tenure spanned the early 1970s to 2008, when Anthony “Skip” Scirocco was elected to the DPW Commissioner’s seat – serving from 2008 until his passing in 2022.  

“Think about the loss we’ve had over the past couple of years,” Accounts Commissioner Dillon Moran said, at the start of this week’s council meeting. “The loss of Commissioner Scirocco, the loss of Commissioner McTygue. And we sit here today flummoxed as a City Council trying to replace Jason (Golub),” said Moran, referencing the city’s most recent DPW Commissioner who stepped down in mid-August. 

“I would love all of us this evening to reflect both on Commissioner Scirocco and Commissioner McTygue’s contributions to this community, and I would like to see us do the right thing to advance both – the election, and the appointment process,” Moran said. 

However, it was not to be.  

Following a 57-minute discussion regarding both measures, the resolution seeking a Dec. 10 election date was tabled after seemingly lacking the necessary votes for approval. Additionally, a council vote to appoint an advisory committee to help put an interim commissioner in play failed to pass, resulted in a 2-2 deadlocked vote largely because there was no election date agreed upon which would signal the end-date of the interim commissioner’s appointment.  

The process will presumably be revisited at the next regularly scheduled meeting of the City Council on Oct. 15, although budget workshops held weekly in October ensure councilmembers will come together at City Hall every Tuesday through this month.    

A Spectacular Fall Tradition. Saratoga Showcase Of Homes Opening Weekend

Written by Saratoga TODAY on . Posted in Featured, News.

The area’s premiere new home tour, the 2024 Saratoga Showcase of Homes opens its doors this weekend! Showcase tickets are available now at www.saratogashowcaseofhomes.com or at Adirondack Trust branches, Saratoga National Bank on South Broadway in Saratoga Springs, Curtis Lumber in Ballston Spa & Queensbury and Roohan Realty in Saratoga Springs. Showcase tickets are always conveniently available at any showcase home during tour hours of 10:00AM – 4:00PM. As in previous years, each showcase ticket holder will receive a FREE commemorative shoe/tote bag at the first home visited, while supplies last!

The 2024 Saratoga Showcase of Homes is being proudly presented over two fall weekends this year on October 5-6 and October 12-13. Tickets are $25, which allows you to visit all of these beautiful new homes over four days. This year’s edition has 9 locations from 8 of our area’s finest builders.

Participating award-winning builders – Abele Homes, Bella Home Builders, Belmonte Builders, DSG Construction & Remodeling, Kodiak Construction, Stephen James, Trojanski Builders and Witt Construction. To view an interactive mobile map with locations, directions, house descriptions, and much more, please visit our website for all the details. 

This year’s showcase will also be featuring a student “Viking Chair” build exhibition on Sunday, October 6th from 10:00 AM – 2:00 PM at the Abele Homes Showcase home #9. Local middle school students will be building and decorating these chairs. It’s all part of spotlighting work in the trades by the Northeast Construction Trades Workforce Coalition. In addition, a school bus renovated into a mobile classroom built by BOCES students will be on display at the same location.

Now celebrating its 28th year, this annual community fund-raising event has contributed over $1.5 MILLION dollars to our local charities. Proceeds from the Showcase of Homes will benefit Rebuilding Together Saratoga County (www.rtsaratoga.org) and Habitat for Humanity of Northern Saratoga, Warren and Washington Counties (www.glensfallshabitat.org). For more details on the 2024 Saratoga Showcase of Homes event, please visit www.saratogashowcaseofhomes.com.