BALLSTON SPA —During its monthly meeting, held Nov. 21 at the county complex in Ballston Spa, the Saratoga County Board of Supervisors accepted $426,000 from the New York State Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance, and approved an agreement with Shelters of Saratoga that will see those funds used for S.O.S. expenses to operate this winter’s Code Blue shelter in Saratoga Springs. 

The emergency cold-weather Code Blue shelter will this year, for the first time, be located at the former Grand Union Motel at 120 South Broadway, in Saratoga Springs.  

Motivated to action in the wake of the death of a city woman exposed to a winter’s elements on a December night in 2013, a temporary homeless emergency shelter was launched in Saratoga Springs that Christmas Eve at St. Peter’s Parish Center. The Code Blue shelter has found temporary homes across the city in the years since during wintertime. 

Of the $426,000 the State is sending to Saratoga County, the Board of Supervisors recommended up to $399,979 be spent in contract with S.O.S. for expenses associated with sheltering the homeless during this fall and winter season, and that any additional costs up to $26,021 may be used by the Department of Social Services for potential costs incurred for sheltering individuals or families not otherwise eligible for emergency housing and not able to be housed at the Code Blue Shelter.

2024 County Budget Proposal Tops $400 Million; Public Hearing Dec. 6, Plan to Adopt Dec. 13

A public hearing on the revised tentative 2024 Saratoga County Budget will be held at 4:30 p.m. on Dec. 6, at the Saratoga County Board of Supervisors Chambers, 40 McMaster St., Ballston Spa.

More than $1.5 million approved for work at county animal shelter

The County Board approved the acceptance of a near $1.5 million bid proposal from the John W. Danforth Company of Clifton Park for work to be conducted at the Saratoga County Animal Shelter. 

The work relates to the mechanical construction of the HVAC Phase 1 project at the county animal shelter. The $1,495,890 was the lowest bid the county had received. 

The Board additionally approved an agreement with B & B Premier Contracting, LLC of Hudson Falls, for work relating to the electrical construction of the HVAC Phase 1 project at the animal shelter at a cost of up to $84,000, and an agreement with DiGesare Mechanical Incorporated of Schenectady, for plumbing construction related to the same project at a cost not to exceed $57,000. 

County Sheriff’s Office agreement to provide additional police services in Malta, Clifton Park, Halfmoon, Wilton

A contract extension was approved with the Town of Malta through 2024 for additional police services to be provided by the Sheriff’s Office. The agreement calls for one patrol from 8 a.m.-4 p.m., and one patrol 4 p.m. – midnight, seven days a week. 

The contract, at $326,580.66, includes reimbursement by the Town of Malta for all County expenses including salaries, benefits, training, all transportation expenses and patrol cars. 

Additional agreements were also separately approved with the towns of Clifton Park (2 patrols, 8 a.m.- 4 p.m. & 4 p.m. – midnight, 7 days a week at a town cost just over $653,000); Halfmoon (1 patrol, 8 a.m. – 4 p.m. Tues.-Sun., and 4 p.m.-midnight Tues.-Sat. at just over $259,000), and Wilton (1 patrol, 8 a.m. -4 p.m. Mon.-Fri., just over $125,000).    

Town of Ballston, Village of Ballston Spa

Town of Ballston 

Population: 11,831. 

Supervisor: Eric Connolly (R) ran unopposed in Nov. 2023 election. 

Town Board Meetings – 6:30 p.m. on the 2nd and last Tuesdays of every month. Meetings at Town Hall, 323 Charlton Road, Ballston Spa.

2024 Preliminary Budget: $13.98 million total appropriation. 

Next Town Board agenda meeting: 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 28. 

Geography, General Information, as provided by the town on its official website. A Ballston Spa or Ballston Lake mailing address does not necessarily mean that you live in the Town of Ballston. You may live in the Town of Ballston, Charlton, Clifton Park, Milton, or Malta. If you live in the Village of Ballston Spa you also live in either the Town of Ballston or Milton. 

Village of Ballston Spa: 

Mayor: Frank Rossi (R) ran unopposed in Nov. 2023 election.

Village government is headed by the Mayor and four Trustees. Together they form the local legislative body, the Board of Trustees. 

Meetings are held at 7 p.m. the 2nd & 4th Mondays of each month, in the Ballston Spa Public Library Community Room. Next meeting: 7 p.m., Monday, Nov. 27

Town of Wilton

Population: 17,361. 

Town Supervisor: Incumbent Supervisor John Lant (R,C) received 1,799 votes, challenger Toni Sturm (D) received 1,494 votes in Nov. 2023 election.  

Town Board Meetings: 7 p.m. on the first Thursday of every month. Meetings at the Wilton Town Hall, 22 Traver Road, Wilton. 

Next Town Board meeting: 7 p.m., Monday, Dec. 7. 

The Town Board is comprised of an elected Supervisor serving a two-year term and four elected councilmen each serving four-year terms.

2024 adopted budget: $10.46 million. 

Hot Topic: Proposed redevelopment of the Wilton Mall, considering the development of nearly 400 apartment units and townhomes at the site of the mall’s former Bon Ton location.

BALLSTON SPA — Saratoga County officials have proposed a $411 million spending plan for 2024. The tentative budget marks a $32.7 million increase compared to this year’s approved budget and highlights 8% decrease in the property tax rate.

“It is a $411 million budget for 2024,” said city Supervisor Matt Veitch, who last week was re-elected to a ninth two-year term, which begins in 2024.      

“It’s going to have an 8% property tax rate cut – keeping it under the state tax cap – and it’s going to put us at $1.95 per $1,000 assessed value. In the time that I’ve been supervisor, I don’t think I’ve ever seen it that low, so, good for the taxpayers, you get a little bit of a tax break from Saratoga County,” Veitch said.  

The county sales tax revenue projection for 2024 is $165 million – a decrease of $5 million compared with expected 2023 revenues, and real property taxes revenues is estimated at about $72 million, approximately $2.5 million higher than 2023 amended budget totals.  

County Administrator Steve Bulger said the county plans on making significant investments in broadband, highway, and other infrastructure improvements in 2024.

Some 2024 Tentative Budget Investments for Saratoga County Residents Include: 

• A new program, Teams, that will provide $350,000 in total funding to towns and team sports programs throughout the county that support the health and well-being of children and youth. 

• A $2 million broadband expansion project looks to provide high-speed broadband expansion to the towns of Corinth, Day, Edinburg, Hadley, and Providence, utilizing federal ARPA funds.

• Preserving open space and providing outdoor recreational opportunities for residents through investments in our Farmland and Open Space Acquisition and fish stocking programs and by increasing funding for our Local Assistance to County Trails grant program. ($575,000) 

• Continued investments to address the opioid epidemic including utilizing Opioid Settlement Funds to create programs and provide services to connect families, veterans, and underserved populations with community-based treatment, rehabilitation, recovery, and support services related to opioid and substance use disorders. ($150,000).

• Emergency Services communications upgrades and a new Fire Training Tower in support of volunteer firefighters throughout Saratoga County. (more than $3 million).

• Robust investments in public safety, including investments in personnel, technology, and equipment for the Sheriff’s Office, District Attorney’s Office, Probation Department, Public Defender’s Department, and Conflict Defender’s Office. (nearly $57 million).

Budget workshops are ongoing through November. “As we go forward we’ll see if there’s anything that needs changing or updating,” Veitch said.   

A public hearing will take place at the county complex in Ballston Spa in early December, and a special board meeting will be held one week later to potentially adopt the budget for 2024. 

The tentative 2024 budget is on view at: www.saratogacountyny.gov/2024-tentative-budget/.

SARATOGA SPRINGS —The City Council gathered Monday morning to set a public hearing for the proposed amended 2024 City Budget. 

That hearing, which enables the public to express opinions directly to councilmembers regarding the proposed $61.27 million spending plan, will take place 6 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 28. 

By rule, the council must vote to approve the budget by Nov. 30, or the $60.5 million spending plan previously submitted by the finance commissioner will become law.   

SARATOGA SPRINGS — The 37th Annual Victorian Streetwalk promises a magical night in downtown Saratoga Springs on Thursday Nov. 30.

The event, presented by the Saratoga Springs Downtown Business Association, takes place 6 – 9 p.m. Broadway will be closed from Ellsworth Jones Place to the Washington Street intersection. 

A traditional tree lighting will be held at 6 p.m. to help kick off the holiday season. Immediately following the tree lighting, children will have the opportunity to visit Santa in his Cottage. 

Celebrate the 200th Anniversary of “Twas The Night Before Christmas.” Pamela McColl, author and publisher, will teach about the history of the beloved poem. A dedicated table for Toys for Toga outside G. Willikers store will be collecting new and unwrapped toys for local children. Toys for Toga invites the community to contribute, ensuring every child experiences the magic of the season.

More than 25 sites will feature free entertainment, including the Racing City Chorus, Road Soda Pop, South Glens Falls High School a capella group (Vocal Point), Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake Select High School Choir, Saratoga City Ballet, St. Paul’s Lutheran Church Choir, Saratoga Soundtrack Chorus, Sax-O-Claus, Jacksland, Lenox, Bill Gervasio, Six Penny Bit, Kids Peace Band, Capitaland Chorus, John & Orion Kribs, The Dance Lab, Saratoga Youth Ballet, Victorian Keepsake Photos by Johnny Miller LLC, Sparkles the Juggler,  Sonny & Perley Duo, Dance Fire Studio, Stephen Crouth, Acadia Rae performing with her hula hoop, Abundant Life Church, Pura Vida Kettle Corn, Nacre Dance Group, Catholic Charities Festival of Trees, Santa and Mrs. Claus.

The festivities continue until 9 p.m. throughout downtown Saratoga Springs. 

For more information, visit saratogaspringsdowntown.com.