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

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://www.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.