Residents of the City of Saratoga Springs, we have only until December 11th to vote online (or with paper ballots at City Hall) for how our city will spend $100,000 of our 57 million dollar city budget.
As part of the new Saratoga Springs Participatory Budget Process, introduced this year by the City Council Commissioner of Finance, city residents can vote for up to five of several proposed projects eligible for a share of the allotted $100,000.
The most costly of the proposed city projects is a $19,000 water fountain installation for the Dog Park in Saratoga Spa Park.
We are asking the residents of the City of Saratoga Springs and the City Council to NOT approve and/or consider this project for the following reasons:
1. City money should not be spent to fund State park projects unless the city is willing to help maintain and manage the project for the long term.
2. Water is a precious resource. This project mentions nothing about who will pay for the water that is consumed, and how much the water is expected to cost.
3. $19,000 is for the installation of the water fountain only. There is no mention of who will fund the maintenance and management of the water fountain.
4. When using the state park, people are expected to supply their own water or visit one of the many springs. Dog owners should also be expected to supply water for their dogs.
5. The Dog Park in the State Park has been under much public scrutiny ever since its inception. In spite of unfavorable public comment (see public comment -Final Master Plan/ Final Environmental Impact Statement Saratoga Spa State Park December 16, 2009) from many local environmental groups and local residents, the City of Saratoga Springs still entered into a Memorandum of Agreement with the State Park to help pay the $65,500 for the fencing and a drainage system. However, NO agreement was made between the two entities as to the sharing of funding for the management and maintenance of the Dog Park.
6. If the city is to enter into another Memorandum of Agreement with the State Park, then the City should use the $19,000 to manage the dog park that is overcrowded, creates a constant noise nuisance for city residents, and is a health (no vaccinations/rabies or registration required) and safety hazard to many dogs, dog owners, and city residents.
Lastly, the most important reason to remove this project for consideration, is to allow for other projects to be fully funded. The other projects that directly address a majority of our city’s constituents are- programming to promote self-sustaining food security (community gardens), arts programs for underserved and marginalized youth, programs that sustain our environment (urban forestry project), and public recreational programs for all (Congress Park Ice skating, Theatre in the Park).
Please City of Saratoga, vote, make your voice heard, and consider carefully how you want to spend our money.
- Respectfully, Concerned residents of Saratoga Springs
