18 F
Schenectady
Wednesday, February 4, 2026

Schenectady City Council Approves $109M Budget, Slightly Past Deadline

spot_img
spot_img

1. The Schenectady City Council passed a 2024 budget by a slim 4-3 margin during a special ⁣budget meeting on Monday nightrnn

The Schenectady City‌ Council passed a 2024 budget by a slim 4-3 margin during a special budget meeting on Monday night. The $109 million spending plan got over the ‍finish line 19 days after the city’s Nov. 1 budget deadline.

The approved budget funds the police and‌ fire department overtime lines by $662,873 less than the total requested in Mayor Gary McCarthy’s original budget.

The‌ council-approved version also ​cut McCarthy’s proposed‌ water and sewer fee increases for residents by half, while raising commercial and water sewer ​rates.

City Council President Marion Porterfield and Councilmembers John Mootooveren, Damonni Farley and Carl Williams voted yes on​ the proposed⁢ budget, while Councilmembers Doreen Ditoro, Carmel Patrick and John Polimeni opposed the plan.

McCarthy did not indicate on Monday evening whether he would support the council budget or veto it,​ saying after the meeting that he would review the council budget with city department heads on Tuesday.

The budget passage followed weeks of negotiations​ between the all-Democratic council, with ⁢the spending plan arriving late‌ for the ⁢first time in three decades.

“I know that this budget process took longer than usual and​ the last time ​was ⁤30 years ago,” Porterfield said of the missed deadline,⁢ “but it ‍took that long. We could not get‍ to that place but ​we finally got to a place where we could consider this budget. People talk about fees and we have to consider our taxpayers and how we’re impacting them.”

The Monday night budget vote grew contentious when Polimeni began to explain his budget vote during ‌the roll call vote, with Porterfield contending that his remarks should have been made during the budget discussion that preceded the vote and the council president repeatedly ⁣calling for Polimeni‍ to cast his⁢ vote.

“This budget was a ridiculous process,”‌ Polimeni said during‍ Monday’s meeting. “It was completely political because of the [Nov. 7] election. You sit there and talk about ​the taxpayers, but you’ve done nothing to help the taxpayers.⁣ In ⁢fact, all you’re going to ‌do is create a worse situation for taxpayers in 2025, 2026 and onward. You’ve taken away the ability of the⁤ mayor ‌and the staff to do the management that they require and that they should be able to do.”

The budget utilizes $7.4 million in American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funding, marking the ⁣last year that the city will be ⁤able​ to ⁤balance the budget with ARPA monies.

The approved budget reduces the overtime line ​for the police field service ⁢bureau from the $2.5 million in‌ McCarthy’s proposal to $2.2 million. The 2023 budget included $1.5 million in overtime funding for the bureau. The council ‍reduced overtime pay in 2024 for the ‌police investigation unit from $990,000 in McCarthy’s proposed budget to $913,000, ⁣still above the $775,000 budgeted for overtime ⁢in 2023.

The​ approved 2024 budget also reduced the fire department’s ​overtime from the original McCarthy proposal of $1.57⁣ million down to $1.27 million,⁢ but still above ⁢the $860,588 included in the 2023 budget.

Patrick, Polimeni and Ditoro had opposed police and fire overtime cuts throughout⁢ the budget negotiations and ultimately voted no on the proposed budget.

“It was more challenging than‍ not ⁤sometimes,” Williams said of the budget process during Monday’s meeting. “I’m confident that this presented budget⁣ reflects the ability of‌ myself — ‍speaking ​for myself —⁢ to meet in the middle and present a budget that best meets the considerations of the city of Schenectady.”

The approved plan also uses $3.9 million in fund balance in the general fund, with⁤ the ⁢council allocating an additional $156,000 in fund ⁤balance beyond McCarthy’s original proposal.

“Where is all of this money going to come from in 2025?” Polimeni asked on Monday. “They’re building in deficits ​in the budget and, ⁤on top ‍of that, it’s just fiscally irresponsible.”

The ​plan includes an $8 annual increase in water​ fees for residents and a $37 per year increase in sewer fees, with the council cutting McCarthy’s original proposed fee increases by 50%.

The budget does not include McCarthy’s proposal to raise city residents’ waste⁤ collection fee $1.50 per week.

“It’s not right for us to‌ pass the spending on to the back of the ordinary taxpayers,” said Mootooveren, who chairs the council’s Finance Committee. “I think the discussion was fruitful and everybody at the [council] table had an opportunity to discuss [the budget].”

The budget ⁤fills gaps in the water and sewer funds with fund balance ‍from each department, with the plan utilizing $873,734 in fund balance from the sewer fund and $198,405 from the water fund.

The budget includes a 26% increase in commercial water ​rates and a 39% ⁣increase in commercial​ sewer meter rates.

The⁤ approved budget includes a salary increase for ‌council members, raising members’ annual ‍stipends 16% from $14,100 per year to $16,356..

“How can these council members justify pay raises in a budget that’s ⁢three weeks late?” Schenectady Republican⁣ Party Chair Tom Kennedy asked on Monday. “They violated the⁤ city charter and they⁢ aren’t looking towards next year.”

The budget eliminates nine vacant city jobs,⁢ including a fleet manager job from the city garage, a data processing position and an assistant to the corporation ​counsel position.

spot_img
Rafael Torres
Rafael Torres
Rafael Torres, a native of Schenectady, has returned to his hometown after several years of reporting in the Midwest. A graduate of Missouri School of Journalism, Alex is known for his empathetic approach to local news, covering everything from community events to local governance, always with an aim to bridge diverse perspectives.
Latest news
Read More

19 COMMENTS

  1. Agree. It’s good to see Schenectady City Council taking action even if it’s slightly past deadline. Progress over perfection always.

  2. Disagree. They should have gotten everything done on time. Taking longer to approve it is irresponsible and could lead to budgeting issues.

  3. I’m with PixelPanda24 on this one. Ensuring progress is always more important than adhering to strict deadlines. The city council is doing their due diligence, and we should appreciate their efforts to make informed decisions. After all, it’s our $109M they’re handling.

  4. 592220 304146Hello! Someone in my Facebook group shared this website with us so I came to appear it over. Im definitely enjoying the info. Im book-marking and is going to be tweeting this to my followers! Outstanding blog and superb style and style. 81692

  5. Dies ist ein Portal von Hello World Digital. Ampel, dort rechts in die Bismarckstraße
    nach ca. Melden Sie Ihren Gastrobetrieb kostenfrei für einen Eintrag im Gastroführer.
    Sie geben uns Aufschluss darüber, welche Seiten beliebt und weniger
    beliebt sind und wie sich Besucher auf der Website bewegen.
    Wenn Sie unter 16 Jahre alt sind und Ihre Zustimmung zu freiwilligen Diensten geben möchten, müssen Sie Ihre Erziehungsberechtigten um
    Erlaubnis bitten. Weiterlesen Wir haben den Silvesterabend dort
    verbracht, es war sehr angenehm und wir würden sehr nett
    begrüßt und serviert. Wir haben den Silvesterabend dort verbracht, es
    war sehr angenehm und wir würden sehr nett begrüßt und serviert.

    References:
    https://online-spielhallen.de/die-sugar-casino-mobile-app-mein-umfassender-uberblick/

  6. Das Casino ist außerdem mit erstklassigen Anbietern ausgestattet, die dafür sorgen, dass das Gameplay auf jedem Gerät reibungslos abläuft und die Grafik auch klar und knackig
    aussieht, egal wie Sie spielen. Frank Casino ist zu einem Favoriten unter den Spielern in Deutschland geworden, die mehr wollen, als nur die gewöhnlichen Spiele zu
    spielen. Das kenne ich normalerweise nur von merkur spielen so eine meldung.
    Wenn man das spiel öffnen will kommt die meldung das man das spiel aus meinen land nicht spielen darf.

    Sie können überall Transport spielen, auch zu Hause
    oder in der Mittagspause, ohne Computer. Wenn Sie etwas aufschieben,
    ist es weniger wahrscheinlich, dass Sie die Voraussetzungen für das Durchspielen erfüllen, bevor Ihr Geld aufgebraucht ist.
    Auf diese Weise können Sie während der Qualifikationsphase spielen und verpassen keine Promos.

    Durch die Überwachung der Aktionsnutzung über das Frank Casino-Dashboard wird sichergestellt, dass während
    des Spiels oder der Auszahlung kein Schritt verpasst wird.
    Um sicherzustellen, dass von Anfang an die richtigen Dinge getan werden, ist
    ein reibungsloses Gameplay und ein gutes Balance-Management auf der Casino-Plattform
    möglich. Benutzer, die sicherstellen möchten, dass sie keine saisonalen Angebote verpassen, sollten regelmäßig den Aktionskalender überprüfen.
    Werbeaufladungen sind mehrmals im Monat verfügbar und Benutzer erhalten automatische Benachrichtigungen, wenn qualifizierte Einzahlungen vorgenommen werden.

    References:
    https://online-spielhallen.de/stargames-casino-bewertung-mein-urteil-nach-10-jahren-spielerfahrung/

  7. Online casino gambling is widespread across Australia, and it is only expanding.
    The Interactive Gambling Act only prohibits operators, it does not specify players.
    But that does not mean there are no online destinations for Aussie gamers.

    However, withdrawal times can vary based on the chosen payment method, with some casinos
    processing payouts within one hour. However, overseas gambling websites are not permitted to
    operate within the country. You can legally gamble online in Australia on lotteries,
    racing, and sports through regulated Australian sites.
    With the right knowledge and resources, you can enjoy the thrills of online gambling while staying safe
    and responsible. Players should choose regulated websites and educate themselves about
    gambling support services to foster responsible gambling behavior.

    Gambling Help Online provides free, confidential support,
    including online counselling and live chat.
    Notable games include Lightning Roulette, Infinite
    Blackjack, and Monopoly Live, each bringing its unique twist to traditional casino games.
    The selection includes video slots, classic pokies,
    and progressive jackpot pokies, each providing unique gameplay and potential rewards.
    1Red Casino is another noteworthy mention, featuring over
    4,000 games and a significant welcome bonus, making it a paradise for game enthusiasts.
    NeoSpin Casino stands out with an impressive welcome bonus of up to AU$10,000 and 100 free
    spins, catering to high rollers and casual players alike.

    References:
    https://blackcoin.co/best-new-online-casinos-to-play-for-real-money-in-2025/

  8. As the Alza rides on P2’s own suspension tuning and ride height, it’s a job well done by our
    local guys and girls. On our construction-scarred urban roads, the
    Alza rides better than the Ativa, which goes around with
    more jiggle and hop. Alza has a car-like 160 mm ground clearance; Mitsubishi Xpander
    rides 45 mm higher We did encounter some rain and can confirm that the Myvi’s wheel-well water splashing noise is absent here.
    There are no abnormal wind issues even at speeds way beyond the national limit and rolling refinement
    is better than the G3 Myvi.
    The Vios, Yaris, City and City Hatchback were recently joined by national SUVs in the form of the Ativa and X50.
    I reached a high of 15.3 km/l before the shoot, and reckon that km/l should be where it’s at
    for my relatively light right foot. Last but
    definitely not least for an affordable family car is fuel
    consumption. The new Alza is a pleasing drive, not just for budget MPV standards, but
    also when compared with B-segment passenger cars in the price
    bracket. All of the above are fused into an overall driving performance
    that’s well-balanced.

    References:
    https://blackcoin.co/free-online-slots-play-the-best-free-slots/

  9. Cryptocurrency withdrawals process within 24 hours typically, often much faster during
    off-peak periods. Withdrawal processing demonstrates Dolly’s commitment to player satisfaction. Cryptocurrency enthusiasts can deposit
    Bitcoin, Ethereum, or Litecoin, enjoying enhanced privacy and lightning-fast confirmations.
    Deposit options span the full spectrum of modern payment solutions.

    The verification team processes documents within 24 hours typically,
    though many players report approval within 6-8 hours.
    The interface responds instantly to commands, whether you’re navigating
    categories or launching games. The platform operates under a Curacao
    gaming license, employing 256-bit SSL encryption that
    rivals banking-grade security.
    The peculiarity of these games is that here a player’s winnings are
    influenced not only by luck but also by their decisions.

    This section contains games that are based on popular classic casino
    games such as roulette, blackjack, baccarat and others. Many providers have
    games where each player’s bet increases the jackpot amount,
    and at some point, one lucky player takes it for themselves.

    In addition to slots, our Dolly Casino website also offers live games,
    jackpot games, table games, instant games and even more.

    References:
    https://blackcoin.co/stay-casino-no-deposit-bonus-australia-free-spins-bonus-codes-2025/

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here