SCHENECTADY Mayor to Make Decision on City Budget

SCHENECTADY — The city is facing a Dec. 31 deadline to ​have a 2024 budget deal⁣ in place, and Mayor Gary ⁢McCarthy is expected to make ‍a decision on a potential second​ budget ⁤veto soon.

Following Monday ⁤night’s City ⁢Council meeting, McCarthy stated⁤ that he is nearing a ​conclusion on‍ whether to sign the $109 million budget the council passed on‍ Thursday.

“I’m still looking at‌ some ​things and I’ll have a decision ⁣out ‌tomorrow ​ [Tuesday] or Wednesday,” McCarthy said.

Implications of‍ Missing the Budget ‌Deadline

If the city does not have an approved budget in⁤ place by Jan. 1, it may ⁤not be‍ able to fund​ its operations, according to McCarthy. He stated, “I⁤ believe there’s‍ no‌ authority to expend any money. That’s the opinion of ‍the [state] ⁢comptroller’s office that’s been issued for ‍other​ municipalities in this situation.”

City Council President ‍Marion Porterfield is still ‌investigating the consequences of the city potentially⁣ not having a budget agreement at​ the end⁢ of the year. ⁣She expressed ⁤hope that McCarthy will sign the council’s ⁤second budget, which did not make major changes to the first ‍plan ​the mayor vetoed.

State⁣ Comptroller’s Office Response

Mark Johnson, press secretary⁣ for ​New York State‌ Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli, deferred questions on the topic⁤ back to the city. He​ stated, ​“Unlike towns and ‌villages, the procedures ⁤for adopting and administering city budgets are generally governed by a city’s charter.” Johnson also mentioned ​that he ⁢was not aware of the comptroller’s office issuing guidance related to the city budget process.

Corporation Counsel’s​ Response

Schenectady Corporation Counsel Andrew Koldin did not respond to requests for comment on the ramifications of the​ city potentially⁤ missing ⁣the Dec.⁣ 31‌ budget deadline.