Council Democrats Oppose Mayor’s Unbalanced Budget for 2025
Republican Majority Rubber Stamps Mayor’s Budget Plan Without Asking a Single Question
Troy, New York (Dec. 2, 2024) - Council President Sue Steele and Councilmembers Katie Spain-McLaren and Aaron Vera today issued a joint statement regarding the final vote on Mayor Mantello’s unbalanced city budget for 2025. The budget passed 4-3 with the Republican majority voting to rubber stamp the mayor’s unrealistic spending plan without asking a single question.
“During the many weeks of public hearings on the mayor’s proposed 2025 spending plan, the administration built zero trust or confidence in their budget figures. Massive gaps continue to exist for recurring expenses, including 911 emergency dispatch services provided by Rensselaer County, operation of the Knickerbacker Ice Arena, Downtown Marina, and swimming pools. The budget also fails to account for expected increases for union labor contracts in 2025.
“Unfortunately, the budget process prohibits council-members from amending revenue figures, leaving us unable to realistically address serious shortfalls in the current proposal.
“As a result, we cast our votes against the mayor’s structurally-unbalanced budget for 2025. Unfortunately, this was the only outcome due to limited information provided by the administration, and restrictions placed on the council’s ability to amend what are clearly major shortfalls and exaggerated numbers.
“Ultimately, taxpayers will be the most impacted by this structurally-unbalanced budget. We will continue to closely track spending in the coming year and will continue to press Mayor Mantello to fill critical vacancies in her administration, including hiring a city comptroller and new corporation counsel.”
During the final vote on Tuesday evening, Democratic councilmembers reinforced their major concerns with the mayor’s proposed budget, including:
Inadequate Contingency Fund, a budget line meant to handle unexpected occurrences. Administration officials insist $1.5 million will cover emergency dispatch services for 911, the five union labor contracts, operation of the downtown marina, Knickerbacker ice rink, and South Troy swimming pool, among others. The current figure is insufficient to account for all of these individual expenses.
Energy credits for the city’s solar array. The credits are improperly accounted for in the budget, showing $500,000 revenue for sale of electrical powers while deducting the same credits from expenditures.
Overestimated revenues for sales tax, garbage fee, parking & building permits, and underestimated expenditures. Data for all categories shows statewide trends in the opposite direction. This can result in a budget deficit.
Labor contracts for the city’s unionized employees. These employees deserve their contracts be renewed at a fair resolution to taxpayers and staff. The budget fails to account for costs to settle these contracts.
Record-high vacancies citywide. Failure to address the more than 50 vacancies across all municipal departments will impact the delivery of essential city services to residents. The city comptroller position also remains vacant, and the corporation counsel position will be vacated shortly.
Comments from the City Council’s Democratic caucus are available on the council’s official YouTube channel: https://youtube.com/@troycitycouncil [comments on final budget vote begin at 15:24]
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