More money for police in Niskayuna proposed
Syed’s budget allots $120,000 more for force
Property taxes would remain flat under outgoing Supervisor Yasmine Syed’s proposed general and highway fund budget that includes more money for a police department with a new chief at the helm.
The preliminary $17.1 million spending plan for 2022 is nearly 4 percent higher than the current budget but does not allocate any monies from the town’s fund balance, she said. The tax rate will remain unchanged at $2.73 per $1,000 of assessed valuation. “That spending is reflective of increased staffing for the police department, so we’re bringing the level back up to 30 officers,” Syed said, adding that there’s also money earmarked for the creation of a lieutenant’s position and possibly a new community resource officer, one of the recommendations from an audit the town paid for earlier this year.
The police force, which has suffered from morale issues over the past few months brought on by complaints of staff shortages and not enough training, is down to abut 25 members. Its budget is up about $120,000 for next year.
Syed said she was able to avoid using the fund balance, or surplus, because of American Rescue Plan Act federal funds to help municipalities offset pandemicrelated economic impacts.
Projections for interest earnings from long- and short-term investments and sales and tax revenue, which took a big hit last year because of the coronavirus, also helped.
Syed, who is leaving office at the end of the year, cautioned that depending on revisions the board makes to her preliminary financial plan, the final plan may tap into the fund balance.
She said her proposed plan also includes money to make improvements to Town Hall and to soccer fields.
Budget review workshops are under way. Town Board members are slated on Oct. 21 to vote on adopting a preliminary budget with the required public hearing set for Nov. 4.
The board’s vote on the final budget is scheduled for Nov. 18.