2022 budget passes with 4-3 vote
TROY, N.Y. » The Troy City Council adopted Troy Mayor Patrick Madden’s 2022 city budget proposal. The budget passed along party lines, 4-3.
In the budget, the initial tax levy was lowered. The budget’s General fund totaled $78,746,500. Garbage fund $5,025,524, Water fund $12,282,377, and Sewer fund $4,238,856. There was also $956,515 of capital reserve appropriations transferred to the capital projects fund. The Collar City’s annual budget is below the New York State Property Tax Cap for the fifth consecutive year as well.
Troy Mayor Patrick Madden appeared pleased with the final adoption of the budget.
“After assuming office in 2016, this administration set out to rebuild public confidence in the city’s finances. Approval of our sixth consecutive balanced budget by the City Council keeps our community on the right path heading in the right direction. This fiscally responsible plan will improve city operations and essential services with long-deferred investments in municipal departments to improve neighborhood quality of life. I applaud the members of the City Council for supporting this common sense budget, and look forward to implementing this plan for the benefit of Troy families,” Madden stated.
“After years of fiscal uncertainty, the Madden administration has rebuilt the city’s financial foundation through strong budgetary oversight, fact-based financial forecasting, and implementation of six consecutive balanced budgets. Today, the City of Troy is making new investments to support neighborhood growth, rebuild infrastructure, revitalize the waterfront, enhance capacity in key departments, and strengthen municipal services,” Madden added.
The administration’s 2022 budget proposal adds staff capacity in various departments, including Code Enforcement, Streets, Parks, and Parking Enforcement.
The budget also includes the creation of a permanent Director of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) within the Mayor’s Office to assist in developing City-wide programs and policies that promote diversity within the City workforce.
Additionally, the City will finance the purchase of new police vehicles from the General Fund. Previously, the City bonded for the costs of police vehicles. The direct purchase of police vehicles was a recommendation of the NYS Comptroller’s Office and consistent with best practices recognized by the City’s credit rating agencies. Amendments to the final budget also included: Percent increase 1.58%
Annual increase — $150,000 property $35.33 Monthly increase — $150,000 property $2.94 2022 Garbage fee $219/unit (annual) Troy City Council President Carmella Mantello was among the three to vote against the proposed
budget, giving it mixed reviews.
“Over the past several weeks, the City Council scrutinized the Mayor’s proposed 2022 budget line by line through over a dozen meetings, public hearings and workshops with department heads and supervisors. Last evening the Troy City Council met for over four hours amending, debating and eventually passing the 2022 budget,” Mantello stated.
“While I’m pleased the Democrat Council Majority agreed with some of the Minority proposals such as pausing a Citywide reassessment and addressing the firefighter staffing shortage short term and long term, the Democrat Majority Council opposed the Council Minority’s proposal to minimize new hires which focused more on filling existing vacancies to encourage more efficiency and synergy in various departments,” Mantello continued.
“Additionally, the Majority Council continues placing the burden on the taxpayers and residents by increasing the annual garbage fee which began as a temporary fee at $160 per year 4 years ago and will now increase to $219 for 2022,” Mantello explained.
“One piece of the budget I did support is the Capital plan part of the budget, which adds much needed equipment and building renovations for our public works, public utilities and public safety departments; continued reconstruction of the South Troy Industrial Roadway; continued improvements of the Frear Park golf course; and the Riverwalk Trail,” Mantello noted.
“I will continue working to protect our taxpayers and residents, and keep our neighborhoods safer and cleaner,” Mantello added.
Additional highlights of the budget include:
Further reduction of the Water Fund surplus transfer by $625,000. This is the second consecutive year which the administration has reduced the budgeted transfer to the General Fund.
No deferral of the City’s annual employee pension contributions.
For the first time in over a decade, labor contracts with all six of the City’s bargaining units are current and accounted for in the 2022 spending plan.
The budget 2022 Capital Plan includes funding for investments in various city-owned facilities, parks, and critical infrastructure projects. Highlights include: Purchase of new emergency vehicles for the Troy Fire Department, including an aerial ladder apparatus, new ambulance (the third new ambulance since 2017), and $825,000 for improvements at various fire stations, including the historic Canal Street Station in South Troy.
Purchase of two new garbage trucks (Department of Sanitation) and a new street sweeper (Department of Streets).
Funding for Phase 2 construction of the South Troy Industrial Park Road project to help remove heavy truck traffic from the South Troy and South Central neighborhoods and support future redevelopment along Troy’s southern waterfront.
$3M for extension of the Riverwalk trail northward to the Hoosick Street Bridge. This project includes the redevelopment of the park beneath the bridge underpass and adjacent to the Hudson River.
Funding for the city’s portion of the Monument Square and Riverfront Park 2.0 waterfront redevelopment project.
$300,000 for design work for the planned replacement of the upper high service tank (Department of Public Utilities) to strengthen the reliability of water delivery services.
Funds for design work associated with the Congress & Ferry Street transportation improvement project (TIP) to enhance pedestrian safety and accessibility on Congress and Ferry Streets, as well as the proposed Route 2 Multi-Modal Connectivity Project.
$1M for planned improvements for the Frear Park Golf Course, including an upgraded drainage system for the back nine. This investment will expand the playing season, allowing for greater use and increase course revenue.
The 2022 Capital Plan also accounts for necessary costs associated with Phase 2 of the Tomhannock Water Transmission Line project (2023) to replace century-old water lines between the Tomhannock Reservoir and the Water Treatment Plant, and plans for the $7.5M replacement of Fire Station #1 in Troy’s Lansingburgh neighborhood.