‘RESPONSIBLE BUDGETING’
City Council approves 2022 budget with no tax increase
“Despite all the shortcomings of the pandemic, the city came out in good shape.”
— Watervliet Mayor Charles Patricelli
WATERVLIET, N.Y. » City General Manager Joe LaCivita announced the City Council approved a 0% increase for the coming year at its recent meeting.
LaCivita said the 2022 budget process started in September with extensive meetings with all city department supervisors. The City Council held workshops with each of the departments and reviewed all line-item expenses in detail before a budget was adopted and passed for the upcoming year. The City Council budgeted $12,194,039 in expenditures which will result in a 0% tax increase.
“I was extremely worried about the effects of COVID-19 on the 2022 budget,” Watervliet Mayor Charles Patricelli said.
“Despite all the shortcomings of the pandemic, the city came out in good shape. We had to make some difficult decisions — the furlough of some employees and cutbacks on some essential services — but they were the correct decisions because we worked to provide whatever we could to lessen the impact to our residents. Responsible budgeting, coupled with making difficult, but correct decisions results in city residents not having to dig deeper into their wallets for a tax increase,” Patricelli added.
City officials noted that the 2022 city budget features encouraging line items for the general fund and water budgets:
• The city recently purchased a machine to harvest the water chestnuts in its reservoir located in Guilderland. The removal of the chestnuts has been neglected for more than 12 years. The city intends to clean up weeds around the reservoir that has a direct effect on water quality. The fewer weeds in or around the reservoir, the fewer chemicals required to clean the water. This also is a benefit to Guilderland’s water quality, a major customer of Watervliet.
• In 2022, the city expects higher revenues from sales tax, court fees, and despite some of the city’s expenses increasing, was able to remove other line items to offset these lines. Officials said they are currently looking at sales tax revenue at $3.7 million as compared to $3.4 million for last year.
• The largest increase in the budget will occur with the addition of two new police officers and the addition of a Discovery officer, which is needed to comply with the change in state laws.
• The city will add an additional job title, Economic Planner, who will work toward the development of our invest
ment in the business community with the intention of improving our chances for more state and federal aid to the city.
• The city looks forward to the installation of their new pool improvement project, which will include the splash pool. City officials anticipate an increase in pool passes and the need for more personal. This is a win-win because these improvements and attractions will be sought after by the city’s younger children.
• The city will expand its road improvements in 2022. Crosswalks need desperately to be painted and several city streets will be identified to be repaved. Earlier this year city officials prepared an analysis of every street and classified them according to their condition to be repaved.
• The budget also allows for upgrades to the city DPW. These improvements will allow the DPW to provide services that residents should expect and to keep city employees safe. The city needed to replace two trucks that were in such bad repair that they were not allowed on the road to fulfill their daily duties. The city disposed of those two trucks and purchased another truck with a plow. In addition, the city had two of the pick-up trucks purchased a few years ago fixed with plows as well. In addition, the city purchased a Ventrac machine that has an assortment of attachments that will make it more versatile to cut grass, as a snowblower, broom to clean sidewalks, and has so many other functions.
• Past due improvements at city hall will be made this year. The city hall soffits that have been falling apart and leaking for many years will be repaired. New windows will replace old and outdated windows that literally have windowpanes falling from the building. New windows will stop energy waste throughout the entire year.
• The city anticipates decreasing costs in recycling and intends to increase the educational component to help increase recycling tonnage. The more city residents recycle means less trash to the landfill, which reduces tonnage and expenses.
“Our success with the 2022 budget is the result of teamwork among city employees and department heads, the city council, and the residents and friends of the city who volunteered to accomplish some of the many improvements and programs over the past yearand-half,” Patricelli said.
“In addition to all the volunteering, we were able to work with both the county and neighboring cities to share equipment and manpower when needed. We will continue to work with other communities to help improve services and reduce unnecessary expenses. When we all work together, formulate a plan that makes the best decisions for the City of Watervliet, so much more is possible, like a 0% tax increase for city residents after a year made difficult because of a worldwide pandemic,” Patricelli added.
Provided is the link to the city website for the budget presentation. https://watervliet.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/1½022-CityBudget-Presentation.pdf