Proposed charter will cost taxpayers $0
The 2018 Charter Review Commission (“CRC”) was formed to find efficiencies and organizational improvements to better serve the people who live and work in the City of Saratoga Springs, all while keeping the commission form of government. While CRC Chair Vincent DeLeonardis and I have been speaking to City voters on the CRC’s work, one question repeatedly asked is “How much will the Proposed Charter cost taxpayers?” As our recently released Financial Summary shows, the answer is simple: the Proposed Charter, excluding the potential expansion to seven members, will cost city taxpayers $0.
Amendments proposed to improve professionalism, such as the addition of deputy qualifications and departments like HR and IT being given appropriate autonomy, cost $0.
Removing unilateral appointments for certain commissions, boards, and individuals serving critical City-wide roles costs $0.
Realigning certain departments so that city functions better match the responsibilities of city officials costs $0.
Increasing the flexibility of city operations, so that the City Council can more easily adapt as demands and resources change, costs $0.
Improving the consistency and readability of the Charter so that readers, be they city employees or residents, can clearly understand the document, costs $0.
Details about all of the amendments in the Proposed Charter can be found in the Charter Commission portion of the city website. Approval of these $0 cost amendments, excluding expansion, will be the first Charter-related question posed to voters on the ballot this November.
Regarding expansion, potentially increasing the City Council from five to seven members will be the second question on the ballot, allowing voters to decide separately from the proposed amendments referenced above. Increasing the City Council, with two Council MembersAt-Large serving as equal legislators with existing City Council members but without any departmental responsibilities, was proposed to address a concern raised by some residents about their desire to run for office, but their inability due to the legislative and departmental responsibilities. Expanding the City Council to seven members can only be enacted with a “YES” vote on both questions.
Should voters approve expansion there will be a cost increase, with the salary earned by new Council MembersAt-Large determined by the City Council through the local law process, which allows residents to voice their opinion through a public hearing. As this process will only occur should expansion be approved, the salary of the Council Member-At-Large is unknown. In the CRC’s Financial Summary, we’ve estimated the cost of expansion using the current Council salary of $14,500, as that is the figure currently in place.
Assuming a salary of $14,500 for each new MemberAt-Large, and no benefits, the expected increased expense to the city for expansion would be $31,218. If these new elected officials are also offered benefits, the most conservative estimate for the total cost of expansion would be $81,846, which assumes the City’s most expensive healthcare plan. For reference, $31,218 and $81,846 represent 0.07% and 0.18% of the city’s $46.1 million 2018 Adopted Budget, respectively.
In summary, Charter Question No. 1 on the upcoming ballot refers to the amendments included in the Proposed Charter, excluding expansion, and costs $0. Charter Question No. 2 asks if the Charter should be further amended to expand the City Council from five to seven members, and would come with an increased cost.
The CRC Proposed Charter is available at the Saratoga Springs Library and Recreation Center, and also on the City website with other CRC documentation, including the Financial Analysis. Residents are also invited to a Charter Review Public Forum at the Saratoga Springs Public Library on Tuesday, October 23.
Mike Sharp