My politics just right for Saratoga Springs
When I began my first term as Saratoga Springs Finance Commissioner in 2012 my main focus was to restore essential city services as quickly as possible without raising property taxes. I did so in my first year. Also during that first term I set aside two city owned parcels for the development of three new affordable housing units, appointed two members of Sustainable Saratoga to our Comprehensive Plan Review Committee, appointed a well known community advocate of alternative transportation to the Complete Streets Committee, and announced my intention to lead the development of the Spa Solar Park on the Wiebel Avenue landfill – a plan brought to me by another local community activist with Sustainable Saratoga.
I shepherded the affordable housing and solar park initiatives through several subsequent terms, seeing them both come to fruition, and ensured a yearly budget for our tree planting initiatives that led to our being a designated “Tree City” by the Arbor Day Foundation. During the entirety of my four terms in office I have successfully championed and implemented progressive initiatives that came to me from community members. Yet my general election opponent and her supporters keep insisting that I am out of touch with the community and not “progressive enough.”
I find this troubling and confusing. And hurtful.
My key duties as Finance Commissioner include managing the finance department, chairing the budget committee, collecting revenue, paying our bills on time, and acting in place of the Mayor in his or he absence or disability.
During my tenure, I have worked with all departments to craft realistic workable budgets that serve our residents without unnecessary tax increases. I ensured that we had the funds needed to settle yearslong multi-million dollar legal matters and long outdated union contracts, restore our depleted public safety and public works labor forces, and respond to emergencies and unplanned expenditures without having to raise taxes. I obtained stellar bond ratings for the city and refinanced debt at lower interest rates (saving $3.6million).
We have an excellent staff in the finance department who do good work and provide me with excellent support. Without them my job would be much harder. My opponent would have the voters believe that due to the strength of our staff all of these financial successes would have occurred regardless of who sat in my chair these last 8 years. History suggests otherwise.
I have served this city well, and due to my efforts our financial position is excellent. I lost an extremely close Democratic primary in June. I have not failed this city and there is more work for us all to do together. Your support is crucial to me and to the financial health of Saratoga Springs.
I humbly ask for your vote on one of the following ballot lines on November 5th: row D the Working Families Party, or row G the Independence Party, or row H the Serve America Movement. Thank you. Michele Madigan is the current Commissioner of Finance in Saratoga Springs and is seeking reelection this year.