Proposed Budget Holds the Line on Property Taxes
Schenectady County Manager Rory Fluman delivered his proposed 2023 Tentative Operating Budget and proposed 2023-2028 Capital Improvement Program to the County Legislature today. Manager Fluman will make a formal budget presentation to the Legislature on Monday, October 3, 2022. Both documents are available at www.schenectadycounty.com/county-manager.
The Tentative 2023 Operating Budget includes $377,996,612 in appropriations and a zero percent increase in the County’s property tax levy.
“Our team continues to develop creative solutions to make government more efficient and effective,” said Schenectady County Manager Rory Fluman. “Without this dedication and creativity, we could not have sustained the level of financial stability we have achieved over a decade of rethinking and redesigning operations and services. I look forward to working with the County Legislature in its review of this budget recommendation and to continue developing new initiatives for our community.”
“Our priority continues to be providing services that our residents need and depend on while holding the line on taxes,” said Anthony Jasenski, Chair of the Schenectady County Legislature. “We look forward to the Manager’s budget presentation and working together to finalize the 2023 budget in the coming weeks.”
“We thank the County Manager and his staff for crafting a budget that reflects the Legislature’s priorities,” said Schenectady County Legislator Philip Fields, Chair of the Ways and Means Committee. “Sound fiscal management has allowed us to keep the county’s tax levy the same as it was in 2016 while still providing record investments in infrastructure and other vital community services."
Highlights of the County Budget proposal include:
Holding the Line on Property Taxes
The proposed budget includes a property tax levy of $71,086,465, which represents a zero percent increase from the 2022 Adopted Operating Budget. Since 2017, the average increase in the County’s tax levy is zero percent, which has saved taxpayers $42 million over the same period, had the levy increased by the maximum allowed under the State Property Tax Cap.
Changes in the tax levy
2017: 0%
2018: -1%
2019: 0%
2020: 0%
2021: 1.95%
2022: -1%
2023: 0%
Mandated Costs
County government budgets in New York State remain dominated by state and federally mandated programs. Over 47 percent of the proposed property tax levy is allocated to the County’s share of Medicaid. Other mandated costs include: Temporary Assistance (TANF & SafetyNet), Child Welfare, Community College chargebacks, Early Intervention, Preschool Education, Indigent Defense, Probation, Youth Detention, Foster Care and Public Health.
Investing in Infrastructure
The $44 million proposed 2023-2028 Capital Improvement Program represents a historic investment in the County’s buildings and infrastructure. This includes over $37 million for capital projects in 2023, including over $1.7 million in library projects, over $4.2 million for SUNY Schenectady, and $4.8 million in airport upgrades.
The 2023 capital budget includes $18.5 million in transportation appropriations to fund road and bridge infrastructure improvements, including approximately 60 miles of preventative maintenance and 20 miles of surface treatments or “new roads”. Other projects planned for completion in 2023 include Rosendale Road/Old River Road Intersection Improvement Project, Sanders Road Culvert Replacement Project, the Old River Road Culvert Replacement Project and a Planning Environmental Linkage (PEL) Study at the I-890 Exit 4C interchange at Washington Avenue and State Street.
Providing Services to the Community
The proposed budget provides for the continuation of services residents rely on, including:
- Increasing the County’s contribution to SUNY Schenectady by two percent and investing over $4.2 million in capital projects and equipment for a historic investment totaling over $9 million for the college;
- The specialized Targeted Street Crime Unit and Sheriff’s Drug Task Force;
- Working with local health care providers, law enforcement, first responders, local coalitions, and community partners to provide access to opioid treatment, address systems gaps and implement new strategies to impact heroin and opioid use, including complete treatment programs, Narcan trainings and community housing and day hab supports; and
- Senior services, including the provision of home-delivered and congregate meals, at-home personal care services, medical transportation services and a host of opportunities for educational and social gatherings.
2023 Budget Presentation and Review Schedule
Monday, October 3: County Manager Budget Presentation & Budget Review 7pm
Tuesday, October 4: Budget Review 7pm
Wednesday, October 5: Budget Review 7pm
Thursday, October 6: Budget Review 7pm
Tuesday, October 11: Public Hearing 7pm
Wednesday, October 19: Budget Consideration 6pm
Meetings will be streamed live on Schenectady County’s YouTube channel, www.youtube.com/SchenectadyCounty.