City Council Meeting October 13, 2026

At its October 13, 2026 meeting, the Ogdensburg, NY City Council received the recommended 2027 budget, which preserves current services and proposes a 2.3% property-tax levy increase: just under $5.7 million, up $209,000, with a tax rate of $15.52 per $1,000 of assessed value. The presentation attributed most of the pressure to benefits, which are projected to rise $713,000 (19%). The budget uses $270,000 of fund balance and excludes $397,000 in temporary municipal assistance because it is uncertain. Council scheduled budget workshops and a public hearing ahead of the December 1 adoption deadline; the budget was not adopted at this meeting.

Council approved the sale of city-owned former Diamond National property under Bill 101 following a public hearing. Council members supported the selected JE Sheehan shipyard proposal, describing it as privately financed; no sale price was stated in the transcript. Council also unanimously approved a 2026 budget amendment recognizing state CHIPS and related road-funding allocations, bringing the stated total to $1,431,954.18. Discussion included the city’s reported $32.7 million in grants secured since 2024, pending Downtown Revitalization Initiative applications, and possible future water-metering investments to improve conservation and grant eligibility; no water-meter purchase or contract was approved.