2027 Budget Work Session #1

Ogdensburg City Council’s 2027 Budget Work Session #1 on October 15, 2026, reviewed proposed revenues and department appropriations. No contract awards, bid approvals, or formal procurement votes were reported. The budget includes a USDA-financed fire truck, with an interest rate reported at 4.625%, and $578,000 in expected general-fund principal payments. Police fleet costs were also discussed: two replacement vehicles are at an outfitter, and the department said leasing remains cost-effective. A delayed DPW dump-truck order, placed in June 2024, was still outstanding after more than two and a half years. The budget also creates a $19,500 line for copier leases and separates computer expenses for clearer tracking.

Council discussed capital needs at City Hall and the arena, including an estimated $6 million for clock-tower restoration and other building work, though no project funding or award was approved. Members asked management to provide financing comparisons for the local shares of the Green Resiliency and New York Swims grants, including borrowing versus using fund balance; further discussion is pending. The proposed property-tax rate increase was 2.34%, while the mayor raised a possible $60,000 levy reduction that could lower the increase to 1.25%; members requested more information and took no final action. Management was also asked to provide a governmentwide comparison clarifying DPW salary and retiree-health allocations.