Seneca Falls residents will have a chance to speak on the town’s proposed 2027 budget Tuesday before the Town Board considers adopting the spending plan, overriding the property tax levy limit and addressing a dispute over the Department of Public Works.
The Nov. 3 meeting begins at 6 p.m. at Town Hall, 130 Ovid St., with a public hearing on the preliminary budget. Budget adoption and the tax cap override are listed for consideration later in the meeting.
The agenda also includes proposed floodplain regulations, a Parks and Recreation staffing change and presentations concerning “The Flats,” the town’s financial resilience and proposed It’s a Wonderful Life Museum exhibits.
Budget follows spending cuts and police staffing debate
During their Oct. 22 budget workshop, board members identified approximately $436,556 in reductions, including an estimated $130,000 in savings from leaving a vacant police patrol position unfilled. No officers would be laid off under that approach.
Other reductions included lowering the town manager salary allocation to $110,000, engineering contractual expenses to $175,000 and the town books auditing allocation to $150,000. Two part-time cleaning positions were reduced to one.
The police vacancy drew debate. Police officials reported that duty-related events had increased 40% since 2023 and calls for service had risen 12%. Board members ultimately agreed to try leaving the position vacant.
The workshop also exposed concerns about relying on reserves and landfill revenue to support spending. Officials discussed available fund balance, a tax stabilization account and landfill payments, alongside warnings about how much money would remain for future budgets.
Board members reached a general consensus during that workshop on a 4% tax levy increase. Tuesday’s agenda includes a separate proposal to override the tax levy limit, followed by a resolution to adopt the budget. Neither proposal has been approved.
DPW resolution would set filing deadline
Another proposed resolution would direct Town Clerk Melissa Brown to submit documents concerning the law establishing the Department of Public Works to the state within 48 hours of its passage.
The proposal says the board adopted the department’s enabling law in October 2024, but the filing submitted to the Department of State that December omitted the law’s text.
It cites Town Attorney Patrick Morrell’s advice that the omission should be corrected, beginning with contacting the state about its requirements.
The proposed resolution also describes Brown’s objections to the department’s legal authority, including questions about whether departmental duties were adequately defined and whether transferring highway responsibilities could require a referendum.
If approved, the resolution would authorize the town to retain independent counsel and seek a court order compelling the filing if Brown does not comply within the deadline.
Those assertions and directives are part of the proposal awaiting board consideration.
Flood rules, infrastructure and other business
The board will also consider introducing updated flood damage prevention regulations and scheduling a Dec. 1 public hearing at 6 p.m.
The proposal says the town must adopt updated regulations incorporating revised flood maps by Jan. 22, 2027, to maintain eligibility for the National Flood Insurance Program. Tuesday’s action would begin that process.
An engineering update reports that water system improvements remain on schedule for winter bidding and construction beginning in spring 2027, pending agency approvals. It also reports that a grant application for sidewalk improvements on Bayard and Garden streets was unsuccessful.
A state environmental notice included among the meeting communications describes an approximately $8 million cleanup at the former G.T.E. Products Corporation site at 50 Johnston St. Work is expected to begin in November and last about one to 1½ years.
Other business includes military banners, a Women’s Right to Run 5K and 19K event application, and a proposal to accept Parks and Recreation Clerk Hayley Jones’ resignation and advertise a senior clerk position starting at $25.77 an hour.
Public comment on current agenda items is scheduled near the beginning of the regular meeting, with another public comment period later in the evening.
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