PLATTSBURGH — The City of Plattsburgh has approved its first budget under new Mayor Wendell Hughes.
At their meeting Jan. 2, councilors unanimously approved the 2025 fiscal plan, which came in at $68,004,434.81 in total appropriations, after making several year-end budget adjustments.
MANAGER SALARIES
Councilors had a lengthy discussion about the city manager’s salaries as well. Hughes, who took office just last week, said he will be releasing a resolution regarding the manager’s salaries next week.
He said that resolution will reveal more information.
“We’ve been going back and forth,” Hughes said.
“The council has been looking at the way the managers are paid. They have an idea, and I can’t (say) too much, because it was all in executive session, but we did reach a compromise, and I think I’m happy with it.”
“We’ll get it done,” Councilor Julie Baughn (D-Ward 1) and new mayor pro tem said after the city’s first meeting of the year concluded as well.
“…We had an executive session, went over a few things, discussed what we want to get done, and so we’ll go from here. Hopefully, by next meeting, we’ll have it all cleared up.”
This 2025 budget was the last under former Mayor Chris Rosenquest, who proposed a tax rate of $9.401 per $1,000 of assessed property value and a tax levy of $12,121,349 when he released it in October of 2024.
HUGHES: ‘WE’RE IN A GOOD PLACE’
In a sit-down interview with the Press-Republican at the end of December, Rosenquest said he felt he was leaving the city in good financial shape.
“But I think overall, given the resources that I came in (with), having the resources of the city, the city is in much better shape than it was, and hopefully it continues that way,” he said.
“I’m happy with how I’m leaving it.”
Just days into his term, Hughes has similar optimism about the city’s direction.
“I think it went really well,” Hughes said about the budget, adding that there are areas they can improve upon with spending, however.
“I think we’re in a good place.”