Charles Effner

The 2026 Adopted Budget includes a summary of budget by funds, citywide and general fund graphs, tax information, debt information, fund balance and reserves appropriations, summary of expenditure, general fund revenues, appropriations, water fund revenues, appropriations, sewer fund revenues, appropriations, miscellaneous special revenue, debt service fund, enterprise fund revenues, expenditures, internal service fund revenues, expenditures, community development program income, equipment schedule, personal services schedule, capital plan, and capital plan funding summary.

The document is the 2026 preliminary budget for the City of Oneonta, summarizing the budget by funds, including the General Fund, Water Fund, Sewer Fund, Enterprise Fund, and Miscellaneous Special Revenue. It includes revenues, appropriations, and changes from the adopted 2025 budget. The budget covers various expenditure types such as personal services, equipment, materials, professional services, and debt service. It also details fund balance and reserve uses, tax cap formulas, and expenditure classifications.

The memorandum discusses updates to the 2026 Tentative Budget, including adjustments made following a special council meeting. Key changes involve reductions in appropriations for street equipment rental, city hall repairs, park repairs, and clean-up services, alongside an increase in contingency funds. There are also adjustments to the Fire Department's budget, specifically for overtime, retirement, and FICA expenses. A correction was identified in the Code Enforcement department's budget related to a title change. The total tax levy decreased, and the Contingency budget was reduced. The memo also includes details on Fire and Police overtime costs and notes minor corrections to labels, headers, and spacing in the budget document.

The memorandum discusses the preliminary budget for 2026. It includes a summary of budgets by funds, city-wide graphs, updated tax cap formula information, fund balance and reserves proposed appropriations, a summary of expenditure types, equipment and capital outlay schedule, personal services schedule, and a detail of requests by fund. The budget includes an increase of the tax levy by $300,000 and use of Unrestricted Reserves of $1,800,000. The use of Restricted Reserves totals $1,593,415 and requires Council's approval to replenish reserve balances. The General Fund Revenue Budget increases total $1,020,955. The Water Fund includes a budget increase of $385,000 for Metered Water Sales. Sewer Rents include a budget increase of $225,000. The preliminary budget does not include any new full-time positions.

The City of Oneonta council members reviewed the 2025 tax roll, comparing it to the 2023 roll, and discussed the makeup of the city's parcels, including those that are wholly exempt and those receiving exemptions. The discussion covered possible increases in the tax levy and their potential effects on different tax roll categories. The council also considered the importance of exempt properties, such as colleges and hospitals, to the city's composition and economy. The potential for new revenue sources through economic development, occupancy tax, and paid parking were also discussed.