Citing budget shortfalls from the COVID-19 pandemic, the city of Plattsburgh has already furloughed or laid off about two dozen employees. The mayor says city officials will make budget concerns a focus of their weekly meetings.
Every week a common council committee meets for a half hour. It’s then followed by a half hour work session before the full council begins its regular session. Mayor Colin Read says rather than the budget committee meeting occurring once a month, the weekly work session will now be dedicated to budget issues. “I’m confident we can do something to really save the city but we’re going to make some very hard decisions.”
Mayor Read expects state cuts to AIM, or Aid and Incentive to Municipalities, of nearly 20 percent. It is the second-largest revenue source for the city’s general fund.