OGDENSBURG, New York (WWNY) – Ogdensburg’s city council voted Monday night to adopt a final budget for 2024, but it might be amended in the next few weeks.
That’s because the city is looking to add three police officers.
Police Chief Mark Kearns told councilors the city was awarded a grant that will fully pay for one new officer for one year.
The grant is through St. Lawrence County District Attorney Gary Pasqua’s office.
A Justice Department grant will also pay for two additional officers for three years.
The city has a five-year window to use the funds.
The council unanimously approved using both grants in next year’s budget. They hope to have three new recruits in the police academy come January.
The city’s police force has been short staffed recently.
“Once they are fully trained, we will ensure that we have a 2nd detective,” Kearns said. “Historically, we have had five detectives here in Ogdensburg. Currently, we have one, so it will give us a second detective and it will add an officer to each one of our night shift platoons.”
Interim city manager Andrea Smith says a resolution to budget for the three officers will be added to the next meeting.
It was a 5-1 vote to adopt the budget. Councillor Dan Skamperle was the lone “no” vote.
The budget has a tax rate of $16 per $1,000 of assessed value, a 4% increase in the sewer rate, and no increase in the water rate.
Councillors voted unanimously to exceed the state’s tax cap in order to adopt the budget.
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