# Troy, NY 2027 budget: the facts, with sources

The plain-text version of https://budgets.carmellafortroy.com/ for readers, search engines, and AI assistants. Every figure below comes from City of Troy, New York documents. Each source link opens the exact pages, copied from the city's PDF without changes. The full city documents are on troyny.gov.

- Figures checked against city documents on: 2026-10-10
- Covers: the City of Troy General Fund. The Mayor's proposed 2027 budget, adopted budgets 2019 to 2026, audited financial statements 2015 to 2024, and State Comptroller annual reports for 2014 and 2025.
- Method: the 282-page 2027 proposed budget was transcribed line by line. Every line item was checked against the printed subtotals, and every subtotal against the department and fund totals. Differences found inside the city's documents are listed at the end, not corrected.
- Machine-readable data: https://budgets.carmellafortroy.com/data/ (CSV)

## Tax bill

- 2027 proposed city tax rate: $17.097573 per $1,000 of assessed value. Source: [2027 Proposed Budget p. 11](https://budgets.carmellafortroy.com/sources/tax-2027.pdf)
- City tax on a home assessed at $150,000: about $2,565 a year, up about $85 a year ($7.12 a month, the Mayor's figure). Source: [Mayor's budget message p. 1](https://budgets.carmellafortroy.com/sources/message-2027.pdf)
- Property tax revenue required: $30,699,026, up $855,000 (2.9%) from $29,844,026 in 2026. Total tax levy $31,049,026. Source: [2027 Proposed Budget p. 11](https://budgets.carmellafortroy.com/sources/tax-2027.pdf)

### City tax rate history (tax requirements page of each budget)

| Year | Rate per $1,000 | City tax on a $150,000 home | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $14.16 | $2,124 | |
| 2020 | $14.64 | $2,197 | +$72 |
| 2021 | $14.88 | $2,233 | +$36 |
| 2022 | $15.11 | $2,266 | +$34 |
| 2023 | $15.43 | $2,315 | +$49 |
| 2024 | $15.91 | $2,387 | +$72 |
| 2025 | $16.22 | $2,432 | +$45 |
| 2026 | $16.53 | $2,480 | +$47 |
| 2027 (proposed) | $17.10 | $2,565 | +$85 |

The 2027 increase is the largest since at least 2019. In 2027 the levy grows 2.8% but the rate grows 3.4%, because taxable property shrinks by $10.4 million while tax-exempt property grows by $22.0 million. Exempt property grew from $1.50 billion (45.9% of all assessed property) in 2019 to $1.61 billion (47.0%) in 2027.

## Where the money goes (2027 proposed General Fund, $95,136,330)

| Area | Amount | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Police | $28,286,612 | 30% |
| Fire | $25,706,673 | 27% |
| City administration (22 budget lines, including IT, Comptroller, Law, Mayor's office) | $13,561,297 | 14% |
| Retiree health and other benefits not in a department | $8,883,737 | 9% |
| Transfers (debt payments $5,200,968, garbage fund $1,134,967) | $6,335,935 | 7% |
| Parks, recreation, golf, rinks, and pool | $3,546,151 | 4% |
| Streets, snow removal, and marina | $3,510,162 | 4% |
| Code enforcement and examining boards | $1,730,537 | 2% |
| 911 (paid to Rensselaer County) | $1,082,432 | 1% |
| Planning and community development | $1,077,678 | 1% |
| Traffic control | $736,440 | under 1% |
| Parking | $422,297 | under 1% |
| Vital records | $256,379 | under 1% |

Police and fire together are 57% of General Fund spending. The city's budget groups police, fire, code enforcement, 911, traffic control, and parking as "Public Safety" (61%). Source: [Summary of Appropriations, pp. 15 to 18](https://budgets.carmellafortroy.com/sources/appropriations-2027.pdf)

## Budget growth (adopted General Fund budgets)

| Year | Budget | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $73,540,579 | |
| 2020 | $74,740,743 | +1.6% |
| 2021 | $75,824,084 | +1.4% |
| 2022 | $78,746,500 | +3.9% |
| 2023 | $79,798,043 | +1.3% |
| 2024 | $82,110,895 | +2.9% |
| 2025 | $84,483,351 | +2.9% |
| 2026 | $89,460,323 | +5.9% |
| 2027 (proposed) | $95,136,330 | +6.3% |

Mayor Mantello took office in January 2024. The 2024 budget was prepared before then. Sources: tax requirements page of each budget, [2019](https://budgets.carmellafortroy.com/sources/tax-2019.pdf), [2020](https://budgets.carmellafortroy.com/sources/tax-2020.pdf), [2021](https://budgets.carmellafortroy.com/sources/tax-2021.pdf), [2022](https://budgets.carmellafortroy.com/sources/tax-2022.pdf), [2023](https://budgets.carmellafortroy.com/sources/tax-2023.pdf), [2024](https://budgets.carmellafortroy.com/sources/tax-2024.pdf), [2025](https://budgets.carmellafortroy.com/sources/tax-2025.pdf), [2026](https://budgets.carmellafortroy.com/sources/tax-2026.pdf), and [2027](https://budgets.carmellafortroy.com/sources/tax-2027.pdf).

## Savings (General Fund balance at year end)

| Year | Unassigned | Total |
|---|---|---|
| 2014 | -$91,824 | not reported |
| 2015 | $1,138,223 | $14,255,058 |
| 2016 | $1,375,060 | $16,293,559 |
| 2017 | $1,798,931 | $17,133,767 |
| 2018 | $2,014,693 | $18,463,688 |
| 2019 | $3,017,123 | $18,582,411 |
| 2020 | $697,126 | $18,074,077 |
| 2021 | $4,059,475 | $18,218,347 |
| 2022 | $10,123,039 | $18,828,180 |
| 2023 | $9,447,133 | $18,208,819 |
| 2024 | $10,118,179 | $19,078,996 |
| 2025 (not audited) | $10,807,220 | $19,532,775 |

Total savings have stayed between $18.1 and $19.5 million since 2018. Unassigned savings jumped in 2022 because the General Fund's reserve for debt ($5.56 million at the end of 2021) was reduced to $44,055 and the money was reclassified as unassigned. The Government Finance Officers Association recommends unrestricted savings of at least two months of spending, about $15.9 million for a $95 million budget. Sources: audits [2015](https://budgets.carmellafortroy.com/sources/fund-balance-2015.pdf) to [2024](https://budgets.carmellafortroy.com/sources/fund-balance-2024.pdf), State Comptroller reports for [2014](https://budgets.carmellafortroy.com/sources/fund-balance-2014-2015.pdf) and [2025](https://budgets.carmellafortroy.com/sources/fund-balance-2025.pdf).

## Costs budgeted below 2025 spending, and income budgeted above 2025 receipts

| Item | 2025 actual | 2027 budget | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sales tax (income) | $20,337,897 received | $21,600,000 | $1,262,103 more than received |
| Intergovernmental charges (income) | $268,166 received | $1,125,000 | $856,834 more than received |
| Fire overtime (cost) | $2,431,421 spent | $1,675,000 | $756,421 less than spent |
| Police overtime (cost) | $2,071,487 spent | $1,480,000 | $591,487 less than spent |
| Police comp-time buyouts (cost) | $598,722 spent | $200,000 | $398,722 less than spent |
| Fines (income) | $895,101 received | $1,155,500 | $260,399 more than received |
| Judgments and claims (cost) | $266,509 spent | $100,000 | $166,509 less than spent |
| Workers' compensation (cost) | $642,734 spent | $500,000 | $142,734 less than spent |

Total: about $4.4 million. Sources: [2025 fourth-quarter financial report](https://budgets.carmellafortroy.com/sources/year-end-2025.pdf) and the 2027 proposed budget ([revenues](https://budgets.carmellafortroy.com/sources/revenues-2027.pdf), [police](https://budgets.carmellafortroy.com/sources/dept-police.pdf), [fire](https://budgets.carmellafortroy.com/sources/dept-fire.pdf), [judgments](https://budgets.carmellafortroy.com/sources/judgments-2027.pdf), [workers' compensation](https://budgets.carmellafortroy.com/sources/workers-comp-2027.pdf)).

## Where the $13 million increase since 2024 comes from

| Source | Increase, 2024 adopted to 2027 proposed | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Ambulance billing and other department fees | $2,541,777 | 20% |
| Water, sewer, and garbage ratepayers (charges to the General Fund) | $2,489,671 | 19% |
| Property tax | $2,283,227 | 18% |
| Sales tax and other local taxes | $2,145,000 | 16% |
| State aid | $1,938,287 | 15% |
| Interest, school resource officer payments, and other | $1,627,473 | 12% |

Sources: revenue summaries of the [2024 adopted budget](https://budgets.carmellafortroy.com/sources/revenues-2024.pdf) and the [2027 proposed budget](https://budgets.carmellafortroy.com/sources/revenues-2027.pdf).

## Federal relief money (ARPA)

- Troy's allocation: $42,879,140, reported 100% obligated across 55 projects.
- Unspent at March 31, 2026: $11,445,708. Federal rules require it to be spent by December 31, 2026.
- The city's 2027 budget document carries $14,153,983 of ARPA transfers in its 2026 column. The two figures have not been reconciled.
- Allowed uses under Treasury rules: pandemic response and recovery (households, small businesses, nonprofits, hard-hit neighborhoods, public health), extra pay for essential workers, replacing lost city revenue (up to $10 million usable for almost any city service), and water, sewer, and broadband infrastructure. Congress later added disaster relief and some transportation projects. [Treasury rules and guidance](https://home.treasury.gov/policy-issues/coronavirus/assistance-for-state-local-and-tribal-governments/state-and-local-fiscal-recovery-funds)
- Troy's reported use, by category:
  - Help for households, businesses, nonprofits, and neighborhoods: $22,966,751 (33 projects, $4,903,722 not yet spent)
  - Replacing lost city revenue: $8,726,703 ($2,655,506 not yet spent)
  - Public health: $4,179,706 ($2,980,917 not yet spent, mostly Frear Park Revitalization)
  - Water and sewer: $3,777,348 (all spent)
  - Extra pay for essential city workers: $1,388,107 (all spent)
  - City workforce: $950,000 ($872,570 not yet spent)
  - Disaster relief: $600,979 ($27,749 not yet spent)
  - Program administration: $289,545 ($5,243 not yet spent)
- Largest amounts not yet spent at March 31, 2026: Frear Park Revitalization $2,969,706, One Monument Square $1,966,000, Troy Farmer's Market $1,500,000 (reported "Not Started"), American Theatre $1,000,000, City Workforce Development $872,570.
- Sources: [US Treasury SLFRF reporting data through March 31, 2026](https://home.treasury.gov/system/files/136/April-2026-Reporting-Data-through-March-31-2026.xlsx) (Troy is recipient RCP-037559) and [2027 Proposed Budget pp. 174 to 175](https://budgets.carmellafortroy.com/sources/transfers-2027.pdf).

## Mayor's office pay

| Position | Adopted 2024 | Adopted 2026 | Paid in 2026 | Proposed 2027 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Deputy Mayor | $94,266 | $100,000 | $118,450 | $122,004 |
| Confidential Assistant to the Mayor | $48,728 | $55,000 | $64,375 | $66,306 |
| Deputy Director of Public Information | $60,000 | $65,000 | $74,675 | $76,915 |
| Director of Equity and Inclusion | $70,000 | $60,000 | $64,375 | $66,306 |
| Private Secretary to the Deputy Mayor | not listed | not listed | $0 (new) | $43,260 |
| Mayor | $95,000 | $95,000 | $95,000 | $95,000 |

"Paid in 2026" is the current salary printed in the 2027 proposal. Sources: personnel pages of the [2024](https://budgets.carmellafortroy.com/sources/mayor-pay-2024.pdf), [2026](https://budgets.carmellafortroy.com/sources/mayor-pay-2026.pdf), and [2027](https://budgets.carmellafortroy.com/sources/mayor-pay-2027.pdf) budgets.

## Where the Mayor's budget message and the city's figures disagree

These are the claims the records contradict or that are misleading.

Does not match:
- "the increase of our city's budget surplus to $1.2 million dollars": no city document shows it. General Fund surplus: $849,413 (2024), $752,068 (2025, not yet audited).
- "This proposed tax rate remains significantly below those of our surrounding communities": on the State Comptroller's full-value basis (2026), Troy's city rate is $9.76 per $1,000, higher than Albany ($8.49), Schenectady ($8.22), and Saratoga Springs ($2.89).
- "the City's contingency fund is healthy": the contingency appropriation falls from $1,500,000 (2025) to $600,000 (2026) to $500,000 (2027).
- "We are controlling expenditures": the budget grows $5.7 million in 2027 after $5.0 million in 2026, against about $1.7 million a year from 2019 to 2024.
- "Troy has experienced increased activity Downtown": sales tax came in $912,103 under budget in 2025 and is running 1.1% below 2025 in 2026. The 2027 budget assumes $21.6 million.
- "The City has also successfully administered its remaining American Rescue Plan Act funding": $11,445,708 was unspent at March 31, 2026, with a December 31, 2026 deadline.
- The certification that the budget is "in balance": department pages total $95,188,691, summaries $95,136,330.
- The City Hall move will "immediately reduce our annual costs by approximately $100,000": the rent line rises $135,000, to $670,000. The city's October 2025 release put the old City Hall's full cost (rent, shared building charges, a payment in place of taxes, and utilities) at $787,378 against a $675,000 lease, but no other budget line falls in 2027 to show the old building's remaining costs going away.

Misleading (accurate as worded, but the budget shows something the claim leaves out):
- Hiring pause: the one new position without a vacancy offset is a Private Secretary to the Deputy Mayor ($43,260).
- Police "full staffing": 4 of 147 police positions have no current salary on the 2027 staffing pages.
- No garbage fee increase: on net, the General Fund covers $266,464 of garbage costs in 2027 ($1,134,967 transferred in, minus $868,503 the garbage fund pays the General Fund for city services). In 2025 the garbage fund paid the General Fund $75,076 more than it received.
- Water rate increase for treatment chemicals: chemicals rise $279,846, the rate brings in $594,585, and water fund payments to the General Fund rise $1.32 million.
- "Troy stands alone" financially: Binghamton, Niagara Falls, Rome, and Saratoga Springs also have no State Comptroller fiscal stress designation. Troy's savings rank 10th of 18 similar New York cities.

## Differences inside the city's own documents

- The General Fund department pages add up to $95,188,691. The summary pages and tax calculation use $95,136,330. The $52,361 difference is Police equipment ($61,500, a new line missing from the summary) less Corporation Counsel contractual services, which the summary carries $9,139 higher than the department page.
- The Water Fund summary differs from its department pages by $2,500.
- The 2027 proposal's "FY2026 Budget" column is the amended 2026 budget ($104,983,500), not the adopted budget ($89,460,323).