Schenectady's council votes 5-1 for a 14% property tax cap override

If you own property in Schenectady, next year's tax increase just got smaller. The City Council voted 5-1 Thursday to override the state property tax cap at 14%, down from 42%. Finance chair John Mootooveren voted no, and one member was absent.

• Next step: public hearing within 10 days of the Nov. 5 vote
• Budget takes effect in January, after the mayor's hearing
• State aid request: nearly $7 million, per Councilman Hayden Engert

Mayor Gary McCarthy blamed the budget squeeze on the depletion of federal ARPA funding and what he described as mismanagement by past councils. Engert warned that without the state aid, “We would have to cut expenses. And unfortunately, I don't know where we would start.”