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Today’s edition · Fri., Nov. 6

Schenectady's council passes a 2027 budget with a 14% tax increase

Plus, Proctors CEO Philip Morris sets his retirement date after 25 years.

The Today in Schenectady team1 story21 sources4 min read

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City HallTop story

Schenectady's council passes a 2027 budget with a 14% tax increase

What the 14% increase means for a tax bill

14%
tax rate increase approved for 2027
$15.48
about, per $1,000 of assessed value, the new rate
$380
more a year on a house assessed at $200,000

If you own a home in Schenectady, your 2027 tax increase just got smaller. The City Council voted 5-1 Thursday to override the state tax cap and pass a 14% rate increase, down from 42%. It came three days late, after Monday's meeting failed to pass the override.

Mayor Gary McCarthy said the budget process was difficult. He blamed the depletion of federal funding and what he described as mismanagement by past councils. He also said he's not happy with the budget that passed. The city faces a $14 million deficit.

  • Vote: 5-1, with finance chair John Mootooveren opposed
  • One council member was absent
  • Next: a public hearing within 10 days of Nov. 5
  • State aid the city plans to seek: nearly $7 million

Councilman Hayden Engert called it a bare-bones budget. If the state aid doesn't come, he said, "We would have to cut expenses. And unfortunately, I don't know where we would start."

The council cut next year's tax increase from 42% to 14%

Source: WNYT.com

View as table
Value
Earlier increase42%
Approved increase14%

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Asked

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News Notes · More

Proctors

Proctors CEO Philip Morris will retire on March 29, 2027, 25 years after he took the title in 2002. President Jean Leonard, a 15-year veteran who became president in 2024, will succeed him as president and CEO the same day. says the change comes during its 100th anniversary season. WRGBWNYT.comTimes UnionNEWS10 ABC

Philip Morris leads Proctors until his March 2027 retirement

  1. 2002Philip Morris becomes Proctors CEO.
  2. 2024Jean Leonard is named Proctors president.
  3. March 2027Morris retires and Leonard becomes president and CEO.

Sectional soccer

Schalmont's girls lost the Class A final to Averill Park, 4-3 in overtime, ending the Sabres' bid for a seventh straight sectional title. Bethlehem beat Ballston Spa 4-2 on penalty kicks for the Class AA title. WNYT.comThe Daily GazetteThe Daily Gazette

Volleyball

Shenendehowa and Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake are the top seeds in the Section 2 boys' volleyball tournament. Championships are scheduled for Nov. 13 at Schenectady High School. Times Union

Blue Ribbon

Schenectady's Blue Ribbon Family Restaurant & Bakery is opening a second location at 855 Hoosick Road in Brunswick, in the former Country View Diner space. The original on State Street opened in 1977. NEWS10 ABC

Niskayuna golf

Niskayuna sophomore Gracie Ferrara is ranked third in the Northeastern New York PGA for girls ages 15 to 18. She also helped her team place second at sectionals. WRGB

Home

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Around New York · More

Flu

State Health Commissioner James McDonald says flu is hitting about six weeks earlier than normal this year. It's already widespread, including in the Capital Region, and state data showed cases up 19% in one week and hospitalizations up 17%. A new state dashboard tracks flu, COVID and RSV by location. NEWS10 ABCWRGBwnyt.com

UAlbany

UAlbany women's basketball beat Manhattan 62-61 Thursday in Kelly Morrone's first home game as head coach. Two Madison Roman free throws in the final seconds decided it, and Roman finished with 16 points, 16 rebounds and three steals. The Great Danes are 2-0. WRGBNEWS10 ABC

UAlbany won its home opener by one point

  • Manhattan61
    UAlbany62 (won)
    FinalFirst game of the America East-Metro Basketball Challenge

Sources: WRGB, NEWS10 ABC

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Today’s puzzles

A new puzzle in each one every morning, played right here.

All 13 games

Quoted

Writers live twice.

— Natalie Goldberg

Things to Do

Things to Do

Schenectady, NY

Friday, Nov. 6

  • 7 p.m.Cassandra KubinskiCaffe Lena, Saratoga Springs
  • 7 p.m.Girl LoveThe Great Hall at Universal Preservation Hall (UPH) - Complex, Saratoga Springs
  • 7:30 p.m.WickedGE Theatre at Proctors Theatre - Complex · $362.87
  • 8 p.m.Dweezil ZappaPalace Theatre, Albany

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Around the Block

Around the Block

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Neighbors

I hope everyone had a Wonderful Halloween 🎃.

“At Our House we had about 30 trick or treaters. It was great meeting people and giving out candy 🍭 🍫. I loved seeing everyone’s costumes! Here I am dressed up as Miss Madd Hatter. 🩷 Kirsten”

— A neighbor, E Lydius St
Photo from the neighbor’s post

38 likes · 12 comments

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The Wrap

A thrift shop that doubles as a community center? Thrifty Connections in Schenectady has been open since November of 2025, and its seasonal workshops run through November. Fall-themed workshops include Floral Pumpkin Centerpiece and Pine Cone Critters. Pine cone critters sound like our kind of weekend. Go make some.

Missed yesterday’s newsletter? Schenectady's budget leans on $6.5 million in state aid

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  11. The Daily Gazettedailygazette.com
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Today in Schenectadyto me · Fri., Nov. 66:00 a.m.

Schenectady's council passes a 2027 budget with a 14% tax increase

Plus, Proctors CEO Philip Morris sets his retirement date after 25 years.

The TLDR

  1. Council passes 2027 budget with a 14% tax increase
  2. Public hearing on the tax cap override is due soon
  3. Proctors CEO Philip Morris will retire March 29, 2027
Read this edition

More stories this week

From Today in Schenectady’s other editions

All the news
Your MoneyNew York's heating assistance program is open for applications, with benefits up to $1,086If you're worried about heating costs this winter, New York's Home Energy Assistance Program is now accepting applications. The benefit could reach up to $1,086, depending on how you heat your home, for low- and middle-income households and older adults. Apply at ny.gov/HEAP or at your local department of social services, online, by mail or in person.OutdoorsState asks the public to avoid the Berlin forest area as crews finish work on last week's wildfireIf you hike the Taconic ridge, skip it for now. The state Department of Environmental Conservation is asking people to stay away while crews finish addressing the wildfire, and the closure runs until further notice, from Mattison Hollow to Berlin Mountain.City HallSchenectady's budget leans on state aid that nobody has promised yetIf you pay Schenectady property taxes, here's where the budget stands. City officials are expected to advocate for more state aid in the next state budget, and the Times Union calls that a gamble because the aid isn't promised.

Around Schenectady

From WIBX 950, The Journal News and 3 more newsrooms, gathered by 6AM News, 6AM City’s local news service.

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    ALBANY, N.Y. (NEWS10) — The University at Albany women’s basketball team took home a one-point win in a back-and-forth contest Thursday evening. KEY STATS HOW IT HAPPENED NEXT: UAlbany will head on the road to close out the America East-Metro Challenge at Mount St. Mary’s on Sunday (Nov. 8).

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