BY JIMMY LAWTONNorth Country This Week

OGDENSBURG — Higher costs for electricity, gasoline and equipment maintenance are putting pressure on Ogdensburg’s 2026 budget, leaving little room for unexpected expenses as it moves into the second half of the year.

City Comptroller Angela Gray told the City Council during a six-month financial review that several major expense categories have less than half of their budgets remaining.

The city’s 2026 budget was tight when it was adopted last year, Gray said, with little, if any, surplus built into the spending plan.

Heat, lights and power are among the areas being watched. Each has less than 50% of its budget remaining.

She said equipment maintenance is running high and gasoline costs are up due to higher fuel prices.

Those costs are showing up across city departments. Gray said departments with less than half of their budgets remaining are generally being affected by electricity, gasoline and employee benefits.

Employee benefits are another area the city is reviewing. Both the general fund and sewer fund have less than 50% of their employee benefit budgets remaining, she said.

Gray said the comptroller’s office will look more closely at those costs in the coming weeks to determine whether the city is on track for the rest of the year.

Revenues 

The spending concerns come as some city revenues are higher than they were at the same point last year, but Gray cautioned that some of those increases are not recurring.

Sales tax revenue is up year to date, prompting Councilor Dan Skamperle to ask what was behind the increase.

Gray said the city saw a large increase during the first quarter but that the growth appears to be slowing based on the figures available. She did not have specific information regarding the cause.

She pointed to new businesses that have moved into the city, including Dollar General, as well as higher gas prices and other economic factors that can affect sales tax collections.

Other revenue increases are tied to money the city does not expect to receive again.

She said the city has received $94,000 in self-insurance recoveries which is one-time revenue and will not be available to help fund the 2027 budget.

The city also received $75,000 in miscellaneous state aid in 2025  that money was federal recovery funding that won’t come in again.

A police grant also is expected to be nearly or completely spent by the end of 2026, meaning that money will not be available as a recurring revenue source in 2027.

Water use 

Water usage is another issue the city is watching closely.

Metered water and sewer revenue has increased, with Gray reporting about 11 million additional gallons of water usage compared with the same period last year.

Deputy Mayor Jennifer Stevenson asked what was causing the increase.

Gray said city officials are looking into the numbers and will contact major users to make sure the additional usage is accurate and to determine whether a leak or another problem could be responsible.

Water and sewer revenue from the rate increases included in the 2026 budget is coming in as expected.

Interest and penalty revenue also is higher in both funds which is  partly the result of the city’s new utility billing system.

Under the previous system, interest and penalties were generally recorded when payments were received or through a year-end adjustment. The new system records them when a water or sewer bill becomes delinquent.

City Hall and DPW

Gray also reviewed spending by department, including the Department of Public Works, city garage, snow removal, sidewalks and the arena.

City Hall has 42% of its budget remaining, although Gray said some of the spending reflects painting work that will ultimately be reimbursed by the court.