Troy budget delivered on time but comptroller questions remain

TROY, N.Y. (NEWS10) – Earlier this year Troy city council members raised concerns around the accuracy and timeliness of financial reports. The city delivered its budget on time, however questions remain as the city has had a vacant comptroller position for months.

Last week the administration delivered the 2025 budget on time, before the 11:59 pm deadline on October 10. 

The budget was crafted despite the fact that the city has had no comptroller since July, when Dylan Spring abruptly quit after a finance meeting. It happened at one of the most crucial times, as the city was approaching budget season.

Mayor Carmella Mantello said the city’s finances were in a mess when her administration inherited it.

“The first time in 40 years the new mayor, the new administration, has come into office in December with the books not being closed,” said Mantello.

She said that left them with a herculean effort as they prepared to submit the budget. The administration delivered the 2025 spending plan just moments before midnight on Thursday.

“I’m concerned it was done haphazardly and it was rushed. That would explain why we didn’t receive it until just moments before midnight just under the deadline,” said Troy City Council President Sue Steele.

“There’s a full transparent process that kicks in and to pick apart a budget that you haven’t even had an overview on, which is happening tonight, is really irresponsible and very political,” said Mantello.

Steele said after reviewing the 2025 budget she has lingering concerns around filling that comptroller vacancy with someone who has the right skill set.

“We are further noticing that she has not budgeted for a comptroller at the level that we need, at the salary level that we really need in order to attract someone of quality,” said Steele,

In the 2025 budget the comptroller salary is budgeted at $103,000 but the council has authorized a salary of up to $150,000.

The administration said, depending on how qualified the candidate is, they would get the relevant increase, although that money would have to come from the contingency fund.

Mantello praised BST, the accounting firm the city hired to assist with the budget, and her staff that helped compile the budget. She attributed the rocky situation to a comptroller crisis. 

“I’m aware the state comptroller‘s office is having a tough time finding folks in accounting, other municipalities have lost their comptroller have not filed their annual financial reports, have not filed other reports that are needed, and that’s not just locally here in the Capital Region that’s throughout the state,” said Mantello.

Steele has concerns about honest budgeting after she found no funds budgeted for CSEA contract negotiations. 

“We are going to be going through the budget more thoroughly as we have budget hearings with the council,” said Steele.

The administration is slated to present the budget to the city council Tuesday evening and that meeting is open to the public.