Little Falls, NY – With early voting just days away on October 25 and Election Day on November 4, Mayor Deborah Kaufman returned to The Inside View podcast for her sixth chat with host Ralph Renzulli, delivering a candid update on the city’s fiscal tightrope, a pivotal ballot referendum, and glimmers of hope amid ongoing challenges.
In the episode, Kaufman dives deep into the referendum to shift the treasurer’s role from elected to appointed, a move she calls essential for attracting top accounting talent. “We lost 7% of our population in the last ten years—that’s a lot when you’re starting small,” she explains, highlighting recruitment woes: only two qualified candidates after an eight-month search, both earning six figures elsewhere and uninterested in public life.
Approving the change, she argues, would open the talent pool to neighboring areas like Dolgeville and Herkimer.
Budget woes dominate the discussion, with Kaufman revealing a $1-1.2 million shortfall for 2026 despite early planning and deficit financing via a $3 million state-approved bond that liquidated prior shortfalls. Healthcare premiums jumped 21%, workers’ comp rose 25%, and pensions climbed to 33.7% of payroll for police and fire—totaling six figures in added costs.
She’s negotiating two union contracts while eyeing cuts and revenue tweaks, including cross-training staff.
Still, good things are happening. Six new businesses have opened this year in Canal Place and on Main Street, and regional water sales could generate steady revenue in 3-5 years.
On public safety, she addresses rampant speeding by implementing more patrols, using flashing signs, and considering a potential speed limit drop to 25 mph.
Kaufman reflects on 22 months in office: from “survival mode” amid a surprise $2.8 million deficit to structural stability and future-focused wins like emergency water upgrades. “We’re not sinking anymore—we’re building,” she says.
Tune in to the full episode of The Inside View for details on these issues and more—watch on YouTube (or below) or stream the podcast on your favorite platform today.