Philip Barrett, supervisor from the Town of Clifton Park, was elected chairman of the Saratoga County Board of Supervisors for 2025 and sworn into office at the boards organizational meeting. Supervisor Matthew E. Beach was elected vice chair and also took the oath of office.

The elections were made by nomination and roll-call vote. Supervisor Tolleson nominated Barrett for chair and Supervisor Grasso seconded the nomination; Barrett accepted. Barrett was sworn in by a judge at the meeting. Later, Supervisor Collin nominated Matthew E. Beach for vice chair, with Supervisor Arnold seconding; Beach accepted and was sworn in.

The choice of leadership sets the boards committee structure for the year. Barrett said the board will continue focusing on keeping Saratoga County "a low cost place to live and flourish in your business ventures" and highlighted several ongoing and upcoming priorities. "We have the lowest taxes and lowest per capita spending of all 55 upstate counties," Barrett said. He told colleagues the board in 2024 launched initiatives that will come to fruition in 2025 and pointed to a multi-decade facility study intended to inform long-term county facility needs.

Barrett described several items the board will pursue in 2025: closing on a county purchase to provide a permanent location for the countys state-mandated Code Blue program; continuing a comprehensive facilities study to assess county assets and future needs; overseeing an expanded environmental health unit that has hired staff to take on responsibilities previously performed by New York State; and implementing new New York State short-term rental regulations and reviewing hospitality administration.

He also thanked the sheriff and sheriffs office staff for recent recruitment efforts and noted that two new academy classes have graduated, adding sworn staff to the department. Barrett acknowledged the countys expanded animal shelter operations and preservation work, saying the county has been successful preserving recreational areas and farmland and that trails and open space work will continue to expand. Barrett thanked county administrators, department heads and staff for their work and asked staff to distribute committee assignments for 2025.

Barretts remarks included recognitions and personal notes about former supervisors who left or passed away in 2024 and a thank-you to family members who attended the meeting. The board continued with the remainder of the meeting after the swearing-in and assignment of committee roles.

Ending: Following the oaths and remarks, the board moved on to routine organizational business, including a packet of resolutions and chairmans appointments that were later adopted in a single vote.