JOHNSTOWN - City Treasurer Michael Gifford on Monday predicted the city will meet its $3.1 million budgeted in sales tax for this year - a small positive in what could be a dismal fiscal situation for the city heading into 2010.

"It's at least a piece of decent news for next year's budget," Gifford told the Common Council at City Hall.

In his monthly report to the council, the treasurer noted that sales tax revenue figures for the city for the third quarter were "down some" - about $35,000.

But he said the city is expected to make the $3.1 million it budgeted in sales tax for 2009. Gifford said every dollar of sales tax revenue coming into the city helps offset the amount of property tax needed to help balance the city budget.

Gifford and Mayor Sarah Slingerland have expressed concern in recent weeks about news out of Albany indicating there might be midyear state aid cuts. City officials are considering not adopting the 2010 city budget until after the City Charter says it must be in place - about Dec. 1.

In other reports to the council, Assessor Leamon Steele said the city mailed out about 450 School Tax Relief program, or STAR applications to residents.

City Engineer Chad Kortz reported the city's Sidewalk Replacement Program for both residences and businesses has been completed for the year.

"We've got a lot of great comments from the community," he said.

Kortz said the state Department of Transportation has helped the city Department of Public Works with some patching on streets that were previously supposed to be paved using federal stimulus funding.

"We used as little material as possible," Kortz said.

DOT on Oct. 8 decided to delay about $1.2 million of federal stimulus-funded road projects on six Glove Cities streets until next spring and summer. Johnstown's paving work on East State, Glebe and Chestnut streets won't be done until spring or early summer. The city is receiving $400,000 to $500,000 for the work, which will be done by Callanan Industries of Schenectady.

Kortz said DOT helped patch East State and Chestnut streets "a little bit" before the winter hits, even though the three streets in question will be milled anyway in preparation for Callanan's paving work next year.

He said DPW will start Monday "in earnest" to pick up leaves throughout the city. Workers have been cleaning up catch basins and manholes.

Michelle Jones, director of the Johnstown Senior Citizens Center, said her facility will conduct it last two trips of the year this month to Utica and New York City.

Fire Chief Bruce Heberer reported renovations continue at the Holiday Inn, which was basically gutted.

"It's going to be really good when it's done," Heberer said.

Slingerland said another positive aspect of the project is that the "vast majority" of the 45 to 50 workers are from this region.

Michael Anich covers Johnstown and Fulton County news. He can be reached at johnstown@leaderherald.com.