Plattsburgh city councilors passed a budget Thursday night. Usually they hold a vote in mid-January, but councilors set an early deadline this time.

The 2018 budget includes broad cuts across the city government and a 4.35 percent tax levy increase. That's above the state-mandated tax cap.

Now the city is back in the black. Mayor Colin Read said the early budget gives the city a head start.

“We know we’re going to have a difficult budget year again next year but we’ve now got the luxury of time on our hands to look for a variety of different other ways to do it,” he said.

“Perhaps less pain” next year, the mayor said, “and a look for ways to enhance revenues beyond the property tax base.”

The budget passed easily, without much discussion. The most controversial budget measures were already adopted in July, when city officials voted to consolidate departments. Six people lost their jobs.

City councilors and the mayor are meeting with representatives from Moody’s investors service soon.

That’s partly why the council set the early budget deadline. This summer the officials said they were hoping to finish the budget in time for the meeting. They want to show the bond-rating group that the city is serious about restoring its reserves and financial health.