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SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. -- Employees of the Saratoga Spring Housing Authority are seeing a wage freeze this next fiscal year, after the embattled organization approves its annual budget. The authority has come under fire on a number of issues since reports of bed bugs at the Stonequist Apartments surfaced last summer.

One of the major hot points is the executive director Ed Spychalski's salary. Last year, he made a base salary of nearly $145,000, plus incentives. While setting this year's budget, authority board members froze employee wages because a potential cut in federal funding would cause a deficit of more than half of a million dollars.

"We're in this position oddly enough, because we're considered a high-performing authority. We run a lean ship. We make the most of what we have and get the biggest band for our buck. As a result, we get a very high rating and the pleasure of getting our subsidy cut," said Eric Weller, Saratoga Springs Housing Authority Board Chairman.

John Frank, (D) Saratoga Springs Accounts Commissioner said, "My biggest disappointment now, is that for the twelfth straight year, they do not come to the council for approval of the salary increases."

Authority board members said they are willing to work with the city council, but they first need a copy of the audit requested by Mayor Scott Johnson before they can begin fixing anything.