The Charter of the City of Saratoga Springs, enacted in 1915 and as amended from time to time, is hereby repealed. All local laws, ordinances, and resolutions of the Council and all regulations and bylaws of boards, commissions, or bodies of the City previously adopted and in effect as of the adoption of this Charter, including the City Code, shall continue in full force and effect, except to the extent that such local laws, ordinances, resolutions, regulations, and bylaws have been repealed, modified, or superseded in their application to the City by the adoption of this Charter.
Existing terms of office shall continue uninterrupted by this Charter. All officers of the City now in office, whether elected or appointed, shall continue in office and discharge duties thereof until the end of the terms for which they were elected or appointed, and until their successors are elected or appointed and qualify as provided in this Charter. All officers and employees of the City who shall hold office or be employed under the Civil Service Law and Rules when this Charter shall take effect, shall continue in their respective positions and employment and in their respective civil service classifications and status as officers or employees of the City, insofar as such may be consistent with provisions of this Charter.
This Charter shall become effective on January 1, 2004, upon approval by public referendum in the manner provided by applicable law. An administrative code may be adopted and amended at any time subsequent to the approval and adoption of this Charter.
14.4.1 
Budget process. The budget policies, procedures and process required by this Charter shall be fully implemented within two budget cycles after the Charter's effective date. The Commissioner of Finance shall report regularly on progress to the Council, in six- month intervals through the full implementation period specified herein.
14.4.2 
Human resources. The establishment of unified City- wide human resources policies, procedures, and programs will require a period of transition for full implementation. A period of 18 months from the effective date of this Charter shall be provided for transition purposes. The Mayor shall report regularly on progress to the Council, in six-month intervals through the full implementation period specified herein.