A permanent Code Blue shelter in Saratoga Springs is one step closer to reality.

The Saratoga County Board of Supervisors' law and finance committee advanced a resolution Wednesday to authorize the purchase of a 1.4-acre parcel on Ballston Avenue in order to operate a Code Blue shelter there. The purchase price, according to the board, is approximately $3 million, and the county will enter a "long-term lease" with Shelters of Saratoga, which will build and run the shelter.

"The purchase of this property will provide those in need with a permanent location to seek shelter during harsh winter weather and will allow the county to more easily provide a transparent budgeting process for the costs of running the Code Blue program," Board of Supervisors Chairman Phil Barrett said.

Shelters of Saratoga currently provides Code Blue services in colder months, as well as a year-round emergency shelter on Walworth Street.