ALBANY COUNTY — County Executive Daniel McCoy’s 14th State of the County address was presented as a laundry list of accomplishments.

Of local note was McCoy’s announcement that Albany County was in “the final stages of acquiring Switzkill Farm in Berne, which will be restored to its natural beauty.”

The purchase has been an ongoing saga dating back over a year. 

In February 2024, the Berne Town Board officially authorized itself to sell the 358-acre Switzkill Farm property to Albany County in a unanimous vote. 

That vote followed a perplexing few months wherein the Albany County Legislature, in November 2023, authorized McCoy to buy the property, announcing it as a done deal, only for the town to claim that it never intended to sell at all, and that a sale would be illegal. 

Other accomplishments with local impact highlighted by McCoy included: 

— Funds totalling $900,000 were secured to renovate fire training towers in Guilderland and East Berne as well as Colonie, with additional upgrades planned for the future;

— The Albany County Helderberg Hudson Rail Trail, which now attracts over 250,000 visitors annually, saw the installation of new restrooms at the Slingerlands Trailhead and a pocket park near the Bender Melon Farm bridge in New Scotland; 

— Lawson Lake County Park in Feura Bush received significant improvements, and will soon see the opening of its upper camp, which will provide retreat-style amenities for vulnerable populations; 

— The expansion of the county’s school-bus safety program contributed to a noticeable reduction in incidents; 

— For the first time since the pandemic, opioid overdose deaths in Albany County are declining. To further combat the problem, the county allocated $1.5 million from opioid settlement funds for new initiatives, including prevention, treatment, recovery services, and harm-reduction training;

— The Albany County Department for Aging is relaunching its restaurant dining program, which will enable eligible residents 60 and over to enjoy free meals at participating venues; 

— The launch of the county’s Municipal Park and Playground Improvement Initiative saw $550,000 invested in 33 recreational projects, with New Scotland and Voorheesville receiving funding; 

— A deal with its legislature will allow Albany County to create a coalition that will lower the health-care costs of participating municipalities. It’s the first step needed for six municipalities and three school districts — which locally includes Altamont, New Scotland, Guilderland, and the Berne-Knox-Westerlo Central School District — that are considering being part of the consortium if, indeed, the costs turn out to be lower; and 

— For the 11th consecutive year, the county’s budget stayed within the state-mandated tax cap while also lowering property tax rates.

Frank Mauriello, leader of the county legislature’s minority, said in a statement, responding to Democrat McCoy’s address, “The state of Albany County remains fiscally strong. Thanks to our responsible bipartisan cooperation, we have lowered the property tax rate for 11 straight years and continue to hold strong reserves for a rainy day.

“More can always be done to improve and streamline programs and services to county residents. Whether it’s cutting taxes even further, tightening our belts on spending, or working with our state and federal partners to fix public safety and address the harmful effects of illegal immigration in our communities, the Republican and Conservative Conference is committed to advancing common-sense solutions on behalf of all our constituents.”