ALBANY COUNTY — “Lead by example,” was Albany County Executive Daniel McCoy’s advice as he presented his $819 million budget proposal for 2024 to a receptive crowd on Monday.

His advice was aimed at the state. “Stop passing your bad decisions down to counties,” he urged. “Work with us because we’ll help you.”

At one point, McCoy held up the back cover of his budget proposal, which had an arrow pointing up for state-mandated funding and an arrow pointing down for local spending. Underneath was a list of 44  state-mandated programs and services, which McCoy said make up more than 60 percent of the county’s budgeted expenses.

Spending in his proposal is up 8.3 percent over the current year.

Nevertheless, the tax levy is estimated to be just under $100,000, the same as this year and the year before. The tax rate would be $2.84 per $1,000 of assessed value, down from $3.17 this year — a reduction of more than 10 percent — and down from $3.95 a decade prior, a reduction of 28 percent.

McCoy, a Democrat, is running unopposed for his fourth term as county executive.

Within an hour of his presentation, statements from Republican county legislators supporting the budget proposal were released.

Guilderland county legislator Mark Grimm, the ranking member on the county’s finance committee, wrote that he is “pleased the Republican conference’s long-standing pursuit of substantial taxpayer relief is included in the proposed 2024 executive budget.”

 Minority Leader Frank Mauriello, from Colonie, wrote that the tax cut “will provide much needed relief for hardworking families in Albany County. A substantial drop in our fiscal stress rating proves we are on a financially responsible path.”

McCoy had noted that the state comptroller’s assessment of Albany County’s fiscal stress level had dropped from 43.3 percent in 2020, in the midst of the pandemic, to 3.3 in 2022. “That’s 40 points we dropped in fiscal stress,” said McCoy.

He also said, “When I took over in 2012, we were borrowing $15 million to make payroll.”

McCoy’s 2024 budget proposal relies on $365 million in sales tax revenues, a nearly 12-percent increase from this year’s $326 million.

The proposal also includes an enormous fund balance, or rainy-day account.

“Due to some very unique economic circumstances, record setting sales tax receipts, Federal Stimulus funds and recoveries from FEMA for COVID related cost increases in earlier periods we had an increase $45.1 million to give a current year-end total of $92.2 million,” the budget document says. 

It goes on, “Caution must be urged to retain this balance as the vast majority of Economists are stating that we have already entered into the beginning of a recession and central bankers have been increasing interest rates at speeds never before seen to reel in the 8%+ inflation that we are currently facing.”

Mauriello also railed against the “Democrat-controlled state legislature” and its unfunded mandates, stating, “I agree with the County Executive when he says our biggest roadblock to success is the State Government.”

Both Grimm and Mauriello warned of the “growing migrant and homeless crisis.”

Highlighting social services

McCoy’s budget includes many enhanced social services. He highlighted a few on Monday.

Funding will be increased for the Law Enforcement Assisted Diversion (LEAD); Albany County Crisis Officials Responding and Diverting (ACCORD); Mobile Outreach, Treatment, and Overdose Response (MOTOR); and the Mental Health Court.

Many of these programs were explained at a press conference McCoy hosted last month.

Also, $100,000 has been allocated as seed funding to address high rates of suicide among veterans as they return home after service. 

 “We’re also reopening the former Mercy House homeless shelter in collaboration with the Interfaith Partners for the Homeless …,” said McCoy. “We’re putting the money back into our shelters.”

He said Albany County has over 640 migrants, far more than many larger counties, which McCoy said he takes pride in.

“We’re doing it. It’s working. Is it perfect? No. Nothing’s going to be perfect because there’s no book that’s ever been written on this,” said McCoy.

He also said the county, with a population of about 320,000, has well over 2,000 homeless people. “We have over 736 women living in shelters that have either been sexually assaulted or they’ve an addiction or whatever the issue might be, with over 120 kids.”

McCoy said another of his “top priorities” is wisely spending the money that the county is receiving from successful lawsuits against opioid manufacturers and distributors. So far, the county has received $3.4 million in settlements; settlement funds will be available until 2039.

The county is creating a new post, an Opioid Settlement Fund coordinator, to help distribute the money to addiction treatment, recovery, and prevention programs. “They need to be a community activist that understands what works in this community,” said Mccoy of the new coordinator.

McCoy also said that, coming out of the pandemic, when county workers labored despite the risks, he wanted “to take care of the workers that took care of people that couldn’t get out, that were isolated.”

So, instead of one-time bonus pay, he said, vision, dental, and hearing coverage is being provided.

Eighteen out of 19 union contracts have recently been settled and the budget includes a 3-percent increase for all non-union positions.

Another benefit for workers at the county’s nursing home is that a daycare center will open there soon, which McCoy called the “first of its kind in the state.” It will serve 66 children, he said, and will “brighten” the lives of nursing-home residents.

Green

“We have addressed the climate change, renewable energy, economic development, mental health, addiction support, workforce development …,” McCoy said. “Additionally we are going to build a solar canopy on top of the MVP Arena that will collect energy.”

Solar panels on county land near the airport in Colonie will generate enough electricity for 252 homes, McCoy said, and public-works garages in Coeymans, Knox, and Colonie will have rooftop solar panels.

The county’s Department of Public Works building will be “100-percent off the grid,” said McCoy, and rainwater will be captured to help clean equipment.

The budget includes $6 million in Sustainable Technology and Green Energy Act initiatives, known as STAGE, to reduce the county’s reliance on fossil fuels, including Plug Power’s hydrogen fuel cell manufacturing and offshore wind developments.

The budget also includes funds to meet the goal of having all of the county’s passenger vehicles be electric by 2030.

Earlier in the week, McCoy had announced the Albany County Inclusive Community Solar Partnership, inviting local governments within the county to apply for state grants and be part of an equity-focused initiative.

“The program offers a turnkey, no-cost community solar campaign designed to accelerate the adoption of renewable energy across the county, with a focus on extending benefits to residents in state-designated Disadvantaged Community areas,” the release said.

The new program is meant to allow income-eligible residents to reduce their electricity costs while also helping the environment by promoting sustainable energy.

To alleviate blight, McCoy’s budget includes $250,000 for the Albany County Land Bank, bringing the total county commitment to $4 million since the land bank was established in 2014.

Also, $400,000 has been allocated to Advance Albany County Alliance, created three years ago to create jobs and attract businesses to the county.

Throughout his presentation, McCoy lauded the county legislature, his own staff, and various elected officials.

“We’re all in this together,” McCoy concluded. “At the end of the day, we have an obligation to the people of this county to do extraordinary things but continue to hold the line on taxes.”