The county’s $719.3 million spending plan for next year is down significantly from this year’s adjusted budget, which is now set to be $747.3 million — up about $14 million from what was originally proposed around this time last year.

To present a balanced spending plan for 2021, Albany County Executive Daniel McCoy’s budget relies on tapping the county’s $60 million rainy-day fund for $3 million, reallocating $5 million that would have otherwise been appropriated toward paying off county debt, and $5 million in salaries and benefits savings from 72 employees who each accepted a $15,000 early-separation payout.

Berne has released its tentative 2021 budget, providing the first comprehensive look at the town’s mid-pandemic finances.

Spending is down in Rensselaerville’s tentative 2021 budget, but only by a margin, and revenues are likewise only down a touch, leaving a budget that’s much the same as the budget the town board adopted in 2020. 

The town of Berne is being audited by the New York State Comptroller after Councilman Joel Willsey, the board’s lone Democrat, complained about the formulation of the town’s 2020 budget.

Berne Supervisor Sean Lyons announced in a letter posted on the town’s website that, following receipt of the second-quarter sales tax revenues, the town will be able to cover coronavirus losses without sacrificing personnel or town services. Lyons told The Enterprise this week that “the budget cuts I am proposing will give the town another good starting point in 2021.” 

Property owners in town have filed 32 lawsuits against Guilderland, seeking to have a collective $378 million cut from the current assessed values of their properties. 

The Guilderland School board set tax rates and approved putting about $1.2 million into reserves.

The coronavirus pandemic is affecting Crossgates’ bottom line. 

While the fiscal health of other area municipalities may be in question, New Scotland’s is “very sound.”