ALTAMONT The village board passed its $1.058 million budget Tuesday, and then held its monthly meeting, during which the board voted to fire a full-time employee.

NEW SCOTLAND –– The advisory committee tasked with recommending future zoning regulations for the town of New Scotland held its final public meeting March 26, before a planned presentation of the group’s draft plan is due this May.

GUILDERLAND — “Unfunded mandates are killing us,” said Daniel McCoy, Albany County’s executive since January, as he opened a town board meeting on Tuesday night.

GUILDERLAND — The vote was unanimous but the mood was somber Tuesday night as the nine members of the school board here adopted an $89 million budget proposal for next year.

NEW SCOTLAND –– Wednesday, Governor Andrew Cuomo announced a $350,000 grant is being awarded to the John Boyd Thacher State Park.

By Zach Simeone and Anne Hayden

ALBANY COUNTY — In a collective effort to look for savings, all 19 municipalities in Albany County have agreed to pursue a local-government efficiency grant that would cover a study of how highway departments can share services.

SARATOGA SPRINGS — Alex Jones last week provided the elixir disheartened newspaper people — buffeted by the recession and shifting technology — needed.

VOORHEESVILLE — The school board adopted, by unanimous vote, a $21.8 million budget proposition on Monday.

NEW SCOTLAND –– Martha Oden can still recall the anguish she felt for not knowing the value of an heirloom.

A close-knit group of Voorheesville friends are mourning the death of Nathaniel Myers. He died on Saturday, March 24, at the tender age of 23.