2026-08-19 - Finance, Assessment and Taxation Committee
Summary
Built from the official committee minutes.
- Called to order 5:37 PM by Chair Keegan; adjourned 7:59 PM on a motion by Lumpkin, seconded by Balarin, passed by voice vote.
- Committee members present: Keegan, Balarin, Brodie, Farrell and Lumpkin. Other Council members present: Powell, Zamer and Flynn.
- City staff present: Chief City Auditor Sam Fein, Commissioner of Administrative Services Miriam Dixon, Interim Budget Director Kathryn Fitzpatrick, Budget Advisor Bob Ward, Legislative Director Bryan Jimenez, Chief Financial Manager Joel Stetson, Deputy Budget Director Monica Saladi and Counsel and Director of Policy Robert Wenner.
- Agenda: Resolution 91.82.26R (reappointment to the Board of Assessment Review) and the mid-year update to the financial plan.
- Public comment: Karl Urich of Albany spoke on the city budget.
Board of Assessment Review Reappointment
- Judy L. Doesschate spoke on her background and experience; Farrell and Balarin thanked her for her service.
- Lumpkin moved to pass Resolution 91.82.26R out of committee with a favorable recommendation, seconded by Balarin; passed by voice vote (individual votes not recorded).
Midyear Budget Deficit
- Dixon said expenditures will exceed the adopted budget, revenues will not meet expectations and overtime is a significant cost. Ward spoke on revenue and Fitzpatrick on expenditures.
- The revised deficit is about $22 million by year end; Ward and Dixon said all options are on the table and agreed it cannot be corrected in the same year. The revised figure includes additional State aid; Ward confirmed the extra $20 million from the State is in the 2027 projections.
- Keegan asked for GL account breakdowns and whether a borrowing request should be expected. Brodie asked about the hiring freeze and overtime, capital project status, the scope of the Comptroller review (results by mid-September) and State aid reporting requirements.
- Overtime is highest in the Albany Police Department because of vacancies; the Department of General Services was asked to report on adjusting schedules. Keegan noted the collective bargaining agreement does not prohibit adjusting schedules.
- Farrell said the community has lost trust in the City's budget projections and asked about confidence in revenue; Fitzpatrick said projections do not include a deferred pension payment. Flynn, Powell and Zamer asked about fines revenue, grants, shared services with Albany County, a lawsuit and the red-light camera contract. Balarin warned layoffs may be needed if significant savings are not realized. Farrell noted an Albany commuter tax would need to be passed by the State Legislature.
- Brodie's recap listed six requests to the Administration: line-item savings figures; responses to his July 23 email; line-item revenue and expense detail; issued bonds and projects not yet bid; positions included in savings figures; and outstanding grant applications.
Special Event Costs and Fees
- Brodie noted that the departments supporting special events send invoices to hosts and asked what has changed in the invoicing process and what revenue the changes have produced. Overtime in the Department of General Services comes from work for events (Dixon).
Health Insurance Provider Review
- Fitzpatrick noted an unforeseen $9 million expense in health insurance and that the City was reviewing responses to a request for proposals. Dixon said NYSHIP is not under consideration; reviews should finish that week with a final selection in September. Powell asked why costs rose and when the plan will be chosen.
Debt Policy and Bond Authorizations
- Farrell said the Council should rescind bond authorizations for projects no longer pursued, specifically speed humps, and said FY2027 debt service would exceed the debt policy cap of 10 percent of the budget. Fitzpatrick referred the debt policy question to the Treasury.
- Farrell asked for a list of unissued bonds and said the Capital Improvement Plan must be redone; Fitzpatrick said a review is under way. Brodie said borrowing would take the form of Revenue Anticipation Notes adding to FY2027 debt service.