Albany Mayor Kathy Sheehan to Present 2025 City of Albany Proposed Budget

This City of Albany budget presentation meeting on October 2, 2024, led by Mayor Kathy Sheehan, outlined the proposed 2025 city budget totaling $221 million, a nearly $5 million reduction from the previous year primarily due to the conclusion of American Rescue Plan funding. Key procurement and budget highlights include continued investments in public safety with funding for additional civilian posts in the police department, capital improvements such as street repaving, playground construction, and traffic safety measures like school zone speed cameras. The budget also includes funding for a transfer station RFP and property acquisitions related to landfill closure, as well as abatement work for housing authority buildings funded through a grant. The mayor emphasized workforce investments, including settled bargaining agreements and a living wage increase, and highlighted savings from renegotiated pharmacy benefits. The capital plan benefits from multiple federal and state grants, including a $10 million New York State grant for a community facility and nearly $2 million for gun violence elimination programs. The budget maintains a 2% property tax levy increase and calls for stable state funding to address the high percentage of tax-exempt property in the city. Discussions also covered plans for a police department evaluation to address staffing challenges and funding for the police review board as it transitions to a city department.