Albany leaders outline budget revisions adding after‑school program and police technology, cite modest pay increases for officers
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Summary
City staff presented revisions to the proposed fiscal 2026 budget that add a $372,000 extended‑day recreation program funded by program revenue, a $200,000 police drone initiative, and step and cost‑of‑living increases that raise an entry police salary to roughly $53,040 under the proposal.
City of Albany officials on June 3 presented revisions to the proposed fiscal 2026 budget that include an expanded after‑school (extended‑day) recreation program and new investments in police technology, while maintaining a limited across‑the‑board pay proposal that raises the starting police pay above $51,000.
Finance staff told the commission the original proposed budget was revised to add $200,000 for a police drone initiative and an additional $372,000 for a multi‑site extended‑day recreation program; the parks/recreation department said program revenues are expected to offset the added operating cost. Finance director Michael Zeegan said the city’s current starting salary for police officers in fiscal 2025 is $51,850 and the commission’s proposed 3% increase would raise that starting range to about $53,040.
The extended‑day program would bring staffing and programming into five school sites the city identified — Lake Hart, Lincoln, Live Oak, Morningside Pre‑K and Magnolia Pre‑K — and the presentation projected roughly $371,000 in program costs offset by about $375,000 in parent fees. City staff said the program is intended to mirror an existing model the recreation department operates at Robert Cross and to keep enrollment‑level fees similar to those parents currently pay (the staff cited $30 per week as the rate used in projections).
On policing, staff described the drone investment as a phased, first‑responder capability operated by non‑sworn personnel that could speed situational awareness to officers already responding. Finance staff said the drone line item and other proposed technology investments would be contingent on final appropriation in the budget process.
Commissioners asked about equity and access for the extended‑day sites and whether the schools chosen place programs where need is greatest; staff said the selected five sites were proposed after conversations with the school system and are not intended to be revenue generators but to expand services where feasible. No final budget vote was taken at the June 3 work session; commission direction was to refine options and return with finalized contract language and revenue assumptions.
The budget discussion also included routine items for hotel‑motel allocations, capital requests and contract renewals; staff said they will present firm options for the commission’s consideration before the fiscal year begins.
