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Albany commissioners weigh $200,000 drone purchase and $372,000 extended‑day program in revised 2026 budget
Summary
City staff presented revisions to the proposed fiscal 2026 budget that add $200,000 for a police drone initiative and $372,000 for an extended‑day recreation program, the latter described as revenue‑offset; commissioners and residents pressed for more police recruitment funding and clarity on program sites and financing.
City of Albany officials on June 3 reviewed revisions to the proposed fiscal 2026 budget that include a $200,000 allocation for a police drone initiative and an additional $372,000 for an extended‑day recreation program, the finance director said.
The additions were presented by Michael (finance director) before a public comment period and commission discussion. Michael said the original proposed city budget was about $342,000,144.07 and that the two changes — $200,000 for a drone program and $372,000 for an extended‑day program — were the most recent modifications. He told the commission the extended‑day cost would be “offset by the program revenues” if implemented. The finance director asked commissioners to consider the changes before further action.
Why it matters: the drone allocation ties directly to a police proposal that Chief Johnson described later in the meeting as a phased, technology‑first approach to speeding response and improving situational awareness. The extended‑day program represents a new service expansion into public schools and requires staffing and fee structures that could affect enrollment and access.
Most consequential details - Drone funding: the finance director said the $200,000 increase is for a police drone initiative. Chief Johnson later explained the drone deployment would be phased and is intended to serve as a “force multiplier,” allowing non‑sworn operators to launch drones to scenes more quickly than officers can arrive. Chief Johnson said the drone purchase and program remain “on hold pending FY approval.” - Extended‑day program: staff described a proposed expansion into five school sites — Lake Hart Elementary, Lincoln Elementary, Live Oak Elementary, Morningside Pre‑K and Magnolia Pre‑K — with an added program cost of $372,000 that staff said would be offset by program fees. Finance staff presented projected revenue of about $375,000 and projected program costs of about $371,000 for the sites; staff characterized the plan as roughly break‑even and said the program would use part‑time hires and existing supervisors. - Employee pay and recruitment: Commissioners and the public questioned whether added tech spending was the right priority when recruitment and retention remain a concern. The finance director said the fiscal 2025 starting range for sworn officers is $51,850 and that a proposed 3% across‑the‑board increase for employees was included in the framing of pay adjustments. The director presented the 3% proposal as a step toward higher starting pay but did not adopt a final, commission‑approved new salary in the session.
Public and commissioner reaction Resident Goodperson, who spoke during public comment, asked why the city was not doing more to recruit and retain police officers and criticized rising local taxes without increased patrol presence: “At $50,000 a year, it is not acceptable,” the speaker said. Commissioners acknowledged the concern; Commissioner Vilnius Gaines noted previous pay increases and said Albany had worked to become among the higher‑paying agencies in the region. Several commissioners said more police are required even as the department pursues technology tools.
Other budget items discussed - A proposal to purchase four wireless battery mobile lifts for fleet at a stated vendor price of $63,544.90 was presented under public administration and finance; staff said funds for that unit were approved for fiscal year 2025 and that delivery would take three to four weeks from purchase order. - Commissioners discussed options for hotel‑motel tax allocations and capital funding requests; staff said they would return with specific allocation options for hotel‑motel funds.
Outcome and next steps No final adoption of the full city budget occurred at the June 3 work session. Commissioners asked staff to return with clarified contract language, revenue assumptions for the extended‑day sites and an itemized plan for the drone/phased technology request. The commission scheduled further budget discussion at upcoming meetings; no final vote on the 2026 budget was recorded in the transcript for this session.
