Schenectady County Legislature schedules public hearing on mortgage-recording tax renewal, approves airport planning funds and $100,000 ice-rink change order

The Schenectady County Legislature on March 3 scheduled a public hearing for Proposed Local Law A of 2025 to renew the county’s mortgage recording tax and approved a series of routine appointments, grant acceptances and capital amendments, including FAA planning funds for the county airport and a $100,000 change order for the county ice rink.

The Legislature set a public hearing on Proposed Local Law A for March 31 at 7 p.m. County staff reported that the mortgage recording tax is one-quarter of 1 percent and that the county collected about $1,500,000 from the levy last year; the hearing is the next step in renewing the levy under state procedures.

Among the capital items approved was an amendment to recognize anticipated Federal Aviation Administration funding that will support an update to the Schenectady County Airport master plan. County engineers said the update will guide development for the next 10 to 15 years and will reflect recent land and lease changes at the airport.

The Legislature also approved a $100,000 change order to close the accounts for the new Schenectady County ice rink. County Manager Rory Flumil told legislators the project experienced an equipment failure in December and delays on specialty glass that increased outside-construction-management and owner-representative costs; the additional $100,000 was described as necessary to complete closeout.

The body confirmed appointments, including Samuel Hileb to the Capital District Regional Planning Commission, and approved multiple grant-acceptance resolutions and agreements with vendors for county services. Roll-call votes show most resolutions passed on largely unanimous votes (typical tallies were 13 aye, 1 absent, 1 excused), with some exceptions where votes were split and recorded in the roll call.

Votes at a glance (key items): - Proposed Local Law A of 2025 — Public hearing scheduled for March 31, 2025 at 7 p.m.; county reported prior-year yield ~$1,500,000. Outcome: motion to call public hearing passed. - Capital budget amendment acknowledging FAA funding for revisions to the Schenectady County Airport master plan. Outcome: approved (roll call: 13 aye, 1 absent, 1 excused). - Change order for Schenectady County recreational facility (ice rink) — additional $100,000 requested to close accounts for equipment, specialty glass and project management costs. Outcome: approved (roll call: 13 aye, 1 absent, 1 excused). - Confirmation: Samuel Hileb to the Capital District Regional Planning Commission. Outcome: approved (roll call recorded; one recorded abstention occurred on a later appointment vote in the meeting). - Multiple grant acceptances and program funding authorizations (library of state, criminal-justice, public-safety, aging, children and family services, foster/adoption recruitment and substance-abuse treatment funding). Outcome: approved (roll calls recorded individually). - Agreements with vendors and technology providers (Axon Enterprises Inc.; Faro Technologies Inc.; Quadient Leasing USA) for discovery services, crash-scene software/equipment, and a postal-machine lease. Outcome: approved (roll calls recorded).

Why it matters: The mortgage recording tax is an ongoing revenue source used in county budgets; the airport master-plan amendment sets the framework for multiyear airport projects that may use FAA funding; the ice-rink change order closes costs on a high-profile county recreational facility. Several state grants accepted by the Legislature support public safety, aging services and children and family programs.

What the Legislature did not do: The meeting included public comment raising concerns about library services; legislators did not take action on library policy during the March 3 meeting. Most agenda items on the night were routine roll-call votes that passed as presented.

Ending: Legislative business concluded with a motion to adjourn. Several resolutions will require implementation steps by county staff, including scheduling the public hearing on the mortgage-recording tax renewal and processing the approved budget amendments and vendor agreements.