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Albany County Legislature approves sales- and mortgage-tax measures and several sheriff-related bonds; mortgage-recording tax passes 30-7
Summary
The Albany County Legislature on Aug. 11 approved multiple local laws, bond measures and contracts, including a 30-7 passage of a mortgage-recording tax and unanimous votes on sheriff-related bonds totaling $1,989,000 in authorized borrowing.
The Albany County Legislature on Aug. 11 approved a slate of resolutions and local laws covering taxes, county contracts and capital projects.
Key outcomes:
- Local law e: the legislature unanimously approved an additional 1% sales-and-use tax and certain occupancy and amusement charges “pursuant to article 29 of the tax law of the state of New York.” The transcript records a unanimous passage by roll call.
- Local law f: the legislature enacted a mortgage-recording tax “pursuant to section 253-p of the tax law of the state of New York.” That measure passed on a long roll call, recorded in the transcript as 30 yes votes and 7 no votes.
- Local law q: the body unanimously adopted a local law creating chapter 114 of the Albany County Code to establish an Albany County Office of Assigned Counsel.
- Bond resolution (Resolution 310): authorizing construction of network upgrades for the county sheriff’s office with an estimated maximum cost of $1,500,000 and authorizing issuance of bonds for that appropriation; the transcript records a long roll call and states the resolution passed unanimously.
- Bond resolution (Resolution 311): authorizing improvements to facilities of the Albany County Sheriff with an estimated maximum cost of $489,000 and authorizing issuance of bonds; the transcript records a long roll call and the resolution passed unanimously.
- Contract and budget actions: the legislature approved an agreement authorizing medical services at the Albany County Correctional Facility with CFG Medical Services (Resolution 301), multiple sheriff’s office budget amendments (including deputy positions and maintenance mechanic positions), and several departmental budget adjustments. The transcript records each as passed during the meeting.
Other measures passed included authorization to accept a bipartisan infrastructure grant involving sludge-processing improvements for the water purification district (including approval to access 0% EFC loans), adoption of modifications to Albany County Agricultural Districts, authorization of agreements with West Publishing (Westlaw) and Health Insurance Solutions Inc., and a listing of parcels for public sale pursuant to section 360-40 of the Albany County Code.
Where roll calls were recorded, the clerk read members’ names and the transcript captures long roll calls for several items; where voice votes occurred, the clerk noted “Aye” and the chair declared the resolution passed. No recorded vote on instituting a civilian oversight board for the jail occurred during the Aug. 11 legislative session.
Votes that drew recorded debate: the mortgage-recording tax (local law f) prompted public comment and a recorded long roll call that produced a 30-7 result. A legislator spoke in opposition to the mortgage tax during the roll-call sequence, citing housing-affordability concerns.
This meeting concluded after final votes and a motion to adjourn; several passed items relate to sheriff operations and facilities and were recorded by long roll call in the transcript.
