Albany County committee accepts additional CHIPS funding, including $3 million rollover

The Albany County Public Works Committee voted June 23 to amend its budget to accept additional CHIPS funding, including a rollover from prior years that county staff said totals roughly $3 million.

Committee staff described the award as $5,036,000 for the current allocation and said the county will accept $8,088,000 overall after applying a rollover from previous years. "We were awarded 5,036,000 and we're accepting 8,088,000. So we have a rollover of about $3,000,000," said Lisa (staff member). She said about $1 million of the rollover already is committed to pay retainage and vehicle purchases, leaving roughly $2 million available for future needs.

The committee was told CHIPS money is typically used for paving, equipment purchases and other highway repairs; staff noted prior uses, including buying a salt shed. "Most of it goes toward paving our road sometimes we purchase equipment with our CHIP's. We purchased a salt shed with CHIP's money," Lisa said. The staff recommended keeping a portion of the funds in reserve for emergencies such as culvert or bridge repairs.

Committee members asked whether the current award reflected a "true up" or a rollover. Lisa said the additional accepted amount primarily reflects a rollover and existing commitments; she characterized the uncommitted portion as a contingency the county could draw on in an emergency. No change to the county's CHIPS spending priorities was recorded at the meeting.

A motion to amend the budget to accept the CHIPS allocation was put before the committee and approved. The minutes record the motion passed; the motion-maker and second were not specified in the transcript for this item.