Albany City Council adopts 2025–27 biennium budget; delays fee start and directs more work on low‑income assistance

Albany City Council voted to adopt the 2025–27 biennium budget at a special session on June 18, 2025, moving forward with a spending plan city staff said is necessary for operations starting July 1 while postponing the start of a planned city services fee increase until Oct. 1.

The budget passed by voice vote after a brief public discussion and follow-up comments from council members. Deputy City Manager Kayla Perota told the council the recommended budget reflects more than 1,500 staff hours of work and a review by a budget review committee that approved the package 13–1. Perota said staff and directors have identified efficiency measures and automation projects that support the recommended funding levels and the decision to delay the fee implementation.

Councilors and staff framed the vote as a balance between maintaining core public services and investing in internal capacity. “If we did not address the city services fee, it would have meant the loss of approximately 11 positions,” Perota said during the meeting, adding that some of those positions would have affected libraries, parks and overtime‑intensive public safety staffing. Perota said automation projects, renewed review of intergovernmental agreements and other administrative investments helped reduce the proposed city services fee from an earlier figure down to the level presented to council.

Councilor Van Driemeldt asked specifically what the later Oct. 1 start date would mean for the budget; Perota said the primary near‑term effect would be delaying the hiring of some positions that otherwise would have started earlier. Councilor Thompson said she was concerned about increases in administrative staffing while parks and other community services saw reductions, and asked that the council and staff continue outreach and transparency about those trade‑offs.

Councilors also directed staff to further develop a low‑income assistance program for utility charges. Perota said staff will present more detailed recommendations at an upcoming meeting and that the application window for the assistance program is open now; she said staff will continue outreach and accept applications outside scheduled review rounds for urgent needs.

Finance Director Johnny Yeager and other staff were present for the discussion. Council members asked that staff produce clear, shareable materials explaining how the fee and budget options translate into services and position changes so residents can better understand trade‑offs. Councilor McLeod and others urged the administration to update public-facing materials and to provide a short PDF or “soft tool” summarizing where revenue would go.

The motion to adopt the budget was made and seconded from the dais; council passed the budget by a voice vote with those in favor saying “Aye” and those opposed saying “No.” Mayor Johnson said the adopted budget will allow city operations to continue on July 1.

The council also noted related budget work underway: a review of roughly 70 intergovernmental agreements to identify revenue opportunities, a planned public education effort about the budget and an upcoming council discussion focused specifically on the low‑income assistance program. The council confirmed its next regular meeting is June 25, 2025; a work session is scheduled for July 7.

Votes at a glance: Adopt 2025–27 biennium budget as presented — motion moved and seconded, adopted by voice vote (no roll‑call tally recorded).