Albany council stalls budget adoption, votes to delay city-services fee implementation to Oct. 1

Albany — The Albany City Council on June 11 did not adopt the recommended 2025–27 biennial budget after a divided vote and follow-up debate over a proposed increase in the city-services fee and protections for low-income residents. Later the council approved an amendment to delay implementation of the city-services fee from Aug. 1 to Oct. 1 and directed staff to return with proposals for changes to the low-income assistance program.

Deputy City Manager Kayla Barber Parado presented the budget at a public hearing, describing a two-year spending plan she said preserves core services while adding targeted investments including an additional parks maintenance worker, a reorganization to add a parks manager post, funding for library materials and a facilities-and-programs assessment ($35,000), one additional patrol officer and one detective, and increased stormwater maintenance capacity tied to stormwater-fee revenue. Barber Parado also emphasized investments in automation and internal systems, citing a monday.com pilot she said “has already saved the city $70,000 in hard costs and 360 hours of staff time.”

Why it matters: The budget is Albany’s primary policy document and determines near-term staffing, infrastructure work and how the council’s strategic priorities will be funded. Councilors and members of the public pressed for details about the proposed city-services fee and the low-income assistance program tied to…