Finance committee approves home-buyer navigator, parks staffing increases and cancels unenforceable tax liens

The Albany County Audit and Finance Committee on May 29 approved a set of budget and program measures including an $80,000-per-year pilot to fund a home-buyer navigator position, amendments to the Department of Parks and Recreation to add four full-time positions, adoption of the county's five-year capital program and cancellation of multiple delinquent tax liens the county cannot enforce.

The approvals came alongside a separate procedural action to table a group of bond resolutions until the county finalizes retention of outside bond counsel.

The home-buyer navigator program will contract with the Affordable Housing Partnership for a one-year pilot funded from the County Innovation Fund at $80,000 for personnel costs; the pilot may be extended to three years if continued. Pat Curran of the executive's office told the committee the program aims to reduce common barriers for low- and moderate-income first-time buyers and that the Affordable Housing Partnership was the only respondent to the request for proposals.

Commissioner Bachary Genette presented the Parks and Recreation amendment, which authorizes four additional full-time positions. Genette said the changes are intended to expand programming as the department acquires new facilities and to align staff composition with the county's equity agenda. Genette told the committee the new positions will convert part-time staff or reallocate existing roles; she said civil-service hiring rules will apply.

The committee also approved requests to remove a set of delinquent property-tax charges the county lacks authority to collect. The items included a request to declare unenforceable $2,966.80 in delinquencies associated with five properties owned by the Albany County Land Bank, a 2018 school tax bill on 360 Whitehall Road that was assessed in error and several long-running delinquencies on properties owned by the United States and by New York State that total $12,692.24 and $209,237.20 respectively. County staff said many of the state and federal delinquencies date back to the 1990s and cannot be pursued under state law.

The committee adopted the Albany County capital program for fiscal years 2026'2030. Staff emphasized that adoption places projects on the planning list but does not by itself commit the county to individual projects; subsequent authorizations will be required before expenditures occur.

Committee members briefly discussed the county's process for selecting bond counsel. Several bond resolutions scheduled for the meeting were grouped and tabled at the request of departments until the comptroller finalizes counsel to provide bond services. The comptroller's office said that departments are not in urgent need of cash and will fast-track actions once counsel is approved.

Votes at a glance

- Item 5: Adoption of Albany County 2026'2030 capital program; outcome: approved (motion moved and seconded; committee voice vote recorded as in favor). - Item 15: Authorize agreement with Affordable Housing Partnership for a home-buyer navigator (RFP 2025-58); outcome: approved (motion moved; voice vote recorded in favor). Funding: $80,000/year from the County Innovation Fund; one-year pilot, extendable to three years. - Item 16: Amend 2025 Parks & Recreation budget to add four full-time positions and adjust lines; outcome: approved (motion moved; voice vote recorded in favor). Genette said department currently has eight full-time positions and the amendment adds four. - Item 17: Declare unenforceable delinquent taxes for five Albany County Land Bank properties (total $2,966.80); outcome: approved (motion moved; unanimous). - Item 18: Cancel unenforceable school tax lien on 360 Whitehall Road (clerical error; double-billed for 2018 pilot and school tax); outcome: approved (motion moved; unanimous). - Item 19: Cancel unenforceable delinquent taxes on properties owned by the United States (total $12,692.24); outcome: approved (motion moved; unanimous). - Item 20: Cancel unenforceable delinquent taxes on properties owned by New York State (total $209,237.20); outcome: approved (motion moved; unanimous). - Item 29: Distribution of mortgage taxes for period 10/01/2024'03/31/2025 (semiannual distribution per clerk's spreadsheet); outcome: approved (motion moved; voice vote recorded in favor). - Grouped items 6'9 and 21'28 (series of bond resolutions): tabled at request of the comptroller pending selection/approval of bond counsel.

Discussion and context

Committee members asked how the home-buyer navigator's results will be tracked; Curran said the county and the Affordable Housing Partnership will set tangible goals and regular check-ins to measure how many people are assisted and how many complete purchases. Members pressed for specific targets; Curran said exact metrics would be established with the vendor and reported to the committee.

Members asked for clarification on Parks and Recreation hiring and civil-service rules; Genette said she is working with civil service on competitive hiring and that positions are intended to be filled on merit while expanding outreach to communities served by the department.

On tax cancellations, staff explained that the Land Bank properties are tax-exempt under a not-for-profit provision cited in backup materials (transcript reference: "not for profit corporations law section 16 o 8 a" as stated at the meeting) and that a change in state law and the county's disposition plan has shifted some foreclosure and auction procedures. Staff said the purpose of the cancellations is to clean up longstanding, uncollectible delinquencies to reflect that the county lacks statutory authority to foreclose or collect on those charges.

Procedural note

Committee members grouped many bond-related resolutions for discussion but tabled them until bond counsel is on contract; staff said departments do not currently need cash on hand and will prepare to fast-track the items once counsel is retained.

Ending

Committee members asked staff to return with the specific performance metrics for the home-buyer navigator and with formal bond counsel paperwork when available. Several items passed unanimously by voice vote; the committee held public hearings on other agenda items but did not take final votes on those measures at the meeting.