Albany County committee approves budget-neutral salary adjustments for post‑offender office staff

The Law Committee approved a budget-neutral request from the post-offender office to realign and increase certain salaries so that identical job titles funded by different sources have equal pay and to keep positions competitive.

Judge Harrick presented the request with Keith Bellotto, the director of accounts, and said the request is budget neutral and funded from existing county funds by reducing fees-for-service line items to provide increases for staff pay. "This is a request, for legislative action. It's a budget neutral request, from existing funds to, accomplish 2 things," Judge Harrick said.

Judge Harrick explained that some identical job titles are funded by different sources—state or county funds—and the proposal would equalize salaries across funding streams. He told the committee the second objective was to "increase some of the salaries on our budget to keep them competitive," citing differences in when county and state budgets are finalized.

A committee member asked, "What is a mitigation specialist?" Judge Harrick answered that mitigation specialists compile life-history information and contextual reports for court or probation to seek more favorable outcomes for clients. "They put together basically a biography of a client... a nondegreed, professional person with a life experience that would allow them to go out into the community... to get this information," he said.

A motion to approve the budget neutral adjustment was made and the committee approved the request unanimously.