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Albany County committee amends 2025 mental‑health budget to pass state funds to local providers
Summary
An Albany County committee approved budget amendments to pass state grants to local behavioral‑health providers — Second Chance Opportunities (OASIS) $4,875; Equinox $7,929; Homeless and Travelers Aid Society $17,180; Rehabilitation Support Services $165,188. The county said it is monitoring potential federal funding impacts.
An Albany County committee at a regular meeting approved amendments to the 2025 Department of Mental Health budget to pass state funds to four local behavioral‑health providers.
Michael Fitzgerald of the Department of Mental Health asked the committee to "approve to amend our 2025 budget in order to pass through COLA funds to the New York State Office of Addiction Services and Supports, also known as OASIS," identifying $4,875 to be passed through to Second Chance Opportunities and saying those funds are "100% state funded." Dr. Peter Dineau, also with the Department of Mental Health, told the committee the county routinely functions as a pass‑through for state allocations.
The committee considered three additional pass-throughs from the New York State Office of Mental Health. Dr. Dineau described Equinox Incorporated as a "long standing provider in the community" with housing programs, a clinic, recovery residences including Holt House, Warren Street and scattered‑site apartments; the OMH allocation for Equinox was stated as $7,929. Dr. Dineau then presented $17,180 for Homeless and Travelers Aid Society to support housing services and forensic beds, and $165,188 for Rehabilitation Support Services for supportive housing and outreach.
Committee members asked whether the state grants are funded in whole or in part by federal dollars. Dr. Dineau said state aid is "partially funded at the state level with federal block grants," that the county is "watching this as carefully as we can," and that staff are getting regular updates from the state about any federal‑level changes that could affect the funds.
Each of the service items was moved and advanced by voice vote. The Equinox item was moved by Mister Baskin and seconded by Mister Miller; the Homeless and Travelers Aid item was moved by Mister Lane and seconded by Mister Miller; the Rehabilitation Support Services item was moved by Mister Miller and seconded by Mister Lane. The transcript records participants saying "Aye" and, in several instances, at least one person answering "Opposed" during the voice votes; the transcript does not include a roll‑call tally or final numerical vote counts.
The presenters and committee members said the funds will be passed through to the named providers for housing supports, clinics and recovery residences. The committee closed the meeting after thanking the presenters and moving to adjourn.
Next steps: the amendments were taken up and advanced at this meeting; the transcript does not state further implementation dates or reporting deadlines.
