Committee signs off on multiple tax‑roll corrections, cancels old city lien and clears parcels for sale

The Albany County Audit & Finance Committee approved multiple corrections to the county tax roll, authorized the cancellation of a long‑standing tax lien on a city‑owned parcel and approved the listing and conveyance of several county properties on March 21.

Officials from the controller’s office described several clerical and unlawful‑entry errors that resulted in school tax bills being applied incorrectly or not credited. The controller said the Albany County Land Bank acquired 157 Homestead A on Aug. 28, 2024 prior to the levy of the 2024 school tax and requested correction of that unlawful entry. The office also asked the committee to remove an erroneously re‑levied paid school tax for 41 Toll Drive and to correct an improperly applied PILOT exemption for 48 North Pearl Street.

The committee approved a recommendation to cancel an enforceability action on a 2019 tax bill for 38 Brook Street — a property the presenter said the City of Albany owns and is exempt under real property tax law §406 — and to charge back the credited amount to the city because the bill is older than three years and therefore unenforceable under the statute cited by staff.

Chris Conway of the county executive’s office asked the committee to authorize the 2025 disposition plan to list seven parcels for public sale as a cleanup of parcels not previously listed for sale under state law; the committee approved the listing and later approved individual conveyances of county parcels at 506 Washington Ave for $6,000 and 475 Second Street for $5,000.

All of the tax‑roll corrections, the lien cancellation and the real‑property listings and conveyances were approved by unanimous voice vote in the committee.

The controller’s office said it will follow up by email when members request precise PILOT revenue comparisons and other numeric details that were not provided at the meeting.