Washington County Finance Committee approves bridge and capital amendments, mortgage tax distributions and up to $5M borrowing authorization

The Washington County Finance Committee on May 7 approved a package of budget changes, grant recognitions, procurement awards and a bonding authorization intended to support 2026 infrastructure and program needs.

The committee adopted an $82,200 amendment to Capital Project C01110 for Adirondack Community College to cover a facilities master plan update, a change Mr. O’Brien moved and Mr. Wang seconded. The county’s sponsor share is to be borne by capital chargebacks collected by the college and/or other resources, the resolution says.

Committee members also approved Marchiselli grant adjustments for bridge repairs. A motion by Mr. Fisher, seconded by Mr. O’Brien, amended Capital Project No. 128 to add $386,424 for construction and construction inspection on Hill Street over the Battenkill and County Route 24 over the Mettawee. The resolution increases federal and state aid lines and raised the project total to $447,424.

Separately, the committee approved adding $1,762,101 to Capital Project No. 136 for the Lock 8 Way bridge construction and inspection in the Town of Kingsbury. The motion moved by Mr. Fisher and seconded by Mr. Wang was adopted with Mr. Hogan recorded as opposed. The resolution allocates roughly 80% federal, 15% state and 5% local funds and identifies a project total of $2,123,170.

The committee recognized a five‑year Children and Youth with Special Health Care Needs grant from the New York State Department of Health, with Year 1 funding of $89,393 (Oct. 1, 2025–Sept. 30, 2030). Mr. Hall moved the recognition, and the committee placed $51,353 of Year 1 into contingency to account for salary and benefits already budgeted. The Office for the Aging’s SFY 26–27 Unmet Needs Program allocation of $125,593 was also recognized; the committee noted no local match is required and that funds will support training, postage and supplies.

Public Safety will receive $25,685 in repairs for two communications consoles, funded with $25,000 of unspent Local Assistance and Tribal Consistency federal funds and $685 from contingency. The committee approved the amendment on a motion by Mr. O’Brien.

On procurement, the committee approved mini‑bid #2026F, awarding Howell & Pierson DBA Main Motorcar a 2026 Dodge Durango GT at $35,345.53 for Alternative Sentencing (motion by Mr. Hall, seconded by Mr. O’Brien). The meeting packet includes the full ranked bidder summaries and alternate offers.

The committee also approved a supplemental mortgage tax disbursement budget of $19,913.83 and adopted the mortgage tax warrant for receipts ending March 31, 2026. The total to be apportioned and distributed to towns and villages is $727,580.32, with the meeting record listing the district-by-district amounts.

Facing anticipated cash‑flow needs for 2026 road and bridge projects, the committee authorized drafting a bonding resolution to issue a bond anticipation note not to exceed $5 million to bridge reimbursements and fund projects through the road season. The motion to authorize the bonding resolution was moved by Mr. O’Brien and seconded by Messrs. Skellie, Fisher and Wang; county counsel is preparing the formal resolution.

The committee also authorized the county to act as the state grant recipient—and pass‑through—for a $500,000 County Infrastructure Improvement Grant to the Village of Whitehall. The village will front vendor payments and submit completed project packets to the state for reimbursement; the county will recognize the grant in the Planning Department budget and execute required documents when the packet is complete.

The meeting adjourned at 1:05 P.M.

Votes at a glance: motions and outcomes recorded in the meeting minutes include adoption of the minutes (motion: Mr. Wang; second: Mr. O’Brien; outcome: adopted); executive session entry/return (movers/second recorded; no action taken); C01110 amendment (moved: Mr. O’Brien; second: Mr. Wang; adopted); CapProj128 amendment (moved: Mr. Fisher; second: Mr. O’Brien; adopted); CapProj136 amendment (moved: Mr. Fisher; second: Mr. Wang; adopted; Mr. Hogan opposed); CYSHCN grant recognition (moved: Mr. Hall; second: Mr. Wang; adopted); OFA unmet needs recognition (moved: Mr. Hall; second: Mr. O’Brien; adopted); Public Safety console repair funding (moved: Mr. O’Brien; second: Mr. Hall and Mrs. Clary; adopted); mortgage tax supplemental and warrant (moved: Mr. Hall; second: Mr. O’Brien; adopted); mini‑bid award (moved: Mr. Hall; second: Mr. O’Brien; adopted); BAN authorization to be drafted (moved: Mr. O’Brien; second: Messrs. Skellie, Fisher and Wang; adopted); Whitehall CIIG pass‑through recognition (moved: Mr. Rozell; second: Messrs. Hogan and O’Brien; adopted).

Sources: Washington County Finance Committee minutes, May 7, 2026 (meeting packet, motions and resolutions).