Assessor reports 11% rise in assessed value; commissioners reset mill levies for 2026–27

The Albany County Commissioners on Aug. 3 reset the mill levies for the 2026–27 budget and accepted the special district compliance report after County Assessor Chelsea Matthews reported a total assessed value of $743,583,833 — "an increase of about 11% over last year," she said, attributing much of the change to a 2025 exemption that shifted in 2026 to an owner-occupied, application-required program.

Matthews summarized several exemptions and trends: the long-term homeowners exemption (for residents 65 or older with 25+ years of property tax payment) offers a 50% reduction to house and land and grew about 24% from 2025 to 2026. She said the older 25% exemption decreased substantially after moving to an application process. On new provisions she told the board that a 2026 personal property exemption allows $75,000 off fair-market value for business personal property and is expected to grow modestly year over year.

Matthews also flagged litigation: "Just remember that this one is pending litigation. That hearing is scheduled for December 10," she said about the residential homeowners cap, and cautioned that a decision could arrive in January and affect exemptions and county systems. Commissioners discussed operational concerns if exemptions change; one commissioner noted informally that "a mill in Albany County right now is still worth about $650,000," underscoring budget sensitivity to assessed value shifts.

A commissioner moved to reset the mill levies for the 2026–27 budget and to accept the special district compliance report from Chelsea Matthews; the motion was seconded and approved by voice vote. The transcript records commissioners answering "Aye" but does not provide a detailed roll-call tally for the vote in the record.