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Tri-County workforce board budget approved as state funding falls about 12%
Summary
Tri-County Workforce Development Board presented its PY26 budget showing roughly a 12% reduction in Department of State funding; committee approved the budget and forwarded it to the full Board and approved three board appointments.
Shelley Smith, Executive Director of LEAP, presented the Tri-County Workforce Development Board program year 2026 budget for July 1, 2026–June 30, 2027 and said the board received a larger-than-expected funding decrease from the Department of State of about 12%.
Smith and other board representatives — including Gary Dake, chairman of the Workforce Development Board, Gretchen Steffan and Kassandra Purcell — told the committee the biggest near-term change will be staffing after the director retires in September and that the board plans to contract with the Capital District Workforce Development Board executive director as a consultant. Committee members were also told that a potential merger with the Capital District Workforce Development Board would be extensive and take considerable time. A motion to approve the PY26 budget and forward it to the full Board was moved by Mrs. Clary, seconded by Mr. Campbell and adopted.
The committee also handled board membership: it reappointed Laura Oswald and Mary Ann Spiezio to three-year terms from September 1, 2026–August 31, 2029, and appointed Kyle C. Ferris to fill the unexpired term of Scott Brazie from September 1, 2026–June 1, 2028. The board passed its budget on June 24 and expects each county to act on the plan.
