City of Albany

Common Council
24 Eagle Street
Albany, New York 12207
October 23, 2016
Hon. Daniel P. McCoy
Albany County Executive
Harold L. Joyce Albany County Office Building
112 State Street, Room 900
Albany, NY 12207
Re: Albany County Legislature Resolution 445
Dear County Executive McCoy:
We are writing to urge your veto of Resolution 445 adopted by the Albany County Legislature on
October 13, 2016.
Albany County has a long standing policy of collecting past due property taxes and other charges
applied to a property tax bill as a lien for municipalities within the County. As part of this policy, the
County makes municipalities whole for uncollected amounts at the time of submission of bills to the
County. In 2010 and 2013, respectively, the County Legislature adopted standards with regard to
demolition charges and unmetered water charges but did not change the fundamental policy which had
been in place.
Resolution 445 makes a fundamental change in this policy for other charges effective December 31,
2016. The language itself is ambiguous and subject to interpretation with regard to applicability. This
policy change will have a negative financial impact on municipalities within Albany County, including
but not limited to the City of Albany, and was adopted without consultation or dialogue with the
affected communities. The resolution was further adopted after proposed local operating budgets were
developed and submitted to respective legislative bodies for review and adoption.
Since action on Resolution 445 should have included dialogue and consultation with affected localities
within Albany County, and an assessment of its financial impact on such localities, and neither has
occurred, we respectively request that you veto Resolution 445.
Thank you in advance for your consideration of our concerns.
Sincerely,
Hon. Dorcey Applyrs
Hon. Richard Conti
Hon. Judy Doesschate
Hon. Cathy Fahey

Hon. Jack Flynn

Hon. Leah Golby
Hon. Daniel Herring
Hon. Joseph Igoe

Hon. Kelly Kimbrough

Hon. Vivian Kornegay
Hon. Michael OBrien