Staff work continues on a new Albany utility fee to support city services. And while no decision has been made to collect such a fee, no one on the council has objected in any of the meetings where it was discussed.
Albany Parks and Recreation Director Kim Lyddane has good news for all those parents who pleaded with the city council last spring not to close the Maple Lawn Preschool: Subject to council and school board approval, the place will stay open and Greater Albany Public Schools will cover the expense.
There’s been a lot of public discussion about possible monthly Albany utility fees to shore up future city budgets, and Mayor Sharon Konopa says she’d like to make her position clear.
There are not enough votes on the Albany City Council to impose a monthly utility fee to support city services, at least not yet.
The Maple Lawn preschool can stay open at least another year, and police and fire layoffs have been averted for now, but long-term structural problems in Albany’s city budget remain.
Budget meetings aren’t anybody’s idea of a good time. But Tuesday’s session in the Albany council chamber was interesting, mainly for the long and extraordinarily detailed message delivered by City Manager Peter Troedsson.
Albany council enacts new city fee — or tax
Well, it’s official now. The Albany City Council has adopted a new “city services fee” — or utility tax if you will — to help support its general fund, which pays for police, fire protection, parks, libraries and planning, among other things.
Tags: Albany city budget, Albany council, city finances, city services fee, Matilda Novak