Albany board approves budget transfers to cover pension, water costs; auditor position funding questioned
January 24, 2026 | Albany City, Albany County, New York
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The Board of Estimate and Apportionment voted to approve several budget transfers the board said were necessary to cover pension obligations and outstanding water-related invoices.
Speaker 2 presented the package, saying the board was moving $66,000 from software maintenance to contract services for elections and reallocating a set of funds totaling $516,000 to cover the city's fiscal year 2025 portion of the state fiscal year 2026 pension obligation, including amounts routed to lines described as the New York State Employee Retirement System.
"So total transfer is 516,000, and that's to cover, city fiscal year 2025 portion of the state fiscal year 2026 pension," Speaker 2 said.
The board also approved multiple water department transfers. Speaker 2 described reallocations that included $42,350 from sewer maintenance salaries and $50,000 from transmission and distribution salaries to cover outstanding invoices, and an increase of $700,000 in recognized water charges revenues (with $600,000 for transmission and distribution contracted services and $100,000 for sewer maintenance contracted services) to address emergency repairs tied to W.J. Keller.
An unidentified member raised a procedural concern about a proposed audit office position, asking whether that position had been passed by the town council. Speaker 2 replied that the common council had added a second auditor in the 2026 budget but said the current transfer was to move funds for a separate position (identified in the record as Ian Addy) and that the council was handling a different position on its own agenda.
"This transfer is subject to passage by the town council," an unidentified speaker said; Speaker 2 clarified that the transfer being approved was not for professional services for the annual city audit and that enough money remained for the annual audit.
After brief discussion, the board called for a second, recorded "Aye" votes and Speaker 2 declared the motion passed unanimously.
The board also reviewed proposed 2026 appropriations, including $347,700 in NYSERDA funds and $102,800 in IRA tax credits for a Capital Hathaway solar array project (totaling $450,000) and a $13,000 town-aid transfer for the Elizabeth Street Pavilion tied to an Albany County park and playground grant. Those appropriations were presented as part of the same calendar of transfers and increases.
The meeting adjourned following the vote.
What happens next: the board approved the transfers during this session; the record includes a note from a member that at least one related personnel item was still subject to separate council action.
Speaker 2 presented the package, saying the board was moving $66,000 from software maintenance to contract services for elections and reallocating a set of funds totaling $516,000 to cover the city's fiscal year 2025 portion of the state fiscal year 2026 pension obligation, including amounts routed to lines described as the New York State Employee Retirement System.
"So total transfer is 516,000, and that's to cover, city fiscal year 2025 portion of the state fiscal year 2026 pension," Speaker 2 said.
The board also approved multiple water department transfers. Speaker 2 described reallocations that included $42,350 from sewer maintenance salaries and $50,000 from transmission and distribution salaries to cover outstanding invoices, and an increase of $700,000 in recognized water charges revenues (with $600,000 for transmission and distribution contracted services and $100,000 for sewer maintenance contracted services) to address emergency repairs tied to W.J. Keller.
An unidentified member raised a procedural concern about a proposed audit office position, asking whether that position had been passed by the town council. Speaker 2 replied that the common council had added a second auditor in the 2026 budget but said the current transfer was to move funds for a separate position (identified in the record as Ian Addy) and that the council was handling a different position on its own agenda.
"This transfer is subject to passage by the town council," an unidentified speaker said; Speaker 2 clarified that the transfer being approved was not for professional services for the annual city audit and that enough money remained for the annual audit.
After brief discussion, the board called for a second, recorded "Aye" votes and Speaker 2 declared the motion passed unanimously.
The board also reviewed proposed 2026 appropriations, including $347,700 in NYSERDA funds and $102,800 in IRA tax credits for a Capital Hathaway solar array project (totaling $450,000) and a $13,000 town-aid transfer for the Elizabeth Street Pavilion tied to an Albany County park and playground grant. Those appropriations were presented as part of the same calendar of transfers and increases.
The meeting adjourned following the vote.
What happens next: the board approved the transfers during this session; the record includes a note from a member that at least one related personnel item was still subject to separate council action.
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