Albany budget proposal faces criticism | News

ALBANY - Critics of the budget released today say mayor Jerry Jennings is borrowing too much from the future to pay for the present.

When the tax bills for 2013 arrive in Albany mailboxes, homeowners will notice a 3% increase.

Jerry Jennings claims the hike is beyond his control.  

The five term mayor points to increasing pension costs...what was 500-thousand dollars a decade ago now totals 17 million dollars.

Additionally, 60% of Albany's real property tax base is exempt, which are mostly state government buildings, so 40 % of property owners foot 100% of the bill. 

Jennings promises to continue to lobby the legislature and Governor Cuomo for increased aid to offset state owned land and buildings.

The proposed budget does not include a single lay off.  It also doesn't call for raises for either unionized or non unionized employees.  

“To me it looks like we're pushing everything off to the future, the alternative is you have to make cuts somewhere and come in with a budget that's more streamlined,” says City Council Member Dominic Casolaro

In the past the Summer Youth Employment Program and the Anti-Gun Program were on the chopping block, but both were funded in the mayor's plan this year.