Day 5 - The Albany Budget


By DIA, Section News
Posted on Mon Dec 17, 2007 at 05:06:02 PM EST

I'm going to keep this one short and sweet and let the people involved outline the issues. Councilman Dominick "Lone Wolf" Calsolaro
The Mayor’s proposed 2008 budget is a BAD budget. It already has a $10 million hole in it ($8 million borrowed from the fund balance and $1.7 million from the IDA) going into the 2009 fiscal year. Plus, with the Mayor’s history of overspending the budget between $3 million and $5 million just about every year he’s been in office, the city’s potential structural deficit for 2009 could be as much as $15 million! Now, throw in the city employees’ COLA for 2009, rising health insurance costs, and the city’s retirement fund contribution, and a $20 million HOLE in 2009 is not out of the question. If taxes alone were the only way to close this deficit, the tax rate could increase by 30%! This is what we are looking at a year down the road. This is what the fiscal mismanagement of the Jennings’ administration is leading us to. The Council can only do so much – if we defeat the proposed budget, it goes into effect anyway, but at least we sent a message to the Mayor. It will take strong leadership and the willingness to say NO to any budget increase in 2009 by both the Council and the Mayor working together to solve this fiscal nightmare.

In 2009, I am willing to go on record right now with this proposal, the city must implement at a minimum a 10% across-the-board cut in its proposed budget if we are to begin the process of returning to fiscal stability. I say 2009 because 2008 is already a lost opportunity, and it isn’t even here yet.
Of course the majority of the council voted to approve the mayor's budget as is. Some of those voting no chimed in - Councilwoman Barbara Smith
"It is about how we do sound fiscal management in a time of challenge," she said.
And Richard Conti also spoke up in opposition for the first time.
Council President Pro Tempore Richard Conti said it was his first time opposing a budget.

"We always seem to adopt a budget and then we overspend," he said. "We have to send a message to department heads and commissioners there is a real need for financial management."
Next up, City Comptroller Tom Nidido.
Residents spoke out at a Common Council public hearing Monday, and Comptroller Thomas Nitido warned the council beforehand to make cuts now rather than address shortfalls in future years.

The $161.8 million spending plan calls for $7.9 million of the city's fund balance to be used for everyday operations, leaving $6 million.

"We can't afford the government we have now, and we need to decrease expenditures now and not next year," Nitido said. "Using $8 million of our reserve is not responsible budgeting, and we need to act now."
Pretty clear coming from the comptroller, who certainly isn't known to seek out the spotlight on these issues. If he is saying it, its because he doesn't have a choice. On a side note, if I'm not mistaken, his position is being phased out of city government thanks to Jerry Jennings. No more pesky oversight in the future.

So, if you are the type of person who likes to deal in reality you can see that Albany has a serious issue when it comes to the budget. Not in the future but right NOW. Of course nine of the common council members voted for this budget. I'm willing to bet that some of them just don't understand the math. But the real reason is they just do what the mayor wants. And now for the first bit of insanity. Jim Sano, head of the Council's budget committee, commenting on this budget that the mayor delivered and that the council did nothing to change other than to give it a big fat rubber stamp approval, says the following.
"Don't look for the budget committee to solve your woes and do your work," said Sano, who voted for the plan. "I think we did due diligence."
Let's consider that quote in light of the puppet letter from the city clerk today saying that the council members listen to input from citizens.
For those citizens who come to a Common Council meeting, they will see an engaged and participatory body.

Members listen intently to public comment, and routinely jot down notes during public comment. I would encourage all citizens to come and participate in the process.

The council welcomes and encourages your input.
Really? Encourages your input? Sounds to me like Jimmy Sano could care less about your input. Don't look to the head of the budget committee to do your work. I'm thinking Mr. Sano probably carries a lot of credit card debt and doesn't have a great FICO score if he calls what he did due diligence. Or maybe I'm wrong and when its his own money and not yours he takes things a bit more seriously.

Something else to consider. The mayor and the police chief talk a good game about addressing violence with the kids in the city. They say the schools need to do more. The parents need to do more. These kids need things to do, they say. And yet, the city's community centers are closed on weekends. This year Councilman Calsolaro proposed keeping these centers open on weekends. This would cost us all $25 grand. The city's budget is over $160 million. Was this proposal in the mayor's budget? Of course not, jerry was too focused on the golf course to worry about something like that. But Calsolaro proposed it. Seems reasonable. Calsolaro also proposed raising fees at the golf course because it loses money. More than $25K a year, in case you are wondering. This was the mayor's response to Calsolaro's proposal.
“That sounds crazy what Dominick is proposing, plain and simple he doesn’t know what he’s talking about"
The mayor thinks it would be "crazy" to raise fees at the golf course to make sure it breaks even. Meanwhile the community centers remain closed on weekends. I'm going to show great restraint and not actually type what I really think about this, but i'm sure you can guess.

So, knowing what you know about the budget and how Jerry Jennings is mortgaging the future of Albany to enrich his friends and to make sure he gets lifetime achievement awards from the top party school in the country, let's end with this quote.
“I put a responsible budget together with the least amount of impact on the taxpayers in the city.”
Two videos for this post. In the first, the Albany citizens are played by The Dude. Jennings and Sano are the german nihilists wondering "where is the money?". The second is just some angry citizen.



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Day 5 - The Albany Budget | 8 comments (8 topical, 0 hidden)
So Calsolaro and the Mayor agree (none / 0) (#1)
by Tom Paine on Tue Dec 18, 2007 at 07:38:25 AM EST
Jennings says Calsolaro doesn't know what he's talking about. Calsolaro agrees, not in so many words, when he says he can't get any information.
Tough to know what you're talking about when the city keeps the budget info under wraps (despite the Clerk's unintentionally funny LTE).

Has anyone ever FOILed the budget & expenditure info?

won't budge on the budget! (none / 0) (#2)
by fineagedwine on Tue Dec 18, 2007 at 08:44:07 AM EST
Perhaps Conti got the green light to oppose the budget because he knew it was going to pass without him.  Richard has been a staunch soldier in the Jennings camp for quite awhile.  He represents Center square, which is quite progressive. It would make sense for JJ to say ok to his opposition so that Conti could show his independence to the independent voters in his district.
Tom Nitido really has two options for his future.  First, he could run against "BETTY BOOP BARNETT" or, even better, he could run for mayor against JJ, if he decides to run.  I think that Tom would make a great administrator of this city.  He would have to start making plans now.  He needs some brushing up on matters other than finance. He should start getting supporters together!

Fineagedwine....... (none / 0) (#7)
by George Bailey on Wed Dec 19, 2007 at 06:27:20 AM EST
I agree with your assessment of Conti and how he operates.  He's smarmy, without a doubt.  Sadly, the majority of his constituents are too willing to re-elect him even if a strong contender were to surface.  The known - even if the `known' is smarmy - is more comforting to Albanians.

I also agree with your comments about Nitido.  But, can someone cast some light on the relationship between Nitido and Conti? They are buddies.  Nitido has used Conti's house a number of times to host a dinner to benefit Historic Albany Foundation's `A Moveable Feast'.  What gives?


[ Parent ]

Conti (none / 0) (#8)
by E Corning on Wed Dec 19, 2007 at 08:24:42 AM EST
Conti and the Mayor pals, a laugh at best.  Conti is practical.  He knows that sometimes you can attract more flies with honey than with machine guns (and the police seem to have cornered the market there, so...).

Let's look at some of the "Johnny come lately" statements Conti made, from his newsletters (which as far as I know, he is the only one who puts one out to constituents letting them know what is going on in the city):

From 9/23 - 3--Albany 2008 Budget

The Mayor is slated to release his proposed budget for 2008 this Friday, September 28...I have often warned in the past that the city faces significant financial challenges ahead.  We're faced with rising costs and contractual obligations beyond our ability to pay, stagnant revenue growth and structural deficits  and a potential solid waste disposal crisis.  I don't have a great deal of confidence in the financial management of the city... (emphasis added)

From 10/1, letting his constituents know what the budget includes and his concerns:

Mayor Jennings released his proposed 2008 city budget on September 28.  It reflects expenditures totaling approximately $161.8 million (up from $153.3 million in the 2007 adopted budget), a four percent property tax increase (the actual impact depends on your new property assessment, i.e., my tax bill goes up 40 percent under the proposal), a 25 percent increase in certain fees such as safety inspections, plumbing and electrical permits, a 25 percent increase in parking violation fines (a fine for something like double-parking would go from $75 -- $90 with the state surcharge -- to $93.75, or $108.75 with the surcharge; alternate side of the street parking violations would go from $35 -- $50 with the surcharge -- to $43.75 or $58.75 with the surcharge; and overtime parking fines would go from $25 -- $40 with the surcharge -- to $31.25 or $46.25 with the surcharge).  The budget also takes a one-time allocation of nearly $8 million from the city's reserve funds to cover additional on-going operating expenses (that's deficit spending).  The proposed capital budget increases from $12.3 million to $23.8 million, the portion financed through borrowing increases from $9.9 million to $19.9 million.  The budget does not contain any cost containment provisions or efforts to control costs. I have significant concerns with this proposal, it does nothing to address structural imbalances or the long-term financial challenges the city faces and fails to address financial obligations we cannot afford.  Albany's finances are built on a house of cards which may be coming down sooner than we thought (Emphasis added) ...I'll have more on the budget as the Council review process progresses.

As evidenced from his newsletter pieces, Conti was one of three voices all year citing how bad the Mayor's budget was.  The others were Nitido and Calsolaro.  If the other 4 who voted against the budget were as vocal, maybe we could have beaten it.  I say maybe, because as long as there are hacks like Casey, Igoe and Sano on the Council, it will be difficult.

The reason Conti routinely gets reelected is because he serves his constituents and keeps them informed.  If the entire Council had his level of involvement and critical analysis, the City would be a better place.


[ Parent ]

20 million in the hole by 2009... (none / 0) (#3)
by Jim Travers on Tue Dec 18, 2007 at 01:33:46 PM EST
what a shame! I'm afraid Jennings knows no shame, though.

I hope everyone realizes that the 20 Million the mayor has budgeted for '08 and projected for '09 to expand the landfill, something not guaranteed to be approved by DEC, will precipitate the City's fiscal collapse.

Imagine that, can't afford 25 grand to keep kids busy weekends but there's no problem finding 20 million for a landfill.

If DEC denies the expansion, which it may, the city will also suffer from the shortfall of revenue generated by the landfill.

Also, the county sales tax figures for '08 are also projected to be less than in past years and therefore the city's share will also be less.

Where's Falze when we need him to bolster our spirits, the guy who told us our economy was soaring a while back?

Mayor Scrooge lives in Slingerlands and could care less. Who else in their right mind would award themself a raise during times such as these?

More Briefly, Less Wordy (none / 0) (#4)
by Roscoe on Tue Dec 18, 2007 at 03:56:44 PM EST

Alright, DIA, I'll try to keep this short.  The reason nothing changes here is that nothing changes.  You could go back decades in the news about Albany, spending, budgets, revitalization plans, purchasing, taxes, street maintenance, snow removal -- you name it, it's been said and scammed over and over.  

Reported over and over.  

Same, scam, different day, different decade.

Same objections from one or another Demo-Nitwit, a story or two, then everyone goes home and does whatever.

Expecting anything different without throwing EVERY ONE OF THEM out, unless they got religion and changed parties, is useless.  Of course, Connors did just that, but he's a hoax with the most, so, no luck there.

You need complete paradigm shift. That will not happen without removal of the Albany County Democratic Party from power.  

i keed, roscoe, I keed (none / 0) (#5)
by DIA on Tue Dec 18, 2007 at 04:12:29 PM EST
I do the heavy lifting around these parts when it comes to typing.  You want to try to compete, go right ahead.  I'm looking for some vacation time.  I'm actually entertaining an offer to sub out one of my next pieces.

In my opinion there has been a distinct change in the last few years in Albany politics.  I believe it started with Soares win and has continued since then.  The mindset seems to be changing from "why bother the machine always wins" to "hey, you mean we can actually elect someone who wasn't picked by the party?".   this is an important first step.   Don't ask Albanians to start voting for Republicans, Greens or the Legalize Marijuana candidate right off the bat.  We need to wean them on some democrat alternatives first.   personally I think the whole party affiliation in local politics is silly.  either they plow the roads or they don't.   Perhaps we can start a RESULTS party.  We get results, if that is what you want, vote for us.  All the party bullshit is meaningless if no one is enforcing code.  

Step one is getting Jennings out of office and not having Tuffey be his replacement.  My twelve days bit should serve as a nice menu for any candidate hoping to achieve that.  Plenty to choose from.  Well see if the Greens or WFP put forth a candidate for mayor.  As far as I know, since sullivan switched back to being a dem, there is no Republican party in Albany.  Don't expect me to start one.  I have my limits.

The RESULTS Party (none / 0) (#6)
by Roscoe on Tue Dec 18, 2007 at 04:22:42 PM EST

Now that's damn good!

Day 5 - The Albany Budget | 8 comments (8 topical, 0 hidden)
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