County Executive McCoy Delivers 15th State of the County Address

Albany County Executive Daniel P. McCoy today delivered his 15th State of the County Address at the Saint Rose Campus. During his presentation, the County Executive announced a number of major policy initiatives that will uphold quality of life through affordability, public safety, economic development, and investments in abandoned and forgotten spaces. Additionally, he called for unity at a time of division and political violence.

As there continues to be uncertainty and dysfunction in Washington, like the recent withholding of federal funding for childcare and temporary assistance for needy families, County Executive McCoy is preparing to protect our most vulnerable community members. Albany County has set aside $700,000 to address food insecurity throughout our community. He also vowed to use the undesignated fund balance as a firewall for the short-sighted decisions made by the federal and state government.

Despite all these external pressures, Albany County remains in a strong financial position that has allowed the County Executive to cut the effective tax rate for the last twelve consecutive years by 35%. He continues to look at the County's footprint to determine where we can consolidate our operations and sell off properties that don't further our mission, including our Probation Department building on South Pearl Street, which will soon be converted into workforce housing.

Economic development continues to be a central focus of the McCoy administration. In partnership with both the Albany County Land Bank and the Advance Albany County Alliance, the County's Local Development Corporation, they've been aggressive in addressing blighted, abandoned, and contaminated properties, including the Reimagine Saint Rose redevelopment project, the Central Warehouse demolition, and the transformation of 106 South Pearl Street into a modern, centralized intercity bus terminal.

Albany County remains a great place to do business. In 2025, the County's Economic Development programs directly assisted 52 companies in creating and retaining 1,185 jobs, who invested almost $200 million in Albany County. That is an estimated economic impact of over $1 billion.

"Our local businesses drive our community. I'm committed to attracting investment that strengthens our economy and creates real opportunities for residents," said Albany County Executive Daniel P. McCoy.

County Executive McCoy has also prioritized affordability for residents. The County's first-time homebuyer program is in its second year in 2026. Families are benefiting from this partnership with the Affordable Housing Partnership, which helps them understand the complicated world of banking, real estate, grants, and loans. In just the second half of 2025, this program touched the lives of more than 1,200 individuals. This is in addition to the recently announced affordable housing loan fund that will encourage the development and rehabilitation of homes and rental units that will be within reach of those with lower incomes in every corner of the County.

"Through our first-time homebuyer navigator program, we're helping residents take that first crucial step by providing financial support, guidance, and resources to make buying a home more affordable. By lowering barriers and offering practical assistance, we're empowering families to invest in their future, build stability, and put down roots in our community," said Albany County Executive Daniel P. McCoy.

Another core pillar of quality of life is access to parks and open spaces. Albany County recently purchased Switzkill Park from the Town of Berne. The public will once again have access to hiking and biking paths, and it will house a brand-new outdoor art show. The County's dedication to the regional arts and culture will be furthered by commissioning artists to produce the art displays and eventually converting one of the buildings into an artist's house. Also, the Upper Camp renovations of Lawson Lake County Park are officially complete thanks to a partnership with MVP Health Care. It will serve as a vital tool to amplify the impact of our county's health and human service departments. These programs will officially be launched this spring.

"Our parks and recreation programming is at the heart of our thriving, healthy community. I am committed to increasing access to free recreation programs so every resident, young and old, has a place to play, learn, and stay active. We will continue to expand and modernize our parks and facilities, ensuring safe, welcoming spaces for all. Together, we are investing in the health, well-being, and future of our community," said Albany County Executive Daniel P. McCoy.

Public safety is also a key component to promote quality of life. For the first time ever, the Parks and Recreation Department will provide recreational programming specifically for at-risk youth. As part of our latest Raise the Age Plan that has been submitted to the State, the County is requesting an additional $400,000 to reopen the Evening Reporting Center.

Albany County is partnering with the City of Albany School District to restart the Truancy Abatement Program. Additionally, Albany County is working with a number of other school districts to utilize a comprehensive new AI program to help schools communicate with parents, identify at-risk youth with unexcused absences, and connect them with school intervention resources.

Albany County continues to address the homeless, mental health, and opioid crises through a number of programs and services. That's why Albany County and the City of Albany invested $1.8 million towards the Albany Navigates street homeless outreach program through a partnership with CARES. These efforts will be boosted by Albany County's newest groundbreaking street psychiatry program, which officially has boots on the ground, in which a nurse practitioner and their team of clinicians and counselors are able to prescribe desperately needed medication to people wherever they may be.

The Mobile Outreach, Treatment, and Overdose Response program provided 233 services to nearly 200 individuals over the last year. Since overdose deaths peaked in 2022 at 128, the annual death toll has steadily declined. In 2024, overdose deaths dropped down to 83, and in 2025, they dropped to 58.

As a former firefighter, County Executive McCoy knows firsthand the heavy responsibility and danger accepted by the men and women of our fire departments. Albany County has taken the lead on building the City of Albany's first and only public safety facility at the Port of Albany. Albany County is currently engaging with an engineering firm for the design of the facility, partnering with experts from the Albany County Sheriff's Office and fire union officials to ensure a top-notch facility. Albany County anticipates that there will be shovels in the ground by the end of the year.

"Keeping our community safe means being proactive. When we address truancy and invest in diversion programs, we're helping young people stay on track and connected to opportunity instead of drifting toward trouble. And with the opening of our new public safety facility, we're making sure our first responders are fully prepared to meet any emergency head-on. These are practical steps that strengthen public safety from the ground up," said Albany County Executive Daniel P. McCoy.

2026 State of the County address video and transcript.