Albany County finance committee proposes alternative budget to save jobs

UPDATED 7 p.m.

ALBANY -- The Albany County Audit and Finance Committee is recommending an alternative budget that would save 100 jobs that would have been cut under the original proposed budget.

Seventy-four of the jobs are at the Albany County Nursing Home. 

The original budget presented by county executive Mike Breslin listed 109 layoffs. 

"By utilizing the funds that support vacant positions throughout the budget, we were able to keep many people working during these tough economic times," said committee chair Frank Commisso of the budget review process.

Breslin called the legislature's proposed budget "irresponsible," saying it created a gap of more than $3 million and a tax increase of nearly 11 percent. He added the positions slated for elimination under the legislature's proposed budget are critical to the county's essential services for children, families and the elderly, such as caseworker positions and snow plow operator positions.

Breslin said he will release a more detailed analysis of the legislature's proposed budget next week. 

The committee's budget recommendation will be the subject of a public hearing scheduled for Tuesday, Nov. 24 at 7:15 p.m. in first-floor Cahill room of 112 State St.

The full county legislature will vote on the plan at its next legislative meeting.