Residents Speak Up For Teens, Seniors at Budget Talk

The Albany considered a number of money-saving ideas Monday night in a brainstorming session to address Albany’s .

Most of the  garnered initial approval from the council, including personnel shifts, department restructuring and the decision to keep vacant several job positions that aren't currently filled. The final budget-cutting measures will be presented to the council for approval .

During the public comment portion of the evening, residents voiced concern about recommendations to reduce the evening meal service at the from five days a week to three, and to eliminate the after-school program at the in favor of .

said she was “very disappointed” at the idea of reducing youth services, including a $9,500 cut to the .

“It upsets me when youth services are cut,” said Okawachi, who explained that she was a founding member of the league and helped establish the Teen Center. “I hope we don’t lose kids. Please remember our young people. They are our future.”

, an Albany resident for more than 30 years who was also involved in establishing the Teen Center, said she was “appalled, embarrassed and almost ashamed,” at the notion of cutting services to teens and seniors.

“You need to look at something bigger and not attack our youth and our vulnerable seniors,” said Osborn. “Please do not take away such valuable services that our city is really proud to have.”

Council members agreed to consider using discretionary funds to support teen and senior programs where possible.

“We can’t do everything. We just can’t,” said . “I’d like to see our discretionary funds go to the most needy.”

Recreation & Community Services Director Penelope Leach said her staff would look for ways to continue the senior meal service five days a week and return in June with a proposal.

As part of additional cost-cutting measures, said he was contemplating suggesting that council members consider taking a 5 percent pay cut. Council members said that this could only be done on an individual, voluntary basis rather than across the board and did not include it in the motion.

Lieber denied suggestions from two residents that the city was chopping from the bottom of the pile by laying off part-time employees, who are already at the bottom of the pay scale.

“I see everybody taking a hit,” said Lieber. “I feel like staff did a good job in spreading the pain.”

Following the council meeting, Albany residents, staff and council members put their heads together in a budget workshop session, scribbling down money-making ideas like installing additional parking meters, a ¼-cent sales tax and making better use of technology.       

“We’re working very hard to get the budget for this coming year, but we’re not out of the woods yet,” said . “We still need to look at different ways of doing things. That’s where we need the help of the people in this room.”

Participants made notes on a long list of budget ideas, choosing “yes,” “no” or “maybe” on suggestions ranging from attracting more business to fundraising. The handouts were then returned to city staff for consideration over the coming weeks of budget debate.

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