On May 20, voters in Albany will decide whether to renew a five-year property tax levy that funds ambulance, fire and police operations.
Currently, the levy pays for 16 EMTs and firefighters who answer over 4,300 calls per year. It also makes up 10% of the police budget where it employs 15 people including officers, lieutenants, dispatchers, and more.
“Albany's a growing city and so the levy will help us continue the current service levels,” said Mayor Alex Johnson II.
The levy first appeared on the ballot in 2002 and has been renewed four times. In 2020, 75% of Albany voters supported the levy. Now, the levy plays an important role in the city’s budget.
“It has a big impact on the general fund if we don’t get the levy, so that’s why we’re asking early to help us renew the levy,” said Johnson. “So that we can take that off the radar for the remainder of 2025.”
Johnson said without the levy, staffing for firefighters and EMTs per shift would be reduced and an ambulance and fire engine would be taken off the road.
He added that if the levy doesn’t pass in May, it would reappear on the November ballot.
