Elected officials in Albany say the city needs two new public safety facilities, but they don't have $20 million to pay for them. Officials are hoping voters will authorize the city to borrow the money.
Mayor Sharon Konopa says for many years, Albany officials have realized their downtown fire station needs to be replaced.
Konopa: "And also, we have needed to expand our existing police station."
Konopa says the city has already purchased the property to build the new and larger police station. But now they needs taxpayers to foot the rest of the bill through a general obligation bond.
Konopa: "We have a retiring GO bond which funded our last two fire stations. So the question to the voters would be a renewal of this bond, continuing this bond at the same tax rate."
If passed, property taxes will remain at 43 cents per 1000-dollars assessed value.
Last week, the Albany City Council responded to concerns from the community by agreeing to form citizen committees to review proposals for each new building. Again Mayor Konopa.
Konopa: "Many citizens will want to have some say and input over the design, mostly for the downtown fire station because it's in our downtown historic district."
Ballots have already been mailed to eligible voters. The election ends November 5.
