Albany County Republican & Conservative Conference Agenda 

ALBANY, NY – The Albany County Republican and Conservative Conference this week advanced a common-sense proposal pushing for transparency and fiscal planning on the arrival of hundreds of migrants from New York City. The bill, which passed through committee meetings with ‘negative recommendations’ by the Democratic Legislative Majority, is set to be voted on by the Full Legislature in August.

“For the past two months, a growing migrant crisis has unfolded in Albany County and the Capital Region. We’ve witnessed chaos. Local laws and Executive orders ignored. We’ve even seen the callous displacement of impoverished American citizens. This week, my Republican and Conservative colleagues in the Albany County Legislature said ‘enough is enough.’ Now is not the time to bury our heads in the sand. We were elected to be leaders for our communities, and protect taxpayer dollars. Every County Legislator needs to understand what the financial impacts of this crisis will be on County taxpayers. We have an obligation to put aside the politics and prepare our County as best as we can,” said County Legislator Paul J. Burgdorf, Deputy Minority Leader and Member of the Audit and Finance Committee. 

The proposed bill, introduced last month by Legislator Burgdorf, would require the County to track the fiscal impact of resettled migrants within Albany County. As New York City continues sending migrants to the County, the eventual effect on County taxpayers when New York City stops paying will be substantial – especially as it pertains to social services and future County Budgets.

Last week, neighboring Schenectady County and the Town of Rotterdam also began to face this crisis, as New York City rented out an entire hotel for migrants. Following the displacement of local residents, some of whom were on social services, local municipalities took action to prohibit hotels from entering into contracts to house migrants.

Earlier this week, it was reported that a hotel in Colonie now has at least 50 migrant children, which will create significant financial impacts on Colonie school districts entering the new academic year in September.

There are now more than 500 New York City-exported migrants in Albany County. Following New York City’s recently adopted policy to limit their stays in the city shelter system, that number is expected to significantly grow.

“We cannot ignore reality or pretend this crisis doesn’t exist. Transparency, fiscal responsibility and accountability to taxpayers should all be non-partisan issues. All 39 Legislators should have access to all the data as we craft our County budgets in the coming months and years. While I am deeply disappointed at this needless partisan divide over my proposal, I will continue to fight for these principles as long as I am a County Legislator,” said Legislator Burgdorf.