Sean Mulkerrin is reporting for the Altamont Enterprise all 36 Albany County legislators voted December 7, to adopt a $719.3 million county budget for 2021. The spending plan is parred down significantly from the 2020 adjusted budget, which as of now is $747.3 million, an increase of approximately $14 million from what was proposed this time last year. Dave Reilly, the deputy commissioner of management and budget, told the Enterprise, that, as the year evolves, so does the budget, and amendments are very often made, he said. The spending plan is a "constantly evolving document; it's not any one...thing that jumps up," Reilly said. Albany County property owners will see a tax-rate decrease for the third year in a row. The county tax rate in 2021 will be $3.487 per $1,000 of equalized value, down from $3.49 per $1,000 this year. The county legislature also added $170,000 and two new Department of Mental Health social-worker positions for a new program called ACCORD, which will “change the way dispatch services are delivered in instances of non-violent calls for assistance,” according to a release from the legislature. There are no cuts in services or programs in 2021. Officials say expected revenues from sales tax and mortgage recording tax collections are expected to offset all spending increases made in the final budget. Read the full story in the Altamont Enterprise.