Steve Hughes reports for the Times Union that on Oct. 8 Albany County Executive Daniel McCoy unveiled his proposed $819 million 2024 county budget that includes a 12 percent pay raise for himself, county Comptroller Susan Rizzo, and Sheriff Craig Apple. Under the county's charter, elected officials are only supposed to receive raises at the start of their term, so it might be the only raise the three officials get for the next four years. The budget proposal also includes three percent raises for non-union employees. McCoy said the proposed budget would lower the effective tax rate from $3.17 per $1,000 of assessed value to $2.84 per $1,000 of assessed value. McCoy said, “We’re doing that by making government more streamlined and investing in economic development and growth, thereby raising property values, expanding our tax base, and bringing in more revenue.” McCoy is a Democrat, running for his fourth term as county executive this fall unopposed. Read more about this story in the Times Union.