RESOLUTION NO. 298
REQUIRING A SURVEY OF THE IMPACT OF NEWLY ARRIVED PERSONS ON THE ALBANY COUNTY BUDGET
Introduced: 7/10/23
By Burgdorf, Collins, Drake, Grimm, Lockart, Mauriello, Perlee, Smith, Tunny, Whalen:
WHEREAS, The ongoing arrival of Newly Arrived Persons in counties, cities, towns and villages within New York State may have fiscal impacts on the social services’ budgets of local governments due to the assumption of responsibility for these persons by local social service districts upon the cessation of the funding of these services by other localities; and
WHEREAS, The County Executive is currently coordinating measures with other municipalities to ensure Newly Arrived Persons are receiving adequate care and programming from those municipalities and involved non-governmental agencies; and
WHEREAS, It is incumbent on the leaders of Albany County to take proactive steps to track the cost impact of the Newly Arrived Persons in the event that the County is responsible for assuming responsibility of providing social services and other public services to the Newly Arrived Persons; now, therefore be it
RESOLVED, For the purposes of this resolution, the term “Newly Arrived Person” shall mean a migrant, asylee, refugee, or any other non-citizen person or homeless person: 1. Contracted to be placed by the City of New York at any hotel, motel, or commercial lodging facility located within Albany County, or; 2. Placed by the State of New York within any dormitory facility of the State University of New York or any other facility within Albany County after May 29, 2023 and, be it further
RESOLVED, That the County Executive, in consultation with all Departments serving Newly Arrived Persons, shall prepare an initial report, which shall be subsequently updated, to the Albany County Legislature regarding the fiscal and housing impact of Newly Arrived Persons in Albany County, and that such reports shall include:
1. The potential timeline of when any Newly Arrived Persons shall become the responsibility of Albany County for the provision of any mandated or voluntary social service programs as operated by the County or funded through other non-governmental organizations, including but not limited to those organizations which contract with the County for the provision of social services;
2. The potential 2023, 2024, and 2025 budgetary costs to the Department of Social Services, Department of Health, Department of Mental Health, Department of Children, Youth, and Families, Department of Aging, and any other Department with possible budgetary implications identified by the Commissioner of Management and Budget for the assumption of mandated responsibility for Newly Arrived Persons based on the results of reporting on a potential timeline for assuming responsibility;
3. The geographic distribution of any Newly Arrived Persons by municipality; and, be it further
RESOLVED, That the report required by this resolution shall be made to the best of the ability of the County Executive and Albany County Departments with the highest degree of information possible in compliance with any personal privacy laws or any other applicable provision of law; and, be it further
RESOLVED, That the report required by this resolution shall include any information provided by New York City or any other municipality as required by an Executive Order promulgated by the County Executive on May 23rd, 2023 and subsequently renewed; and, be it further
RESOLVED, That the report required by this resolution shall be first submitted to the County Legislature within 90 days of the adoption of this resolution by the Legislature and then at 120, 150 and 180 days, and thereafter on a quarterly basis to be used for budget planning purposes through December 31st, 2025; and, be it further
RESOLVED, That a copy of this resolution be forwarded to the Albany County Executive, and the Commissioner of Management and Budget.
Referred to Social Services, Law, and Audit and Finance Committees - 7/10/23
Negative Recommendation Social Services Committee - 7/25/23
Negative Recommendation Law Committee - 7/26/23
Negative Recommendation Audit and Finance Committee - 7/27/23