RENSSELAER COUNTY ENTERING NEW ERA OF SERVICE AND PROSPERITY IN 2025 THANKS TO COUNTY PROPERTY TAX RATE REDUCTIONS, SERVICE IMPROVEMENTS AND COMMON-SENSE GOVERNING, COUNTY EXECUTIVE STEVE MCLAUGHLIN TELLS RENSSELAER COUNTY REGIONAL CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
Rensselaer County is entering a new era of service and prosperity with many opportunities ahead in the coming months, County Executive Steve McLaughlin told members of the Rensselaer County Regional Chamber of Commerce during his State of the County address to the Chamber on Thursday.
The county is being recognized across the state as a leader in reducing county property taxes while dramatically and comprehensively improving county services, McLaughlin told Chamber members during the talk at Franklin Terrace in Troy.
“From reopening ice rinks and building new senior centers, paving roads and supporting investment and improvement while lowering your property taxes, we are working to improve quality of life and create future success and beyond,” said McLaughlin.
“Rensselaer County has effectively reduced the county property tax rate while comprehensively improving county services and the offices and facilities of county governments. These investments have improved our profile and also help attract investment with a demonstration of a common-sense county government that is effective, flexible and responsive,” he added.
During McLaughlin’s seven years as County Executive, the county has reduced the county property tax rate by over 40 percent. At the same time, county facilities have been improved through the Reimagine Rensselaer County Facilities project initiated by McLaughlin that includes a new county office building at 99 Troy Road in East Greenbush, renovation of the County Office Building in downtown Troy and a new Probation Department office adjacent to the COB in downtown Troy.
Just last week, the county joined with the City of Troy to reopen the Knickerbacker Ice Arena in Lansingburgh after the rink had been closed for nearly a decade.
The Reimagine project has reduced a long-standing and costly reliance on rented space in the county. The county has also opened three new senior centers in 18 months, a new Emergency Services Training Complex and a secure and efficient county storage facility.
McLaughlin also detailed a number of important county projects slated for 2025, including a renovation and improvement of the county’s Van Rensselaer Manor nursing home which was opened over 25 years ago, and improvements to three county Highway garages in Berlin, Spicer Hill and Grafton. The county will also continue to make important infrastructure improvements, extending sewer and water service, in areas of US 9 in Schodack, US 4 in North Greenbush and State Route 67 in Poestenkill.
“We have engaged in an effort to comprehensively improve the offices and facilities used by county government. In the process, our Reimagine Rensselaer County Facilities project has made county government more responsive, more efficient and more accessible. In the near future, the cost of operating county government will also be more affordable as our reliance on expensive rented or leased property has been reduced dramatically,” said McLaughlin.
“It should be noted that unlike many government projects, the time from start to finish is not measured in years or decades but in most cases, just months. We have set the bar high and maintained a rapid pace in completing these projects,” added McLaughlin.
The county recognizes the opportunities created by the reduction in county property taxes, service improvements and work to attract new investment and opportunity.
“My administration recognizes we have both an historic obligation and opportunity to support invention and investment in our county, encourage growth and job creation and ensure present and future generations receive the support they need and deserve from county government,” said McLaughlin.
“This is a county that helped secure freedom during the Revolution, protect the Union during the Civil War, foster the Industrial Revolution and the growth of our nation, answer the call to duty in World War I and World War II, the Space Age and the digital revolution. The heritage of accomplishment and excellence in our county means we have a responsibility to revitalize and renew our mission and the level of service provided,” added McLaughlin.