RENSSELAER COUNTY SET FOR EIGHTH CONSECUTIVE COUNTY PROPERTY TAX RATE REDUCTION UNDER 2026 BUDGET PROPOSAL INTRODUCED BY COUNTY EXECUTIVE STEVE MCLAUGHLIN
PROPOSED BUDGET WOULD LOWER COUNTY PROPERTY TAX RATE BY 9 PERCENT, BRINGING TOTAL OF PROPERTY TAX REDUCTIONS UNDER MCLAUGHLIN TO JUST UNDER 50 PERCENT
SPENDING PLAN FOR 2026 MAINTAINS COUNTY SERVICES, IMPROVEMENTS TO COUNTY SERVICES AND OTHER MODERNIZATIONS
Rensselaer County taxpayers would see an eighth consecutive property tax rate reduction in the 2026 fiscal year, with the county tax rate set to be lowered by nine percent, County Executive Steve McLaughlin announced today.
If the 2026 county spending plan is approved, the county property tax rate would be 49 percent lower, based on the combined amount of the eight budgets introduced by County Executive McLaughlin during his tenure.
The combined tax reductions included in the county budgets over the past eight years would keep the county tax rate comparable to what county taxpayers paid in the early 1990s, if the 2026 spending plan is approved.
During that same period, the county has comprehensively improved county services and facilities during McLaughlin’s service as County Executive through historic service upgrades and projects.
“Each of the past seven budgets I have introduced as County Executive have included a reduction in the county property tax rate. The 2026 budget proposal follows that precedent, and includes a 9.1 percent reduction in the county property tax rate,” said McLaughlin.
“We believe our county tax rate reduction will be the biggest in the region and throughout upstate. When coupled with the 40 percent in property tax rate reductions during the previous seven years, and if approved, our combined property tax rate reductions from budgets 2019 through 2026 will total nearly 50 percent, with 49 percent reductions during that time. Important and noteworthy work, and a record that our county can take pride in,” he added.
The savings from the county’s property tax rate reductions help attract new investment and growth in the county, McLaughlin noted.
“In 2018, when I took office, the average tax rate was $5.85 per thousand. By 2022, we had decreased the average tax rate to $4.75 per thousand. For 2025, the average tax rate had decreased to $3.55 per thousand and next year, 2026, the average tax rate per thousand had decreased to $3.23 per thousand,” said McLaughlin.
During the same period the county has been reducing the county property tax rate, the county has seen economic activity increase on different fronts, including increased returns from sales tax and a dramatic increased in the county’s overall value.
“People are also continuing to shop here and the healthy results for sales tax show that fact. The smart decisions we have made to encourage investment and growth while putting more money in the pockets of residents has paid off with sustained and significant sales tax growth. The first year of my administration in 2018 saw sales tax revenues at just under $89 million. Now, sales tax revenues for 2024 were at $125.2 million and growing in 2025,” said McLaughlin.
“Our overall value as a county will be rated at $19.2 billion, an increase of nearly two billion from the $17.4 billion in 2024. In 2018, during the first year of my administration, the overall value of Rensselaer County was $11 billion,” added McLaughlin.
Like other counties across the state, the county is still grappling with sharp increases in mandated expenses over the past several years, as state leaders continue to be unwilling to provide necessary reforms and adjustments to help on the local level.
“The cost of mandates has increased significantly in recent years. In 2023, our mandate expense was $155 million, increasing $166 million in 2024. For the 2025 fiscal year, we expect the cost of mandates will increase to $173 million. For 2026, we forecast another increase for mandates of nearly $10 million to $183 million,” said McLaughlin.
“The increases are coupled by a staggering inability and unwillingness by Albany to even attempt to reform mandates and reduce costs for local governments and taxpayers,” he added.
The county has earned a series of positive independent audits and fiscal reviews, including from the New York State Comptroller. The county has also earned record high bond ratings and the current bond rating is the highest in county history.
“The strong independent audit has been accompanied by our county earning perfect stress scores in previous years following a review of county finances by the Office of the State Comptroller’s Fiscal Stress Monitoring Report in previous fiscal years. Measurements in the Comptroller’s review include fund balance, cash reserves, debt service and operating results, along with other factors. In 2024, we again earned a “no designation” of fiscal stress from the Comptroller. The “no designation” ranking is the best possible classification for a municipality and I can also report our fiscal stress score as awarded by the State Comptroller remains very low,” reported McLaughlin.
“Our county has earned our highest ever bond ratings. We continue to maintain those historic bond ratings, including an Aa3 rating from Moody’s and AA Stable from Standard & Poor. These strong ratings show investors that our county is well-managed and a safe place to grow,” he added.
The 2026 budget is introduced as major components of an ambitious plan introduced by McLaughlin to improve and modernize county facilities and services are being completed. Proposed in 2022, the Reimagine Rensselaer County Facilities plan included relocation of Executive offices to 99 Troy Road in East Greenbush, moving human and social services functions from expensive rented space to county offices at 1600 7th Avenue in downtown Troy, improvement of four senior centers, location of the Probation Department from rented space into the Health Sciences Building, completion of Emergency Services Training Complex and other changes.
Most of that work has been completed, with substantial payments made early from county surplus funds. The county is now seeing positive benefits in terms of a more stable and flexible base for county offices and facilities.
“We should also consider how much expense we would be incurring on the former network of county buildings, in terms of increased rent, higher maintenance and facilities that are less flexible to accommodate changes in the public and mandates by the state or federal government. When we started the Reimagine project, we said we would see cost-benefits in a decade. I can report the benefits in terms of service, stability, flexibility and continuity of service are seen every day,” said McLaughlin.
Work to improve facilities is continuing, with work now underway to improve three highway garages. The major project ahead for the county is a renovation and improvement of the county’s Van Rensselaer Manor nursing home.
Along with the Reimagine Rensselaer County Facilities projects, the county also teamed up with the City of Troy to reopen the Knickerbacker Ice Arena in Lansingburgh. The Knick had been closed for nearly a decade but the partnership has brought the Knick back to life and in use by kids and skaters.
“The Knick is symbolic of the other work we have done in Rensselaer County. When I came to office, we had an outdated and ill-equipped county government system. Check out of the two new full-time DMVs to see the benefits of rethinking our approach. Visit one of the four new senior centers, or drive on a county road anywhere in the county to see the reward in not settling for excuses,” said McLaughlin.
“Or, check out the county portion on your tax bill as the numbers decrease but the opportunities expand and residents have the chance to go out and do great things in our county, with more money in their pockets,” he added.
“It is my sincere hope you will continue to share in their adventure of accomplishment, a rewriting of the county rule book from “We Can’t” to “Why Not”. Some of the fights may be difficult and challenging, but the people of Rensselaer County are always worth it,” McLaughlin concluded.