Rensselaer County Executive Steve McLaughlin noted historic success by the county during his State of the County to the Rensselaer County Regional Chamber of Commerce, but said equally important missions are ahead for the county in 2026.
McLaughlin noted the county’s work in reducing the county property tax rate by 49.1 percent during the eight years of his administration. While reducing county taxes to a level comparable to what was paid by taxpayers 35 years ago, the county has also comprehensively improved important services and facilities, he said.
“So much has happened during the past eight years, as Rensselaer County has been recognized as a place of opportunity and growth, a leader in reducing property taxes, improving services and attracting new investment,” said McLaughlin.
“Today, marks my ninth address before the Chamber as your County Executive. I can tell you all here today, that I am even more optimistic about the future of our county, given the work we have done in recent years and the success and interest we have already received as the new year starts,” he added.
The county is seeing strong economic returns as reflected in the overall value of the county and positive sales tax numbers, McLaughlin said. Those numbers show the county is positioned for future investment and growth in 2026.
“The sales tax numbers show that more and more are coming to our county to eat, drink and shop. An expanded retail climate in areas in Brunswick, East Greenbush and North Greenbush has given shoppers more places to visit and there have been encouraging developments in areas of Troy and Schodack. And we know that more is on the way,” said McLaughlin.
“Our sales tax numbers have grown steadily and we have also seen record increase in the overall worth of our county. In fact, the overall value of Rensselaer County has doubled since I took office. In 2018, the worth of the county was at $10 billion, and today, the overall value comes in at $20 billion,” he added.
The expanded economic activity has enabled the county to invest in major improvement of services. The county completed paving of all county roads in 2025, opened four new senior centers, a new Emergency Services Training Complex, new county offices in East Greenbush and renovated county offices in Troy, along with a partnership with Troy to reopen the Knickerbacker Ice Arena.
“Our entire county road network of 330-miles was repaved during the eight years of my service as County Executive, a recognition of the importance of this service. To pave every county road in just eight years meant working through supply chain issues, a pandemic and heavy weather events,” said McLaughlin.
“We set the standard in support for our seniors, opening four new senior centers in less than two years, providing safe and state-of-the-art gathering places to meet, eat and socialize. These improvements have brought more seniors out to our centers, giving them a healthy outlet for exercise, entertainment and education,” he said.
“We transformed the facilities of county government, ending a costly reliance on rented and leased space and renovating our existing location in downtown Troy to host human services offices, modernized our Probation headquarters and located executive, financial and other human services offices to East Greenbush. In the process, we opened two expanded DMV locations now renowned for convenience that attract customers from several counties,” McLaughlin continued.
Next up for the county is the complete renovation of the county’s renowed Van Rensselaer Manor Nursing facility. Work is expected to start in February on a project that earned praise from state officials reviewing the proposed work.
The work will improve and update the Manor, which was opened 30 years ago. The county is also completing improvements on three county Highway garages, including garages in Berlin, Hoosick and Brunswick.
“There are few families in Rensselaer County who have not been touched in some way by the Van Rensselaer Manor and no work we do is more significant than what we do for our seniors at the facility in North Greenbush. Now we are prepared to bring the Manor to new heights with a complete renovation, improvement and modernization of the facility,” said McLaughlin.
“Our work, which starts next month, will make the Manor even more of a home, more welcoming and more supportive of those who live, work and visit there. Throughout the facility, the Manor will be more comfortable, flexible and welcoming to all. We will be maintaining our renowned dementia unit, which set a standard when it was included with the construction thirty years ago, and expanding our ability to do rehab and other support for seniors,” he said.