Most residents are surprised to learn that revenues from property taxes alone are not enough to cover even police and fire services, let alone parks and recreation, library, municipal court, planning, or other services within the General Fund.
To provide the vital programs and services our community expects, Albany relies on a mix of funding sources, including:
- Property tax,
- A public safety levy,
- State-shared revenues,
- Franchise fees,
- State and federal funding,
- Grants and private donations,
- Program registration fees, and
- Sponsorships.
City staff work hard to be good stewards of every dollar, constantly seeking efficiencies and cost savings. But despite ongoing efforts to reduce expenditures, those savings alone aren’t enough to close the funding gap.
Between 2018 and 2020, the Albany City Council evaluated multiple funding options. After careful review, the Council directed staff to pursue the most viable solution to keep services running and avoid cuts: a City Services Fee. The city services fee revenue, in tandem with other revenue sources, provides for sustainable, long-term growth of Albany. The revenue generated from this fee supports public safety functions such as police and fire, park maintenance, and library operations.
The City Council enacted the city services fee on June 23, 2021, effective July 1, 2021. The city services fee was increased for the first time in August of 2025 to address the impacts of inflation, growth, and new unfunded mandates from the State and Federal government.
