Authorizes Ryan J. St. Gelais and Aaron M. St. Gelais, police officers in the village of Menands, county of Albany…

◆ The sponsor's argument

Why Jake Ashby says this is needed

The Village of Menands' financial position weakened in fiscal years 2024 and 2025, resulting in a negative General Fund balance and constrained liquidity. Available fund balance declined sharply from 35.1% of revenue in fiscal 2024 to 11.6%, while liquidity fell to 17.7%. This reflects the cumulative impact of several years of operating deficits, as recent- ly identified by their newly designated independent CPA auditor. Manage- ment expects the General Fund balance to remain negative in fiscal 2026, and the General Fund continues to rely on Water and Sewer funds for cash flow support. Prior governance is a key driver of this decline. The Village's financial position weakened due to prior budgetary practices that did not sufficiently align recurring revenues and expenditures. In response, current Village officials have outlined specific steps, including a one-time deficit reduction tax, significantly moderating expenditures, and Mayor Marsh proposed (and Menands adopted) a fully balanced budget for fiscal 2027 to help fund rebuilding. This legislative action-consolidating one Menands Police position and eliminating two Tier 2 retirement contributors-will reduce Menands' overall annual operational deficit by more than 50%.

This is the sponsor's own case for the bill, quoted from their memorandum. It is not Agora's description of what the bill does.