ALBANY — Mayor Dorcey Applyrs has asked local businesses and philanthropic leaders to help underwrite the cost of operating the city’s swimming pools and has warned that the city’s aquatic facilities will be forced to run on limited schedules without the financial support.
The fundraising appeal was made in an April 27 letter, which said the city “(risked) not being able to operate our pools at full capacity” because of its budget deficit. The request underscores the challenges that remain even after the state’s commitment of tens of millions of dollars to the city in this year’s state budget.
At a news conference Friday, Applyrs hailed the passage of the state budget, which included $44.4 million in funding for the city. That figure includes $20 million in additional funding to close the city’s 2026 budget deficit. The mayor confirmed that the appropriation would be included in the next two state budgets…