A report released by the Albany chief city auditor Thursday found the city’s last two budgets included federal pandemic relief money for the Albany for All initiative that was exhausted by the end of 2024, resulting in a total $9 million budget shortfall.
That includes an up to $6 million budget shortfall for 2026, which Chief City Auditor Sam Fein says was already included in the city’s estimated $26 million budget gap for this year.
The audit also concluded the city did not accurately report the usage of COVID relief funds to the Common Council and did not maintain consistent financial records…