The Comptroller’s audit confirms the significant progress Albany County has made over the past several years to strengthen our time and attendance policies, improve accountability, and ensure our payroll processes remain transparent, consistent, and compliant. I appreciate Comptroller Rizzo and her team for working collaboratively with my administration throughout this process. Audits are an important tool for good government, and they help us continue our mission of making county operations as efficient, effective, and accountable as possible.

Since the last audit, our Human Resources Department has implemented substantial improvements to modernize countywide procedures, strengthen oversight, and provide additional training and support to departments. The audit recognizes those efforts and affirms that the County has adopted stronger processes that are being followed across our workforce.

While we may not agree with every observation or recommendation, we welcome constructive feedback that helps us evaluate our operations and identify opportunities for continued improvement. Our administration remains committed to balancing strong fiscal stewardship and accountability with practical systems that allow our employees to effectively serve the residents of Albany County.

We will continue working closely with the Comptroller’s Office to build on this progress, including advancing new technologies that further improve recordkeeping, streamline operations, and strengthen transparency. At the end of the day, we all share the same goal: delivering responsible, efficient government that earns and maintains the public’s trust.