All Over Albany

Schenectady County budget has 5.9 percent tax levy increase, unemployment rate up, shooting in Troy, no superhero for comics store

The Schenectady County legislature has passed a 2012-2013 budget that includes a 5.9 percent tax levy increase -- that's down from the 7.49 percent originally proposed, but still above the state tax cap. Said the legislature only Republican after the vote: "I think we've gone way beyond what our taxpayers can handle." [Daily Gazette] [TU] [WNYT]

As both Albany and Saratoga counties contemplate privatizing their nursing homes, unions representing employees at both facilities are raising concerns about what might happen to employees -- and, ultimately, to residents. [TU] [TU]

The state Court of Appeals -- the state's highest court -- has decided not to hear a case challenging the Marriage Equality Act. [NYT]

As New York State redesigns its $54 billion a year Medicaid program, the state's decades long effort to secure huge Medicaid sums for the care of people with disabilities is under scrutiny. [NYT]

The Capital Region's unemployment rate was 7.5 percent in September, up from 7.1 in the same month the year before. [NYS DOL]

The mother of the child who died following a fire on Benson Street in Albany last week has turned over her other two children to social services. [News10]

Troy police say a man was shot multiple times in South Troy Tuesday night (area map). TPD says the 19-year-old is not cooperating. [Troy Record] [Fox23] [TU]

The man arrested for allegedly posting threats to Lansingburgh High School on Facebook has been released to house arrest after a mental health evaluation concluded he wasn't a threat. Said the man's lawyer of the evaluation: "They used words such as 'emotional immaturity' to describe him." [Troy Record] [TU]

Andrew Cuomo took a tour of the some of the local projects up for funding through the Capital Region Economic Development Council. Among the stops: Ecovative. [TU] [WNYT]

Major point of contention during debate between Paul Tonko and Bob Dieterich for the 20th Congressional District: campaign finance reform. [WNYT]

At a candidates forum Tuesday, Hugh Farley said he thinks a minimum wage increase will be among the bills passed in a special session of the state Legislature before the end of this year. [Daily Gazette]

Project Vote Smart has criticized Phil Steck for using its name in the mailer that prompted Jennifer Whalen to drop out of a recent debate scheduled between the two candidates for the 110th Assembly seat. [TU]

The state is re-organizing its many disparate IT staffs into one overarching Office of Information Technology Services -- the aim is to streamline services and save money. [TU]

Schenectady mayor Gary McCarthy floated the possibility of the city not making the county whole on $1.5 million in unpaid taxes -- which in turn prompted talk of the county retaliating. [Daily Gazette]

The company to which the city of Schenectady sold a bunch of tax liens during the last decade is now moving forward on foreclosures of properties with as little as $168 owed to the company. [Daily Gazette]

The situation surrounding a proposed settlement in the case of a Troy police vehicle hitting a woman's car is mixed up. [Troy Record]

Line dropped at a Saratoga Springs budget workshop between two of the city's commissioners: "Mess with someone else's budget, don't mess with this budget." [Saratogian]

Among the concerns expressed about two more roundabouts planned for Malta: whether the circles are safe for pedestrians. [TU]

Schenectady police say the Electric City Comic Book store was robbed at gunpoint Tuesday afternoon. [Daily Gazette]

Headline from the Post-Star: "Beagle charged with animal cruelty." [Post-Star]

The Palace Theatre's new managing director is Owen Smith, who is also the producing artistic director of the Park Playhouse. [TU]