Legislator, District 39· 2024-01-01–2027-12-01 (month-level start: January 2024 per Albany County BOE November 7 2023 general election results with terms beginning the following January; month-level end: December 2027 per Albany County Legistar office records and the Albany County BOE 2026 elected officials list; start shown is the current-term start, earlier service is not sourced)
Christopher H. Smith
Albany County
No biography on file yet.
Voice
- Meetings spoken in
- 1
- Total speaking time
- 0:16
- Avg per meeting
- 0:16
- Segments
- 17
Want every word Smith has said?
The OpenCity MCP for Claude.ai answers questions like “what has Smith said about housing this year” with one prompt — full speaking history, with YouTube timestamps.
Top issues during term (20)
MVP Arena Operations and Management Agreement
About $5.5 million for the electrical contract alone, paid through county bonds.
2027 Tentative Annual Budget
The 2027 budget will determine county spending and potentially property tax levels for next year.
County Building Naming and Dedication Policy
None — this is a procedural policy with no spending attached.
Electric Scooter and E-Bike Safety Regulations
Fines for helmet violations start only after a first offense, with waivers available for economic hardship; no overall cost estimate was given.
Correctional Facility Medical Contract and Jail Operations
$1.6 million over the five-year agreement.
Clothing Sales Tax Exemption
About $7.5 million a year in foregone sales tax, which the sponsor says is covered by projected sales tax growth.
County Facility Capital Improvements and Repairs
The full repair costs $504,925, added to the 2026 Sheriff's Office budget.
County Justice Agency Staffing and Vacancies
$100,000 moved between grant-funded lines — no net county cost.
Proposed Parental Responsibility Local Law (Local Law F)
Could involve parenting-class and family counseling costs; not quantified.
Roadway Safety Guiderail Project
County share is about 5% of a $1.54 million project — roughly $77,000.
Juvenile Justice and Family Prevention Programs
Contract value wasn't stated in the meeting; funding details come with the full agreement before the legislature.
Priority Hiring for County-Assisted Housing Developments
Could add compliance and reporting costs for developers receiving county housing funds; no direct county cost identified.
Board of Elections Mandates and Equipment Upgrades
Includes an estimated $2.9 million equipment expense for state-mandated ballot marking devices.
Crime victim and sexual assault services funding
$198,618 in state grant funding for the 2025-26 contract year.
ballot initiatives
The exact costs or tax impacts will depend on the specifics of each initiative, which are detailed in the full guide.
State Office of Mental Health Pass-Through Funding
$62,465 each in 100 percent state pass-through funding.
Assigned Counsel Discovery Software
Over $1.4 million in state money with no county match required.
Helderberg-Hudson Rail Trail Pocket Park Grant
$207,000 plus a $41,000 contingency, funded through a state CIGP grant.
State Grant Funding and Legal Mandates
Roughly $802,000 in state money comes in, reducing the local cost of sheriff services.
ARPA funds reallocation and 2026 budget amendment
Bookkeeping reallocation of $29.5 million; no change to the 2026 budgeted amount.
Decisions during term (819)
Recorded while Smith was in office — not necessarily decisions they moved, spoke to, or voted on.
Approval of Previous Meeting Minutes
Amending the 2026 Sheriff's Office Budget: Emergency 911 Vehicle Purchase
2027 Police Traffic Services Grant Agreement with NYS Governor's Traffic Safety Committee
Court Security Agreement with NYS Unified Court System
Amending the 2026 Sheriff's Office Budget: Year End Adjustments
Axon Enterprise Body-Worn Camera Agreement
Allied Universal Electronic Monitoring GPS Contract
Approving Previous Meeting Minutes
Amending the 2026 Department of Health Budget: End of Year Adjustments
Amending the 2026 Albany County Budget: OMH Pass-Through Funding
Amending Resolution 459 for 2025: OMH Pass-Through for Children's Services
Approval of previous meeting minutes
Advance Albany County Alliance — 106 South Pearl Street development agreement
Legends Global agreement for MVP Arena operations
ARPA fund reallocation to Central Warehouse ($72,323.67)
Stewart's Shops license renewal — 309 Delaware Avenue, Bethlehem
Archtop Fiber and State-Tel broadband grant agreements
2026 budget amendment — property maintenance equipment
Listing of parcels for public auction
Conveyance of 62 First Street, Albany
Voting record (2)
Oldest to newest — hover a bar for the item.