Putting Albany First: Carolyn’s Priorities

As a disabled Army Veteran, former Albany City Councilor, former Arts Commissioner, lifelong Girl Scout, and service dog trainer, Carolyn has spent her life in service. First, in service to our country, and now to our community. As mayor, she will stay focused on the basics that matter most to Albany families: safe streets, a place to call home, and a city hall that does what’s right for the people, not what’s easy.

Fixing Our Roads & Infrastructure

• Demand State Funding Updates: Work with state lawmakers to update gas tax revenue sharing formulas that have been frozen for eight years.
• Require Voter Approval on Taxes: Guarantee that any proposed local gas tax goes directly to a vote of the people, not imposed by council action.
• Reprioritize Existing City Budgets: Focus current city resources on core road maintenance and infrastructure repairs first.
• Fix Albany’s Roads: Pave deteriorating neighborhood streets, protect local vehicles from wear and tear, and restore our roads to the standard our community deserves.

Fixing and maintaining our streets is a foundational priority for our city. Current road conditions are unacceptable, and we must tackle this problem through fiscal discipline, accountable leadership, and honest advocacy. First, Oregon has not updated state gas tax revenue sharing for cities in eight years, and I will work with state lawmakers to secure Albany’s fair share of transportation funding. Second, we must reprioritize our existing general budget to fund core road repairs first. Finally, major revenue decisions belong in the hands of our voters. I will guarantee that any local gas tax proposal goes directly to a vote of Albany residents rather than being imposed by city hall.

Restoring Local Control & Smart Land Use

• Reinstate Local Home Rule: Fight top-down state mandates to restore Albany’s authority over local zoning and growth decisions.
• Cut Red Tape for Starter Homes: Continue to streamline city permitting and eliminate unnecessary delays to make building attainable, owner-occupied starter homes faster and cheaper.
• Protect Neighborhood Investments: Empower local residents to guide community planning, safeguarding property values and neighborhood character.
• Make Growth Pay for Growth: Require new development to fully fund its own infrastructure through System Development Charges so existing taxpayers never foot the bill.

Protecting local control over land use is vital to Albany’s future. We must resist top-down state mandates that strip residents of their right to shape local growth, while simultaneously streamlining city hall permitting to make building attainable starter homes faster and cheaper. True smart growth means cutting municipal red tape for local families while ensuring large developments pay their full share of infrastructure costs through System Development Charges. I will advocate to restore local home rule so Albany residents can protect neighborhood character, support responsible housing, and ensure growth never burdens existing taxpayers.

Fighting Unfair Taxes & City Service Fees

• Oppose Utility Fee Increases: Stand firm against adding new city service fees or raising existing fees on monthly utility bills.
• End Regressive Flat-Rate Fees: Protect smaller households and seniors from paying the exact same fee rates as properties three times their size.
• Make Growth Pay for Growth: Maximize System Development Charges so new development covers its own infrastructure costs instead of defaulting to fee hikes.
• Reprioritize Existing City Budgets: Fund essential services by auditing city spending and focusing existing taxpayer dollars on core community needs first.

I stand firmly against expanding city service fees on monthly utility bills. Flat-rate service fees place an unfair burden on working families and fixed-income seniors, forcing smaller homes to pay the exact same rates as properties three times their size. Essential city services must be funded through disciplined budget reprioritization and by ensuring new development pays its fair share through System Development Charges, not by shifting hidden costs onto local ratepayers.

Fair Utility Rates & Responsible Infrastructure Growth

• Make Growth Pay for Growth: Maximize System Development Charges (SDCs) so new developments pay their full share of infrastructure expansion costs.
• Protect Ratepayers and Renters: Shield local households from unfair utility rate hikes caused by underfunding growth-related plant expansions.
• Learn from Past Mistakes: End the practice of shifting developer costs onto current residents through municipal bonds and utility bill increases.
• Cap Utility Rate Increases: Ensure water and sewer rate adjustments do not exceed standard annual cost-of-living metrics.

Water and sewer rates are among the highest utility expenses facing Albany households, directly impacting both homeowners and renters. As our city expands, our water and wastewater facilities face mounting pressure that will require significant long-term capital investments. In the past, city leadership failed to set System Development Charges (SDCs) at the maximum allowable levels, forcing existing residents to absorb the cost of plant upgrades through soaring utility bills. We cannot repeat those mistakes. Growth must pay for growth. I will fight to maximize SDCs on new development so developers cover their fair share of infrastructure expansion, protecting local families from utility rate increases that exceed basic cost-of-living adjustments.

Addressing Homelessness & Restoring Accountability

• Demand Results and Fiscal Accountability: Audit city homelessness spending to eliminate ineffective programs and insist on measurable outcomes.
• Restore Public Order: Return to proactive enforcement and proven strategies to address public panhandling and protect shared spaces.
• Target Housing Assistance: Redirect city housing resources toward low-income families and individuals at or below the poverty line who genuinely need assistance.
• Establish Proactive Working Groups: Partner city staff with key local agencies to reinstate the results-driven, pre-pandemic strategies that emphasized personal accountability.

We must confront a difficult truth: despite five years of spending and effort, our homeless population continues to grow. We have to ask the tough questions: what are we doing wrong, and why aren’t we seeing results? Turning a blind eye isn’t compassion; it enables a cycle that ultimately harms the very people we want to help. We need a fundamental shift that restores personal accountability, addresses public panhandling like former leadership successfully did, and redirects housing funds to those at or below the poverty line who truly need it. I will establish a working group with key agencies and city staff to pivot back to the proactive, results-driven strategies that were working prior to the pandemic.

Protecting Our Parks & Open Spaces

• Enforce Zero Tolerance for Vandalism: Actively combat illegal dumping, litter, and property destruction to keep public parks safe and inviting.
• Protect Public Investments: Ensure taxpayer-funded green spaces receive routine care, maintenance, and oversight.
• Preserve Community Livability: Maintain high-quality neighborhood parks that enhance property values and overall quality of life.
• Promote Responsible Stewardship: Foster strong community partnerships and civic pride to care for Albany’s open spaces.

Albany’s neighborhood and community parks are among the finest in the Willamette Valley, serving as a major source of pride and livability for our residents. Maintaining these public assets requires responsible stewardship and shared accountability. We must take a firm stand against vandalism, illegal dumping, and the disrespect of our public grounds. Parks are intended to be safe, clean, and welcoming spaces for families and visitors alike. Whether you use the trails daily or simply appreciate the beauty of open green space as you drive through town, high-quality parks benefit every home and resident in Albany. I will work to ensure our parks remain clean, safe, and well-maintained.

Restoring Fiscal Responsibility & Budget Transparency

• Demand Full Transparency: Return to line-item budgets that clearly detail staffing counts, travel costs, and operational expenses.
• Prioritize Frontline Workers: Shift funding away from administrative desk jobs and into “boots-on-the-ground” positions that directly serve our community.
• Stop Consultant Waste: End spending on non-infrastructure consultants, including unauthorized pay studies and ignored community surveys.
• Reject Ultimatums: End “take-it-or-leave-it” budget proposals that force fee increases to make basic program adjustments.

Managing your tax dollars is an elected official’s highest duty. The recent budget process presented a rigid ultimatum: accept city service fee hikes or forfeit control over program funding. At the same time, it stripped away basic line-item transparency, hiding staff counts, travel expenses, and operational details.

Taxpayers deserve clarity, not administrative bloat. We must shift resources away from back-office desk jobs and back toward “boots-on-the-ground” workers who maintain our city’s livability. I will restore line-item transparency and stop wasting public funds on non-infrastructure consultants who bypass council oversight or deliver ignored surveys.

Supporting Our Libraries & Historic Assets

• Support the Entire Library System: Ensure both the Main Library and the historic Carnegie Library receive equitable staffing and operational funding.
• Protect Historic Assets: Maintain strong support for the century-old Carnegie Library as a cherished anchor of our historic district.
• Preserve Essential Community Resources: Keep our library branches fully staffed, accessible, and equipped with learning resources for youth, families, and seniors.
• Rebalance City Priorities: Direct resources toward valued public facilities and neighborhood amenities rather than administrative overhead.

Our public libraries are essential community hubs, yet library staffing funding has fallen behind compared to other city administrative departments. Both our Main Library and the historic Carnegie Library provide vital educational resources, literacy programs, and community spaces for Albany families. While the Carnegie Library stands as a cherished landmark serving our historic district for over a century, our Main Library serves as the central engine for lifelong learning and civic gathering. As our city grows, we must ensure our entire library system receives the reliable funding and staffing support required to remain vibrant, safe, and accessible to every resident.

Prioritizing Public Safety & Emergency Services

• Prioritize Essential Funding: Ensure police, fire, and emergency medical services receive budget priority over non-essential city programs.
• Support Fire & EMS Capacity: Provide the necessary staffing and resources to address maxed-out call volumes and protect emergency response times.
• Support First Responders: Honor and back the brave officers, firefighters, and paramedics keeping our neighborhoods secure.
• Protect Neighborhood Security: Direct city resources toward fundamental safety measures that protect families, homes, and local businesses.

Public safety is the foundational responsibility of city government and the cornerstone of community livability. From law enforcement to fire and life-safety services, protecting our residents must always come first. As Albany grows, rising call volumes and increased crime risks put immense pressure on our emergency personnel. Our fire department is already stretched to capacity, making fast emergency response times harder to maintain. We must focus on honoring and supporting the brave first responders who put their lives on the line every day to protect our families and neighborhoods. Core public safety funding must always take priority over non-essential city programs to ensure every family feels secure in their home.

Her promise is simple: Carolyn McLeod will always put the people of Albany first.

Supporting a Vibrant, Creative, and Inclusive Albany

As a former Arts Commissioner, Carolyn knows how important creativity and culture are to a thriving city. Albany is strongest when everyone belongs and everyone has a chance to contribute. She is dedicated to showing up for everyone in Albany, including our most marginalized populations.