Neuhaus: “… strong, fiscally
responsible foundation
…”
MONTGOMERY – The 2017 Orange County budget as proposed by County Executive Steven Neuhaus spends $26 million less than when he took office three years ago. The spending plan comes in at $735 million, down from $762 million when he took over. The 2016 county budget was $725 million.
The good news is the county property tax rate is expected to decrease and is lower than the 2014 rate.
Going into 2017, Neuhaus said the county has funded all seven county employee union contracts and has added new money for programs including a crime analyst.
“We want to increase our intake of information that is coming into the 911 center and the district attorney’s office,” the Republican county exec said. “A crime analyst is one that will help us. We are also putting more money into fighting heroin and opioid addiction.”
Neuhaus is also putting more money into tourism promotion.
Fellow Republican County Legislator Michel Anagnostakis was pleased with what he heard.
“Obviously we have a turnaround in the country and that helps us in the county and we have had some good, prudent, fiscal management of the budget by the legislature and the executive,” Anagnostakis said. “We are heading in the right direction. We are seeing positive outcomes.”
The spending plan comes in under the state’s two percent tax cap and its unassigned fund balance has doubled in two years to $42 million.
Orange County will be faced with an increase in the cost of health insurance benefits for its employees, which will eat into the budget.
