GOSHEN – The 2021 Orange County budget as proposed by County Executive Steven Neuhaus on Wednesday comes in at $813.8 million, down $3.2 million from the 2020 budget of $817.0 million. The property tax rate is 0.2 percent lower than this year and the county comes in under the two percent state tax cap.
That’s the good news. The not-so-good news is the county faces a $40 million deficit as a result of the economic impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic.
County sales tax is down $16.7 million with a forecast of $20-$25 million reduction in 2020.
The county budgeted income of $2.5 million from Resorts World Casino but has received $404,000; $1 million is budgeted for 2021.
The state has begun withholding 20 percent of its aid.
If there is no federal relief, the county could see up to $7 million in social services aid.
The Neuhaus budget includes no layoffs; the county executive notes there are over 170 positions left vacant.
He said the tax base continues to grow, sales tax is recovering, property tax value remains steady, home sales are up 43 percent from a year ago and projects continue to come to the county.
The spending plan now goes to the county legislature for its review.
