POUGHKEEPSIE – The Dutchess County Legislature approved the 2021 budget on Thursday night. The $501 million spending plan was opposed by eight of the Democrats with Hannah Black recusing herself from voting on the plan.
The budget, which includes a restoration of funds for the SPCA to previous levels, $300,000 for youth and community services, and increased funding to support early voting initiatives, was met with opposition from the Democrats who raised concerns about staffing levels at the Department of Behavioral and Community Health.
Democratic lawmaker Brennan Kearney said “We’re heading into 2021 with 31 fewer employees in the health department than we had at this time last year,” adding “With COVID cases spiking and overdose deaths unabated, resources should be reallocated to address those urgent needs.”The legislator representing Rhinebeck and Clinton did not indicate what areas would be cut to provide additional funding for the health department.
Fellow Democrat Kristofer Munn agreed with Kearney saying, “We need to be investing more in our health department’s COVID response so our schools can stay open.” Munn did not propose any changes to the budget in order to provide additional personnel at the health department.
The Legislature’s Republican majority countered with a statement saying, “County department heads and employees offered testimony that services provided to residents will be maintained even, and in some areas expanded, with a smaller workforce.” Professional mental health staff, including six “recovery coaches” who specialize in substance use disorder and mental health disorder, will continue operations at the Stabilization Center. Critical services such as the Mobile Crisis Intervention Team and the 24/7 HELPLINE will remain fully staffed and operational.
The budget is $18.5 million less than the 2020 budget. The legislature’s chairman of the Budget and Finance, Will Truitt, said that his Hyde Park constituents place safety as a priority. “This budget delivers for the sheriff’s department. It gives them the resources that they need to keep our county safe.” Truitt also took aim at some lawmakers. “It’s very saddening to hear from some legislators and some radical few people on the fringes that want to tear our Sheriff’s office apart and defund the police – that’s ridiculous.”
Gregg Pulver, chairman of the Legislature applauded the spending plan. “I have confidence that this budget found the delicate balance between reducing expenditures and maintaining services. We are asking a lot of our employees, no doubt about it, but residents need services and we will provide them regardless of our cuts in state aid and loss of sales tax revenue. Our budgets over the past few years have been strong and we saved accordingly. Residents would not have tolerated property tax increases while so many are experiencing uncertainty or struggling financially.”
The budget includes no layoffs and no property tax increase for 2021.
County Executive Marcus Molinaro is prepared to implement the 2021 budget and said, “2020 has been one of the most challenging years in history, but we could not have been more prepared financially for these unprecedented times. Fortunately, here in Dutchess County, our long-established conservative fiscal approach has allowed us to produce a 2021 budget with no tax increase, no layoffs, and reduced spending.”
