Dutchess budget turns into political finger-pointing

November 28, 2021
8:52 pm

POUGHKEEPSIE – Dutchess County Legislature Chairman Gregg Pulver and County Executive Marc Molinaro are criticizing Democratic lawmakers for poor attendance during the recent budget meetings. The rebuke is in response to remarks made by Minority Leader Rebecca Edwards (D-Poughkeepsie).

At a recent meeting of the legislature’s Budget, Finance, and Personnel Committee, Edwards charged that “This Legislature is doing virtually nothing.” The committee has met several times this month to offer amendments to Molinaro’s tentative budget they received on November 4. They are scheduled to meet again on November 29, prior to the 7 p.m. public hearing on the amended budget.

“We are absolutely disappointed to hear Legislator Edward’s remarks and suggest the Democratic Caucus starts doing their jobs and showing up,” said Pulver.

Edwards disputed Pulver’s claim. The minority leader noted that she was under doctor’s orders to quarantine on the morning of November 4 and Pulver would not allow Edwards to participate remotely. Budget committee meetings were scheduled for 4 p.m. and Edwards said she advised Pulver that members could not attend due to work commitments. “As I’ve discussed with the Chair, it is difficult for legislators who hold full-time jobs to participate in meetings that start before 5:30 p.m., and a review of the video will show that many legislators from both caucuses were not present,” Edwards argued.

There are five GOP lawmakers and two Democrats on the committee. In addition, Majority Leader Donna Bolner, GOP Whip John Metzger, Minority Leader Edwards, and Minority Whip Nick Page, and Chairman Pulver are on the committee.

Pulver, in expressing his displeasure with the Democratic caucus, called the budget review process “One of the most important aspects of being a legislator,” while noting that the Democratic Caucus has maintained a 43 percent attendance rate over the 11 meetings. At one meeting, according to Pulver, not one Democrat was in attendance while the Republicans had perfect attendance during the same meeting.

County Executive Molinaro, who offered his 2022 tentative budget early in the month that contains a ten percent property tax cut, weighed in on the lack of Democrats attending the meetings. “Our residents need a highly efficient and functioning county government. There are people out there that need help, want better roads and parks, and deserve to have their taxes lowered,” he said.

Edwards said that attendance inquiries are not the most pressing issue. “The much more significant question, in my view, is whether the Republican majority is exercising adequate oversight of the rising budget, the sharp expansion of future debt, or spending on capital projects, some of which have been marked by mismanagement and cost overruns.”

The budget proposed by Molinaro and reviewed by the Budget Committee includes the following:

$24 million investment in the Capital Plan and operation budget for critical maintenance of County roads and bridges, including snow removal on 9,000 miles of local roadways;
$21.3 million investment in Dutchess Community College, including the “Think Ahead” program, and the new Aviation Management, Maintenance, Airframe and Powerplant Technician programs;
$5.3 million increase to the Department of Behavioral and Community Health, compared to the 2021 adopted budget;
$3.9 million in domestic violence prevention services;
$3.5 million in Agency Partner Grant program funding, including the aforementioned $500,000 Learn, Play, Create: Supporting Our Kidsexpansion;
$1 million for new fire and rescue grant opportunity for first responders;
$100,000 to build much-needed system capacity in the home healthcare field to address the home health care worker shortage;
A pilot program to offer safe and simple at-home prescription drug disposal for seniors;
Continued investment in Dutchess County Parks, including an increase in park maintenance resources to keep up with rapid growth;
80 percent increase in funding for Adult Day Care;
34 percent increase in funding for the arts, including sensory-sensitive events, capital and capacity, and art education; and
10 percent increase in tourism funding.