POUGHKEEPSIE – Dutchess County Executive Marc Molinaro has signed the $588 million 2023 county budget, approved by the legislature last week. In his memo accompanying the document, Molinaro noted that this was his 11th and last county budget. The longtime local, county, and state lawmaker was elected to Congress in November and will vacate his current position on December 31, 2022.
In Wednesday’s memo, Molinaro said the budget was developed through months of hard work by his budget office and department leaders and was presented to the legislature for review on November 1. The legislature’s Budget, Finance, and Personnel Committee held multiple meetings over a three-week period, with amendments offered, debated, and voted on. Some of the amendments were included in the 2023 budget.
Molinaro’s memo then targeted the Democratic minority in the legislature. Of the eight Democrats, seven voted against adopting the budget, even though there were Democratic amendments included in the final plan. Randy Johnson (City of Poughkeepsie) was the only Democrat to vote for the budget. “My thanks go to Chairman Pulver, and the willingness of the majority, to embrace minority proposals. It would have been welcomed news had the minority recognized that collaboration and offered reciprocal support.” Again pointing to the seven Democrats who voted against the budget, Molinaro said, “I understand the urge to deny votes as members of the minority. However, after productive dialogue, generally respectful debate, and collaboration between caucus leaders, there could – and, in my view, should have been more votes in support.”
Calling for the legislature to end the seemingly constant partisan bickering, Molinaro said, “While I am grateful for the years of collaboration and was heartened by the general collegiality of discussion prior to and debate during budget adoption, I offer concern for escalating disrespect in the discourse. Passion and varying viewpoints among colleagues are to be expected and welcomed, but what we say to one another, in debate and on the floor, should not seek to vilify each other. Respect for each should not only be called for; it must be demanded. Use of the floor to assert mendacity or attack the honor of fellow colleagues should cease. It is unnecessary and a hurtful exercise.”
