POUGHKEEPSIE – The Dutchess County Legislature adopted the 2024 county budget by a vote of 15-9 on Thursday night. Legislator Giancarlo Llaverias (D-Town of Poughkeepsie) was the only lawmaker who was absent and did not vote for the $601 million spending plan that included substantial salary increases for new legislators and legislators who were re-elected in November.
Despite the objections of the Conservative Party’s chairman and vice-chairman, the Conservative-endorsed lawmakers will see hefty increases in their county paychecks in January as a result of the 68 percent pay raises.
County Executive-Elect Sue Serino, a Republican, is against the pay hikes. “I have always been opposed to pay raises for elected officials, especially during an affordability crisis. Everywhere I go, I hear from neighbors who are struggling to make ends meet. From their rising energy bills to the increased prices at the grocery store, it’s clear that we need real relief and policies that are going to make it easier for people to get by,” Serino said in denouncing the extra money. “As the next Dutchess County Executive, I maintain that commitment to always strive to do what’s right for our community and make sure that Dutchess County can remain a place that people can afford.”
The 2024 Dutchess County budget presented by County Executive William O’Neil includes a property tax rate decrease again, marking 11 straight years of reductions. It also marks a complete decade of property tax levy reductions while keeping the sales tax exemption on clothing and footwear under $110. Not all taxes are reduced in next year’s budget with a 0.25 percent increase in the county portion of the sales tax, raising the total sales tax to 8.375 percent. The sales tax increase will begin in June 2024, provided the state lawmakers approve the proposal.
The sales tax increase, O’Neil said, will bring an additional $8.3 million into the county coffers in 2024 and, according to estimates, result in an additional revenue source of $14.2 million each year thereafter. The county shares sales tax revenue with all of its municipalities and officials claim the local governments will share an additional $3 million annually with the increase.
The 2024 budget includes funding to address housing and homelessness, enhance public safety, support law enforcement, and continue critical partnerships with community collaborators. Legislative amendments further increased funding for veterans, law enforcement, at-risk youth, and tourism among other initiatives.
County Executive O’Neil said, “This is a reasonable budget that not only takes into consideration the needs of all our residents but funds them in the most responsible manner possible. This budget upholds more than a decade of competent stewardship of residents’ hard-earned dollars, which they entrust to their County Government while ensuring they are spent in the most cost-effective way.”
In 2024 according to O’Neil’s office, additional costs from New York State added more than $16 million of expenses to the county’s budget and these cost increases are expected to continue as State Comptroller Tom DiNapoli warns of mounting budget deficits. To offset added costs from the state, counties have been forced to identify additional revenue or reduce program and services expenses, which would have to come from non-mandated areas, such as mental health services, 911 emergency dispatch, road and bridge maintenance, parks and recreation or law enforcement, and for the 2024 Dutchess County budget, such service reduction would equate to over 70 layoffs, according to the administration.
The Republican-approved spending plan also increases the county’s hotel tax, paid primarily by visitors to Dutchess County, from 4 to 5 percent, estimated to result in $4.8 million in total revenue in 2024.
The legislature’s Budget, Finance, and Personnel Committee had scrutinized the proposed budget over the last five weeks and made minor changes to the multi-million dollar spending plan. The final legislative changes were made through a series of amendments to the executive’s proposal. After Thursday’s vote, the budget will go back to O’Neil for his approval or veto of the changes.
Legislative amendments to the 2024 County Budget include:
- $500,00 delineated in contingency funding specifically for Board of Elections expenses;
- $417,587 added to pay for the salary increases of County elected officials;
- $350,000 for the Dutchess County Sheriff’s Office for road patrol overtime;
- $200,000 in reclaimed funds from Agency Partner Grant program for the Department of Planning and Development for a competitive grant program;
- $100,000 for the Division of Veterans Services for a competitive grant program for nonprofit organizations or municipalities to make general capital infrastructure investments to facilities that serve veterans or for therapeutic animal programming for veterans;
- $50,000 for the Department of Planning and Development for the creation of a “Stay Local” promotional campaign through Dutchess Tourism, Inc.;
- $45,000 for the Department of Community and Family Services to provide grant funding for after-school programming for at-risk youth;
- $25,000 for the Department of Community and Family Services in additional Path to Promise mini-grants;
- $20,000 for additional Human Rights Commission activities;
- $26,560 for the Department of Behavioral & Community Health to hire a part-time Recovery Coach to work with young adults ages 18-25;
- $3,000 for enhanced communication for domestic violence victims;
- $2,000 for the Department of Behavioral and Community Health to expand existing compliance checks of under-age sales of alcohol, tobacco, and cannabis; and
- $2,000 for the Division of Veterans Services for the development of a Veteran Challenge Coin program.
Those amendments were funded with appropriations from the county’s general fund balance, the county’s debt reserve, Department of Motor Vehicle fees, and state reimbursement for under-age compliance checks.
Legislature Chairman Gregg Pulver, presiding over his last budget in the legislature said, “I am proud to have voted in favor of the 2024 County Budget – and my last one as the Legislature Chairman. After an extensive review process, I believe this budget best prepares Dutchess County for not only the next fiscal year but sets us in a position for success in future years. By making meaningful decisions, the Dutchess County Legislature reaffirmed its commitment to enhancing the life of all of our Dutchess County residents.”
Pulver lost his re-election bid but will become the county comptroller in January after Democrat Comptroller Robin Lois was named Deputy New York State Comptroller.
The budget, with amendments, will now be forwarded to O’Neil for review and signature. The final step in the 2024 Dutchess County Budget process, override consideration of any amendment vetoes by the County Executive and the adoption of the tax levy, will take place on Monday, December 18 at the legislature’s Board meeting.
