CARMEL- In his second State of the County address, Putnam County Executive Kevin Byrne focused on financial responsibility and the steps his administration has taken to make the county more affordable during his first year in office.
The State of the County address was delivered from Tilly Foster Farm in Brewster which is one of the recent successes of the Byrne administration and county legislators. Over the past year, the facility transformed into a community center offering more than a restaurant, concert venue, and home for animals. It now serves as an educational hub, hosting culinary classes and programs for students with special needs.
Byrne noted that in 2023, the county reached its lowest property tax rate in the last 15 years and that volunteer emergency service providers such as firefighters and EMTs now receive a 10 percent deduction on their property tax. He noted that these tax reductions without making cutbacks to county services or with new borrowing.
Another initiative featured in his speech was the new 2-year sales tax exemption on clothing and footwear under $110. This exemption was pushed by Byrne during his entire first year in office and took effect on March 1, 2024.
He said that cutting taxes was a primary focus because he, “realizes the hardship many residents, and New Yorkers in general, bear every day from an overwhelming tax burden.”
Byrne also spoke about how cuts from the state have impacted the county budget. Specifically, he noted a $1.5 million reduction that was part of the state’s policy of phasing out the appropriation of federal Medicaid dollars, known as eFMAP. Putnam County was able to ensure social safety net programs were not impacted by the cut by funding the gap in the 2024 budget, but Byrne is concerned that locally subsidizing the cuts may not be sustainable on a permanent basis.
Looking forward to 2024, Byrne said, “Putnam County is a place where anyone, regardless of their background, can pursue and achieve success.”
