County Executive Molinaro Signs 2019 Budget

County Executive Molinaro Signs 2019 Budget

Earlier today, Dutchess County Executive Marcus J. Molinaro signed the 2019 County Budget, which the Dutchess County Legislature approved via a bipartisan vote last week. 

Among its many highlights, the budget reduces the county property tax levy for the fifth consecutive year and lowers the property tax rate for a fourth year from $3.54 to $3.45 per $1,000 of true value assessments. The budget also expands services for seniors and veterans, combats opioid addiction, and improves programming for youth all while making targeted investments to ensure our economy continues to grow and enhancing quality of life for all residents. 

Upon signing the 2019 Budget, County Executive Molinaro sent the following memo to Legislator Gregg Pulver, Chairman of the Dutchess County Legislature:

Today, I sign and return the 2019 Adopted Budget with the attached veto.

The 2019 Adopted Budget, adopted with bi-partisan support in a 19-5 vote, addresses critical community needs while at the same time reducing the county property tax levy for the fifth consecutive year; lowering the property tax rate for the fourth year; and maintaining the County’s fiscal stability and essential services. This budget will continue to strengthen our community with initiatives addressing addiction and mental health, youth services as well as continued funding for ThinkDIFFERENTLY events and programs, senior services, infrastructure improvements, shared services, economic development, and tourism. We remain steadfast in our commitment to address the needs of Dutchess County residents through effective and efficient government.

The legislative budget review process was once again thoughtful and illuminating, bringing to light many important questions and concerns from both sides of the aisle. The Adopted Budget includes several legislative amendments I am pleased to support including: increasing funding for non-profit agencies offering summer jobs and after-school programs to at-risk youth; providing increased support for the Domestic Abuse Response Team (DART) Program; adding funding to allow community service providers to undertake critical capital improvements; expanding Senior Friendship Centers’ operating schedules to five days-week beginning mid-year 2019; increasing staffing in the areas of child and adult protective services; expanding advertising for the HELPLINE and Stabilization Center; increasing support for municipal shared services; as well as other initiatives.

During the legislative review process, questions were raised about concerts at Bowdoin Park. These questions culminated in a legislative amendment eliminating $40,000 from the Division of Parks budget allocated for such purposes – effectively ending said concerts.

Bowdoin Park had once hosted large concerts drawing thousands of people to the park. During the recession, the County could no longer make the investment. Since that time, residents and visitors have missed these events leading many to voice their interest in bringing back the concerts. In fact, concerts were a popular response to our recent Parks Master Plan survey. Feedback from last year’s smaller-scale concert series was a general call for larger scale productions, as in the past. Without the $40,000 in funding, the opportunity, should it arise, to bring in a high caliber performer will be lost. For this reason, I have vetoed this legislative amendment restoring the $40,000 allocated in the Executive Budget to provide the opportunity to bring in entertainment that will draw in people from around the area to visit Bowdoin Park and support local businesses.

I extend our thanks to Budget, Finance and Personnel Committee Chairman John Metzger for his careful stewardship of the legislative review this year. The process was constructive and collaborative adding value both to the deliberations and final product. We thank you, Chairman Pulver, for your leadership and all the members of the legislature for their hard work throughout the year and the budget process. Legislators from both caucuses are to be commended for your deliberate and thoughtful consideration of the proposed budget, and ideas to further expand the reach and benefit of the work we do for our shared constituents.

And, speaking of those we work for: Thank you to the residents and taxpayers who attended our town hall forums and telephone town hall to learn about the budget and share their feedback. We are always happy to answer their questions and grateful for their input.

Together we continue to find ways to meet challenges, serve our residents, and set an example for all of New York State. The challenges remain immense with 70 percent of every county tax dollar going to pay for State mandated programs. I am proud of not only the work we do to serve the people of Dutchess County but also how we do it – with care, consideration, and unity of purpose.

As we move into the new year, I look forward to our continued collaboration in pursuit of our many bold goals including addressing the ongoing opioid epidemic, overhauling youth services through our Path to Promise initiative, opening the new Law Enforcement Center, expanding our rail trail network, building the Justice and Transition Center, opening the new Office for the Aging facility and Public Defender’s office, and the many other initiatives that will address our community’s most pressing needs. In the year ahead, we will continue to strive to make Dutchess County an even better place to live, work, and raise a family.

I am grateful to you all and wish you a happy, healthy holiday season and a successful new year!