Putnam County Budget Advances One Step Closer to Enactment

Last Thursday evening, at the County Legislature’s Budget and Finance committee meeting, the body moved County Executive Kevin Byrne’s Executive Budget one step closer to passage before the November 1^st deadline. The budget put forth by the County Executive earlier this year reduced the county’s property tax rate to the lowest level in 15 years. Putnam County’s budget advanced through the committee after legislators made modifications and identified additional savings to offset other new spending and reduce the tax burden even further.

“The budget my administration presented is one that represents a concerted effort to better control and prioritize county spending, lower the property tax rate, and reduce the overall tax burden, all with no new borrowing,” said County Executive Byrne. “I thank Chairman Jonke and appreciate the Legislature’s efforts toward demonstrating fiscal conservatism and discipline. As I’ve stated numerous times, no savings is too large or too small for our county to take advantage of.”

At the Budget and Finance Committee meeting the legislature eliminated $500,000 in program funding which enabled them to fully fund a new position at the Putnam County Sheriff’s Office and further reduce the property tax levy, lowering Byrne’s proposed tax rate of 2.87% to 2.85%, an 8% reduction from the 2023 property tax rate of 3.12% and still the lowest property tax rate in 15 years.

Earlier this month, on October 5^th the County Executive presented his executive budget which also included a reduction in the overall tax burden, the first of its kind in 25 years, by providing a sales tax cut on clothing and footwear under $110 to make the tax less regressive and fairer for taxpayers. The sales tax cut is currently listed as an agenda item for the October 26th Audit Committee Meeting of the Putnam County Legislature for their review and consideration. The budget still provides for the expansion of mental health services for residents and continues to protect vulnerable populations by filling Medicaid gaps created by cuts from Albany.

In addition, the proposed budget includes a substantial investment in infrastructure and capital planning, with a focus on making county facilities more accessible to the public, regardless of physical ability. This is part of the county’s renewed commitment to “ThinkDIFFERENTLY,” a movement to change the way government, businesses and our community think about and treat those individuals with disabilities.

Byrne continued, “I promised residents that we’d take advantage of every opportunity presented to us. We will continue to seize opportunities that provide for a more affordable, accountable, and accessible county government that serves us all. This budget, as currently being presented, continues to deliver on that promise.” 

The Legislature still has several meetings scheduled where additional modifications can be made before they are sent to the County Executive for his consideration. The budget deadline, as per the County Charter, is November 1^st.