Serino Presents 2025 County Budget Proposal

POUGHKEEPSIE – Dutchess County Executive Sue Serino presented her 2025 Executive Budget proposal to county officials and community leaders in the Dutchess County Legislature’s Chambers in the City of Poughkeepsie. The County Executive’s budget plan is focused on Building a Safer, Stronger, and Brighter Future with key investments in public safety, youth services and support for seniors, veterans and families, while staying well under the New York State property tax cap.

“This 2025 budget, my first budget as County Executive, is focused on people – the lives we touch and the future we are building together,” said Dutchess County Executive Sue Serino. “Over the past year, I have met with neighbors across Dutchess County, listening to the needs of our community, as well as their concerns about affordability. With careful planning, we have delivered a responsible budget that makes essential investments in Dutchess County, provides the services our residents rely on, while limiting the impact to our taxpayers.”

The 2025 Executive Budget totals $627 million, an $18.3 million (3%) increase over 2024 modified spending, driven primarily by grant-funded costs and highly reimbursable State mandates. Without these new appropriations, spending would be up just 1%, primarily due to nearly $9 million in health insurance and pension cost increases. The total number of Full Time Equivalent (FTE) positions is unchanged from 2024 in the County Executive’s budget plan.

Despite the modest increase, homeowners and businesses will pay a reduced County property tax rate under the Executive’s proposal, with the County property tax rate dropping to $2.14 for 2025, down 4% from the $2.23 property tax rate for 2024.
The total County Property tax levy is proposed at $100,930,000, with sales tax revenues budgeted at $267,980,000, a 2% increase over 2024 projected year-end revenue.

Dutchess County’s sales tax rate remains one of the lowest rates in New York State, and the 2025 Executive Budget continues the exemption on clothing and footwear items less than $110 per item. Dutchess County will share nearly $46 million in sales tax revenue with local municipalities based on the 2025 forecast.

The County Executive’s 2025 budget plan allocates $20 million of the $85 million general fund balance, keeping the total projected available general fund balance well in-line with the County’s fund balance policy to maintain one to two months of general fund operating expenditures in unrestricted general fund balance to ensure financial stability. A strong fund balance is an important factor in Dutchess County’s enviable AA+ credit rating by Standard & Poor’s. Dutchess County’s strong fiscal position is further evidenced by the lowest possible score of zero in the New York State Comptroller’s annual Fiscal Stress Score.

County Executive Serino has also established a Community Benefit Fund, a set-aside of fund balance from the drawdown of American Rescue Plan (ARP) funding earlier this year. This funding is intended for one-time projects that have substantial community benefit and lasting positive impact.  $2.6 million from the Community Benefit Fund is invested in critical areas, including law enforcement, public safety and emergency medical services in 2025.

Dutchess County Legislature Chairman Will Truitt said, “Over this past year, I have seen County Executive Serino work together with people to find solutions to community issues while still making tough decisions to hold the line on spending to keep Dutchess County in a strong financial position. She has presented a 2025 Budget plan that is smart and effective – maintaining conservative fiscal principles to deliver services and programs that benefit all our residents. As I begin my ninth year of carefully reviewing the details of our fiscal plan for the year ahead, my goal is to ensure taxpayers continue to receive the highest value for their tax dollar investment. I look forward to our Legislative review process over these next several weeks.”

Among the key highlights of County Executive Serino’s Executive Budget:

• Allocating $100,000 to the Dutchess County Sheriff’s Office through the Community Benefit Fund to continue enhancing community safety initiatives, such as Project Lifesaver, that greatly impact residents’ lives.

• Supporting the work of the District Attorney’s Office with $100,000 from the Community Benefit Fund for initiatives that directly address crime and public safety, including expanding the strength of Dutchess County Drug Task Force with surveillance equipment and additional $50,000 to target larger-scale dealers and dismantle drug networks, as well as a new campaign to promote the Drug Task Force’s Tip Line (845-463-6040). A new full-time investigator will also be added to the Drug Task Force team.

• Investing $200,000 from the Community Benefit Fund to launch a Real Time Crime Center, a partnership with the District Attorney’s Office and the Sheriff’s Office which will elevate the County’s crime response capabilities and improve community well-being. The initiative will launch in late 2024, with significant federal funding allowing for the program’s expansion in 2025.

• Investing $50,000 in expanding the Law Enforcement Assisted Diversion Program (LEAD) to expand street outreach services during evenings and weekends, ensuring help is available when it’s needed most.

• Historic $2 million investment in Emergency Medical Services, originally announced here, providing supplemental commercial coverage in regions of greatest need, building public awareness about ambulance use and addressing workforce challenges to attract new emergency services workers and support the mental and emotional well-being of those already in the field.

• Expanding youth services with more than $700,000 allocated as part of a reimagined Youth Opportunity Union (YOU) initiative, including YOU Drop-In Center grants, YOU mini grants, summer camp scholarships and expansion of the Youth Police Initiative (YPI) as announced here.

• Using $400,000 in funds from New York State’s Juul settlement to create a vaping prevention campaign to address a critical public health challenge affecting our youth in huge numbers, aimed at educating young people about the risks of e-cigarettes and curbing the rise in vaping-related health issues among young people.