For More Information Contact:
Alana Sawchuk, Executive Assistant to the Comptroller
asawchuk@dutchessny.gov / comptroller@dutchessny.gov
(845) 486-2050
The Dutchess County Comptroller’s Office has completed the 4th quarter special report on the American Rescue Plan funding, the “Dutchess Invests” spending plan, and actual expenditures/obligations of the County. This is the final report of 12, the first of which was released in March of 2022. Dutchess County received $57,148,397 in ARP funds in 2021 and 2022, the entirety of which had to be, and was, obligated by December 31, 2024. In Q4 of 2024 the County spent $378,772, which went to education costs.
Comptroller Aymar-Blair took the long view of the ARP funding in light of the completion of the series, noting that while the County accomplished a lot of good with the funds, there was a lack of comprehensive planning pertaining to the allocation and spending.
“A comparison of the first and last ‘Dutchess Invests’ plans shows that 54% of the final spend reflected what was originally planned by County leadership,” said the Comptroller. “There can, and will, always be disagreement pertaining to the merits, timing, and prioritization of certain projects, but there is also usefulness in reflecting on what was intended and what was actually accomplished.”
The Comptroller’s Office is grateful for the help of the Budget Office during the development and creation of these reports during the last few years.
The 2024 Q4 ARP report can be found on the Comptroller’s website, here.
