For More Information Contact:
Colleen Pillus
845-486-2000
E-mail: cpillus@dutchessny.gov
Poughkeepsie… Dutchess County Executive Marc Molinaro has announced his 2019 Executive Budget, to be released on October 29th, will cut the amount collected in the property tax levy for the fifth consecutive year and will again reduce the property tax rate paid by taxpayers. The tax levy reduction will keep Dutchess County again under the New York State (NYS) property tax cap, as it has been every year since the cap was enacted in 2011.
County Executive Molinaro said, “With the 2019 Executive Budget proposal, we continue our work to reduce property taxes while ensuring critical community needs are being met for our residents. Though we continue to be burdened by the cost of mandates dictated by the state, we address key issues, including combatting opioid addiction, improving youth, senior and veteran services, and enhancing quality of life for our residents – all while reducing county property taxes for residents and businesses."
The 2019 proposed budget continues to be dominated by state and federal mandated costs. Mandated costs will increase by more than $3.6 million and, in total, will account for 70% of all county costs in 2019. However, the strength of the local Dutchess County economy has been an important component in lowering property taxes while maintaining and enhancing services for residents; helping to ensure non-mandated, “optional” expenditures such as parks and recreation, senior programs, law enforcement, snow plowing, road maintenance, 911 dispatch and more can be maintained. Positive economic indicators including 12 straight months of private sector job growth, one of the lowest unemployment rates in the region and the state, and increased tourism visitors have all buoyed sales tax revenue, which is projected to continue to increase by 3.5% in 2019. Local municipalities will benefit from the sales tax growth, with more than $31 million in sales tax revenue projected to be shared with local cities, towns and villages in 2019. Additionally, Dutchess County’s total assessed valuation continues to rise, increasing to $30.8 billion for 2019.
Actual impact of the property tax levy and tax rate decrease on an individual tax bill can vary from town to town based on local assessments and state equalization rates, both factors beyond the County’s control. Dutchess County Government’s property tax levy represents only 12% of the property taxes collected countywide, the remainder of which is comprised of school taxes, municipal (city, town or village) property taxes and special district taxes (i.e. fire).
County Executive Molinaro will present his 2019 Executive Budget on Monday, October 29th at 10am in the Legislature Chambers, ahead of the required November 1st deadline established by the Dutchess County Administrative Code. The County Executive’s Budget Address can be viewed live on the County’s website, dutchessny.gov, where all budget documents will also be available for review. Later that evening on the 29th, at 6:30pm, Dutchess County Budget Director Jessica White and County Executive Molinaro will host a countywide tele-town hall forum when residents will have the opportunity to participate in a live conversation about the 2019 county budget, learn key details, ask questions and share feedback. Additionally, there will be 2019 Executive Budget town hall forum events held throughout the county in the month of November