Multiple Opportunities to Learn About 2017 Dutchess County Budget Proposal

Poughkeepsie… Dutchess County residents will have multiple opportunities, beginning this week, to learn more about the 2017 Executive County Budget, which was released last week by Dutchess County Executive Marcus J. Molinaro.    There will be several Dutchess Dialogue outreach events over the next month starting with a countywide TeleTown Hall event tomorrow evening, Tuesday, November 1st, at 6:30pm.    These outreach events are a chance for residents to ask questions and share their feedback on the County Executive’s budget proposal, which reduces both the property tax levy and property tax rate, before the Dutchess County Legislature adopts the final 2017 County Budget on December 8th, 2016.

Residents can review the 2017 Executive Budget documents online at dutchessny.gov, including the easy-to-read Budget in Brief and then participate in any of the upcoming events to be part of the dialogue about the budget.    The complete budget outreach schedule is as follows:

Event/Location                 

Countywide Tele-Town Hall Forum

November 1st  at 6:30pm
Call (877) 228-2184, enter event ID 113489# at the prompt

Public Hearing on County Executive Budget proposal

November 3rd at 7pm
Legislative Chambers, 22 Market Street, Poughkeepsie

Town Hall Forum at American Legion Post 1949 

November 9th at 6pm
1797 Route 22, Wingdale on November 9th at 6pm

Town Hall Forum at East Fishkill Town Hall    

November 16th at 7pm
330 Route 376, Hopewell Junction

Town Hall Forum at Town Crier Café    

November 17th at 11am
379 Main Street, Beacon

Town Hall Forum at Milan Town Hall   

November 29th at 6pm.
20 Wilcox Circle, Red Hook

Public Hearing on Budget with Legislative Amendments 

December 5th at 7pm
Legislative Chambers, 22 Market Street, Poughkeepsie

“The Dutchess County budget impacts each and every person in Dutchess County, so we try to provide as many opportunities as possible, across the county, to engage residents in a conversation about the budget plan – answering their questions, listening to their feedback and addressing their concerns.    I encourage everyone to come out and be part of the dialogue,” said County Executive Molinaro.

2017 Budget Highlights include:

• Property Tax Levy Reduction of more than $170,000
• Property Tax Rate Reduced from $3.60 to $3.58 per $1,000 of true value assessments   
• Total appropriations of $467 million, relatively flat at 0.2% change over 2016.
• No reduction in programs or services
• $1.7 million investment in economic development, tourism, arts and agriculture to continue to strengthen the local economy
• $15.25 million infrastructure investment for road and bridge repairs and improvements
• Expansion of Public Transit services including Sunday service, new route option and service expansion into City of Poughkeepsie if city bus services cease
• Renaming and rebranding of airport as Hudson Valley Regional Airport
• Dutchess County’s model of restorative justice, focused on prevention, intervention, diversion and transition
• Nationally awarded microgreen nutrition program
• Opening of the Stabilization Center
• Continued efforts to combat opiate and heroin drug addiction and abuse
• Expansion of ThinkDIFFERENTLY initiatives, including Project Safe Return