For More Information Contact:
Colleen Pillus, Communications Director 845-486-2000
Poughkeepsie, NY… Dutchess County Executive Marc Molinaro today hosted the second of three online Town Hall Forums specifically regarding his 2021 Executive Budget, which was released on Oct. 28th, providing hundreds of residents the opportunity to learn more about his budget proposal.
During the conversation, County Executive Molinaro answered residents’ questions about the Executive Budget, as well as their inquiries about COVID-19 and other topics of interest to them. An archive of the County Executive’s 44 online conversations, including today’s, is available on the Dutchess County Government YouTube page.
Released on Oct. 28th ahead of the mandated Nov. 1st deadline in the County’s Administrative Code, and presented virtually to adhere to proper social-distancing guidelines and a prohibition on large gatherings resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic, the County Executive’s $502 million budget proposal reduces county spending by more than $18 million or 3.6 percent, with no layoffs and no increase to property taxes. The proposed budget plan reduces the county property tax levy for the seventh consecutive year and cuts the property tax rate for homeowners and businesses for the sixth straight year.
The 2021 Executive Budget also maintains County services and programs, with new initiatives addressing homelessness and housing, youth services and police reform, as well as continued funding for senior services, mental health, infrastructure improvements, County parks and other critical services. The County’s 2021 Executive Budget webpage contains full budget documents, video messages about specific topic areas and an interactive “Budget in Brief” webpage.
Among the other highlights of today’s discussion:
County Executive Molinaro will again discuss the 2021 County Budget and answer questions on Thursday, November 12th when the Dutchess County Regional Chamber of Commerce hosts the County Executive Molinaro beginning at 8 a.m. for a 90-minute virtual presentation. Residents can register online to take part in the Chamber’s Zoom event online.
Next week, the County Executive will host his next COVID-19 Facebook Live Town Hall on Wednesday, November 18th at 3pm. He will also also host his final virtual 2021 Executive Budget Town Hall Forum on Thursday, Nov. 19th at 6 p.m. That online event will also be available to view live on the County’s Facebook page, and as with previous virtual forums, American Sign Language interpreters will translate the live discussion.