POUGHKEEPSIE, NY – Dutchess County Executive Sue Serino outlined her 2026 Executive Budget proposal today to County legislators, elected officials and community stakeholders at the County Legislature Chambers in Poughkeepsie. Her proposed plan for 2026 emphasizes strategic investments in public safety, housing, youth initiatives, and services for seniors, veterans and families while staying below the New York State property tax cap.
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Dutchess County Executive Sue Serino said, “This budget is all about protecting people with purpose – recognizing that every decision we make, every dollar we spend must be done in a way that protects our taxpayers while also protecting the programs and services our neighbors depend on. We’ve worked hard to make sure every dollar is spent wisely, with investments in public safety, mental health, seniors, and youth, while making sure we are prepared for future uncertainty.”
The proposed 2026 Executive Budget totals $651.4 million with 1.8% increase in total spending compared to the modified 2025 budget, with no reduction in services and no employee layoffs. State and federal mandates continue to dominate the annual spending plan, consuming more than 70% of the budget and adding $6.7 million in new spending for the year.
Under the plan, the 2026 property tax levy will be $106 million, below the New York State property tax cap, and the property tax rate will drop 3% from $2.17 to $2.10 per $1,000 of assessed value. If approved, this will be the 11th consecutive year property owners will see a reduction in the County tax rate.
Sales tax revenues are projected at $273.8 million, funding 42% of the 2026 Budget. The County’s sales tax rate will remain at 3.75%, one of only six counties with a sales tax rate below 4% in New York State. The budget will see elimination of the local sales tax exemption on clothing and footwear items under $110 effective March 1st, generating an additional $5.4 million in revenue to support critical programs and services. Local municipalities will also benefit from the additional revenue as the County shares its sales tax with cities, towns and villages.
The Community Benefit Fund, established by County Executive Serino last year, will fund $3.2 million in critical initiatives, offsetting taxes.
The 2026 Executive Budget uses $23.5 million from the County’s general fund balance to minimize impact on taxpayers, while maintaining a reliable fund balance reserve for any future uncertainty.
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Dutchess County’s longstanding commitment to conservative fiscal management is evidenced by its AA+ credit rating from Standard & Poor’s. The County’s fiscal stability was also confirmed recently with a perfect score of “0” on the New York State Comptroller’s Fiscal Stress Report, the best rating achievable.
Legislator Stephen Caswell, Chair of the Budget, Finance and Personnel Committee said, “I appreciate County Executive Serino’s overview today of the 2026 Executive Budget and her focus on maintaining our County’s fiscal stability while serving the needs of the community. Together with my legislative colleagues, I look forward to reviewing the plan, as well as delving into it deeper in the coming weeks with the support of the Budget Office, to adopt a final budget that serves our residents in the most cost-efficient way possible”
Highlights of the 2026 Executive Budget include:
County Executive Serino said, “Every dollar in this budget has purpose, and that purpose always comes back to our people. Behind every plan, program and investment is someone – a neighbor, a co-worker, a family – whose life we work to improve. I look forward to working with the County Legislature over the next several weeks during the budget review process for a final budget that continues to put people first.”
Full budget documents are available to view on the County’s website, dutchessny.gov/2026budget.
