Serino unveils $627 million spending plan

Sue Serino

Photo provided

Serino unveils $627 million spending plan

POUGHKEEPSIE—Dutchess County Executive Sue Serino announced a $627 million spending plan for 2025 that increases public safety funding and invests in initiatives that benefit individuals, families, youths, seniors and veterans, all while remaining under the New York State Property Tax Cap.

Among the highlights of the proposal, unveiled on Oct. 29, are a $2 million program for Emergency Medical Services to attract talent and provide public education. Another allocation expands coverage to underserved areas, $700,000 for youth service programs, and a $200,000 expenditure for the Real Time Crime Center — a collaboration between the Sheriff’s and District Attorney’s offices, expected to launch by the end of this year.

Additional proposed expenditures include anti-drug and vaping prevention agendas, senior support programs, and the Think Accessible initiative, which provides training and educational opportunities for businesses, organizations, and municipalities.

The budgetary proposal is an inaugural effort for the Republican county executive, who assumed office in January 2024. While spending is up under the 2025 plan with an $18.3 million (3%) increase, homeowners and businesses will benefit from a reduced county property tax rate under the plan, with rates decreasing about 4% from $2.23 in 2024 to $2.14 for 2025.

The increases are the result of reimbursable state mandates and grant-funded expenses.

Without these costs, spending would have risen only 1%, owing primarily to increases of approximately $9 million in pension costs and health insurance.

Serino believes her proposal is fiscally sound and citizen-centered, stating, “With careful planning, we have delivered a responsible budget that makes essential investments in Dutchess County, [and] provides the services our residents rely on while limiting the impact to our taxpayers.”

Latest News

Silo Ridge donates $50,000to Amenia Ambulance Corps

Residents of Silo Ridge and Amenia Fire and Ambulance volunteers posed with a big check in front of the volunteer ambulance Sunday morning, Nov. 17.

Photo by Nathan Miller

AMENIA — Jamie Vitiello presented a check for $50,000 to the Amenia Volunteer Ambulance Corps Sunday morning, Nov. 17, during the Amenia Fire Company’s pancake breakfast at the fire house.

Vitiello said he heard about the ambulance corps’ need for a life-saving device called the Lund University Cardiopulmonary Assist System device, or LUCAS device for short. The LUCAS device assists emergency responders in applying chest compressions. The mechanical device can be situated around a person’s chest in the case of cardiac arrest and used to provide compressions that are more consistent and generally safer than a human providing CPR.

Keep ReadingShow less
Millerton: $5 million water quality grant

MILLERTON — In what Mayor Jennifer Najdek has described as “a huge bump for us,” New York State has awarded Millerton an Intermunicipal Water Infrastructure Grant (IMG) to fund various projects which continuously monitor and improve local water quality. The size of the grant is a generous $5,082,099, an amount which cannot be exceeded.

The official acceptance of the grant, which is application-based, came together fairly quickly as officials had only one week to decide. With the knowledge looming that grant requests may be bypassed or allocated to other communities without a decision being reached, Millerton leadership aligned after careful consideration at a special meeting held last week, signing off on Nov. 8. With the grant now secured, Najdek is optimistic Millerton can now move forward on pending wastewater concerns like water treatment and stormwater projects, saying “This project has great potential to happen now.”

Keep ReadingShow less
Aymar-Blair declares victory in County Comptroller race

Dan Aymar-Blair

Photo provided

MILLERTON — Democrat Dan Aymar-Blair defeated Republican A. Gregg Pulver in the race for County Comptroller, according to unofficial results of the Dutchess County Board of Elections after a count of affidavit and absentee ballots.

As of Friday, Nov. 15, Aymar-Blair was ahead of Gregg Pulver by 850 votes. Aymar-Blair declared victory on Friday.

Keep ReadingShow less
Zoning Review Committee gives four year update on Boulevard District

MILLERTON — The Town of North East discussed the next steps for the Zoning Review Committee during its board meeting on Thursday, Nov. 14.

Edith Greenwood, committee chair and vice chair of the North East Zoning Board of Appeals, joined the Town Board meeting to share what the committee has completed in the last four years.

Keep ReadingShow less