POUGHKEEPSIE – The Dutchess County Legislature approved an amendment to the 2026 budget, offered by Legislator Chris Rolison (R-Dist. 23), that restored five positions to the Dutchess County DA’s Office. The restorations will add $711,000 to the 2026 county budget. The appropriation comes after a series of spirited debates between DA Anthony Parisi, County Executive Sue Serino, and Serino’s Budget Director Jessica White. According to Parisi, the positions were not funded in the tentative 2026 budget, so he took his request to the lawmakers.
Rolison’s amendment provides the DA’s Office with funding for a Junior Accountant, an Administrative Assistant, an Assistant DA for the Violent Crimes/Dangerous Drugs unit, an Assistant DA for the Real Time Crime Center, and an ADA for the formation of the Elder Abuse/Fraud Task Force.
Minority Leader Yvette Valdés Smith, who is slated to be the Chairperson of the Legislature when the Democrats take the majority of the legislature in January, supported the amendment. “Bipartisan work moved this forward,” she said. “Both our sheriff’s department and DA really have been working hand-in-hand, and this is all about our commitment to public safety here in Dutchess County, so I’m very proud to support this.”
On the restoration of the funding, DA Parisi said, “I am deeply grateful that the Legislature recognized how essential these restored positions are to keeping our county safe. The unanimous bipartisan support and the willingness of leaders and legislators on both sides to come together demonstrate their strong and united commitment to strengthening public safety.”
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