POUGHKEEPSIE – Dutchess County Executive that included no layoffs and a spending increase of 1.8 percent.  When the legislature began altering the spending plan, spending increased, and the legislature amended the budget to pay for the changes by taking $7.2 million from the county’s fund balance.

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In a letter to the legislature on Monday, Serino indicated she was returning the legislature-approved budget unsigned, with concerns about the added $2.2 million in spending.  She also executed several line-item vetoes, all directed at District Attorney Anthony Parisi, a Democrat.  , explaining that a major portion of the needed manpower is a direct result of the state’s revised Discovery Laws.

Dutchess Executive Sue Serino delivers her proposed 2026 budget

Following an extensive budget review, the county restored the positions Parisi was seeking: 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.  The restorations added $711,000 to the 2026 county budget.    Serino said that Parisi originally agreed to holding the positions vacant, which he denies.  Saying “I fully support District Attorney Parisi in his mission to protect our County, prosecute offenders, and ensure the safety of our residents,” Serino cut three of the five positions for the DA, leaving him with a Junior Accountant and an Assistant DA.  “I cannot support District Attorney Parisi’s decision to walk back the agreement to hold positions vacant to offset the cost of his office restructuring – particularly when other departments have responsibly reduced positions to help keep property taxes within the cap,” Serino told the legislature.

Parisi challenged Serino’s assessment Monday night, telling Mid-Hudson News, “As District Attorney, I cannot protect public safety with vacant titles and unfunded positions.  These vetoes weaken our ability to prosecute violent crime, support victims, and keep dangerous offenders off our streets.”  Asked if he thought the legislature might override the vetoes, he said, “I am confident the Legislature will put public safety first and override the County Executive’s veto to ensure my office has the staffing necessary to keep our communities safe.”

The adopted budget does keep the property tax levy under New York State’s property tax cap, with the property tax rate reduced from $2.17 to $2.10 per $1,000 of assessed value.

County Executive Sue Serino concluded, “As we look ahead, we know we will have many tough choices in the coming year, particularly as we craft the 2027 budget.  I look forward to working with the Legislature in 2026 to address these challenges together.”

The Democrats are taking the majority of the legislature in January with 15 members, while the Republicans only kept 10 seats.  With the Republicans losing the majority, a flurry of GOP-sponsored amendments remained intact following Serino’s review.

Democrats offered and passed two amendments to the budget.  $1 million was added to the Housing Trust Fund on an amendment offered by Legislator Yvette Valdés Smith, and another Democrat added $200,000 for a shared services grant program to address homelessness.

The remaining adjustments were made by Republican lawmakers.

Complete list of amendments adopted by the County Legislature:

  • Five amendments, totaling $31,400, for the Department of History for REV 250 programming including professional services program, temporary positions, training seminars, employee travel and travel reimbursement (Legislature Chair Will Truitt) –offset by increase in DMV revenue
  • $138,600 for the County Clerk’s Office for security at the Department of Motor Vehicles (Legislature Chair Will Truitt) – offset by increase in DMV revenue
  • $50,000 for the Department of Planning and Development for increased funding to Destination Dutchess for REV 250 (Legislature Chair Will Truitt) – offset by appropriated fund balance (Community Benefit Fund)
  • $4,436,736 million for the removal of the elimination of the sales tax exemption on clothing and footwear purchases under $110 per item (Assistant Majority Leader Michael Polasek) – offset by appropriated fund balance. (This is a net number, as the revenue that have gone to local municipalities was removed.)
  • $1 million in additional funding for the Dutchess County Housing Trust Fund (Minority Leader Yvette Valdés Smith) – offset by appropriated fund balance (Community Benefit Fund)
  • $711,058 for the Dutchess County District Attorney’s office to fund five full-time positions (Legislator Chris Rolison) – offset by appropriated fund balance (Community Benefit Fund)
  • $253,000 for the Dutchess County Sheriff’s Office for long-term rental/lease of equipment including Drones as First Responder (DFR), interview rooms, body cameras (Legislator John Metzger); offset by appropriated fund balance (Community Benefit Fund)
  • $60,000 for the Department of Planning and Development for additional funding for the Dutchess County Drug Task Force for Town of Fishkill officer (Legislator Doug McHoul) –offset by increased vacancy factor
  • $120,000 for the Department of Public Works for the Commissioner of Jurors’ rent for an accessible facility, (Legislator Doug McHoul); offset by increased vacancy factor
  • $50,000 for the Office of Veterans Affairs to increase funding for the GoGo Veteran program (Majority Leader Deirdre Houston); offset by appropriated fund balance (Community Benefit Fund)
  • $750,000 for the Department of Planning and Development for a shared services grant program to fund infrastructure improvements to town and village halls, gathering spaces, firehouses and parks, (Majority Leader Deirdre Houston); offset by appropriated fund balance (Community Benefit Fund)
  • Decrease the salary for the Clerk of the Legislature by $13,000 (Majority Leader Deirdre Houston); Housekeeping item
  • $200,000 for the Department of Planning and Development for a shared services grant program for municipalities for homeless prevention (Legislator Kristofer Munn); offset by increase to real property tax levy.

Legislators will consider potential veto overrides and formally adopt the tax levy to complete the 2026 Dutchess County Budget process at its meeting on Wednesday, Dec. 17 at 6 pm.



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