POUGHKEEPSIE – The final meeting of the Dutchess County Legislature for 2025 was held to address the vetoes to the 2026 amended county budget. Dutchess County Executive Sue Serino had returned the approved budget unsigned earlier this week and included vetoes of positions for the DA’s Office that the legislature added to the budget following a request from DA Anthony Parisi. The county executive’s vetoes were overridden by the lawmakers.
County Executive Sue Serino initially presented a $651 million budget with no layoffs and a 1.8 percent spending increase, which did not include money for the positions the DA was seeking to fill. During the legislative review process, Parisi presented his case to the lawmakers, saying the positions would improve public safety. The legislature amended the budget, increasing spending and utilizing $7.2 million from the county’s fund balance, including funding was earmarked for five positions at the DA’s Office.
Despite the unanimous bipartisan Legislature’s approval, Serino issued line-item vetoes eliminating three of the five restored positions in the District Attorney’s Office. Those vetoes would have significantly reduced the office’s ability to function effectively, particularly in prosecuting violent crime, addressing dangerous drug activity, and combating elder abuse and fraud, according to the DA.
At Wednesday’s meeting, Serino railed against the veto override, offered by Republican Majority Leader Deirdre Houston.
Noting that detractors will say she is anti-public safety, which she denied, Serino said, “This budget protects our residents,” noting that “Public safety is not limited to the District Attorney’s Office.” Serino listed other aspects of public safety, including DPW crews plowing the roads, CPS, deputy sheriffs on road patrol, and “probation monitoring offenders released from jail. Our emergency response is so much more.”
“I am grateful that the Legislature recognized that public safety is not an abstract concept, but a daily responsibility that requires adequate staffing and resources,” Parisi said. “Unfortunately, the County Executive’s vetoes failed to acknowledge the real-world consequences these cuts would have had on victims, law enforcement, and the safety of our communities. These positions are not optional; they are vital for justice to be done and our community to be safe.”
The Legislature’s override restores positions, including assistant district attorneys assigned to violent crime and specialized enforcement efforts, as well as administrative support. The total cost of restoring these positions is approximately $711,000, Parisi’s office said.
Parisi expressed appreciation for the bipartisan support shown by legislators. “I am grateful to the members of the Legislature who listened to the facts, understood the realities we face in law enforcement, and took action. This decision sends a clear message that public safety is a priority in Dutchess County.”
The 2026 $653 million adopted budget keeps 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.
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