POUGHKEEPSIE – The Democratic majority of the Dutchess County Legislature (15 members) has introduced a rule change for the legislature, lowering the affirmative votes needed to spend money. The rules of the legislature, dating back to when it was a 35-member body, required a super-majority of affirmative votes in order to spend taxpayer money from the contingency or general fund balances. The Democrat leadership and two freshman lawmakers from the Town of Poughkeepsie, Anna Shah and Trevor Redl, want to lower the votes needed to a simple majority of the 25-member body.
Legislative Counsel Michael Treybich says the rule change is to bring the legislature in line with the Dutchess County Charter. “The charter doesn’t require a super-majority – it only requires a majority, so this rule change is bring the legislature’s ability in line with the county charter.”
The proposed resolution, scheduled to be voted on this evening (Monday, February 9) by the full board, has been met with opposition from the 10 Republican lawmakers. Assistant Minority Leader John Metzger (R-East Fishkill), a 10-year legislator, said the super-majority requirement is part of the system of “checks and balances” during the committee meeting last week. “The current rule requires legislators from both parties to work together through negotiations, talks, and debate, to come up with an agreeable reason to spend taxpayer money.” Metzger expressed fear that, without an acceptable explanation, the Democrats are planning something that might be considered “unpopular” but requires funding that would not get the 16 votes needed for super-majority approval.
Legislature Chairperson Yvette Valdès Smith rebuffed the GOP argument, saying, “The Republican super-majority at the time had no problem spending $25 million towards what is now Heritage Financial Park (Dutchess Stadium). “We had debate. Your supermajority overruled that,” she said toward Metzger. “I don’t want to see wasteful spending again, so I don’t think anybody should be accusing anybody about looking down the line for something coming.”
Eight Democrats on the Government Services Committee voted in favor of the plan on Thursday, with four Republicans voting against it.
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