PUTNAM VALLEY – Putnam County Executive Kevin Byrne’s State of the County address consisted of an upbeat message detailing the county’s many accomplishments during the year gone by.
The 18-page speech was delivered Monday evening at the Palumbo Soccer Academy in Putnam Valley before a special meeting of the county legislature.
Byrne compared his address to the sporting world: “Sports success is about teamwork, discipline, and a shared vision. No single player wins the game alone, and no single branch of government moves this county forward by itself. Progress happens when we work together.”
Byrne reviewed many of the successes of his administration including the “largest property tax cut in Putnam County history.
“From day one of this administration we committed ourselves to a simple but powerful mandate to create a more affordable and acceptable county government that serves us all,” he said. “Those are not just words. They are the lens to which we evaluate every decision. They are the standards we hold ourselves to and they are the reason for the progress we have made together.”
The county executive praised the continuation of “one of the most meaningful tax relief measures we enacted in our very first budget: making clothing and footwear under $110, tax free.’
Byrne was pleased when reporting on his administration’s decision to limit borrowing while paying down long-term debt. “When I took office, Putnam County carried more than $51 million in long-term debt. Because of the choices we have made that number is projected to fall to $21.6 million by the end of this year. That is a 58 percent reduction and what that means is simple — fewer interest payments, less pressure on future budgets, and no passing the bill on to the next generation of taxpayers.”
At the same time, Byrne said they have protected the county’s financial strength. “We maintained a healthy Property Tax Stabilization Fund and we preserved our AA1 bond rating from Moody’s – one of the highest ratings of any county in New York State.”
Byrne touched on recently enacted increased senior citizens tax exemptions; the county’s Early Learning Center; community para-medicine; Putnam On Demand, the Hudson Valley’s first micro-transit system; a formal Public Works Shared Services Inter-Municipal Agreement to create a countywide framework to share equipment, personnel, and resources; along with public safety.
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