CARMEL – Revenue generated by tourism in Putnam County surpassed $92 million last year yet lawmakers believe the county must set aside funds to manage the impact of tourism on its towns and villages since with thousands converging on the county, trash, emergency services and infrastructure needs also rise.
Putnam Tourism Director Tara Keegan has asked the county legislature to match the $60,000 her department expects to receive from the state’s I Love New York campaign.
Legislator Nancy Montgomery of Philipstown opposed the request, saying tourism efforts must address management as well as promotion.
“The county is spending money encouraging people to visit,” she said adding, “We have a lot of responsibility for the impacts these visitors create.”
Montgomery wants funding devoted to garbage cleanup, emergency services, and road and infrastructure impacts.
She cited neighboring counties managing tourism.
Legislator Erin Crowley told her colleagues, “We can’t encourage tourism and then become upset about its impacts.”
Legislator Amy Sayegh added, “That is what we pay our local town taxes for – our property taxes. It is not up to the county to bail out every town every time they have a pothole.”
Montgomery responded, saying “Various communities have unique needs. Putnam Valley has a marine patrol, Philipstown doesn’t… does that mean every town should have a marine patrol, even though they’re without a river or a lake?”
Legislator Jake D’Angelo proposed the county set aside funding to complete an impact study with Legislature Chairman Dan Birmingham in agreement.
Birmingham said the county was making impacts with the tourist trade. “Now we have to realize that a footprint has been left behind. Whether it’s trash; whether it’s traffic, whether it’s stress on our emergency services… Maybe now is a suitable time for us to take some of this money and study the impacts.”
At its budget adoption meeting Wednesday evening, the lawmakers voted to approve a $15,000 study to address the review.
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