POUGHKEEPSIE — Dutchess County Executive Sue Serino introduced her proposed $722 million budget for 2027 on Friday, outlining a spending plan that aims to maintain essential services, avoid layoffs and reduce the property tax rate by 4.5%. The proposal was presented to county legislators and other officials in Poughkeepsie.The budget includes a proposed sales tax increase, uses up the county’s remaining American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds, and draws $28.5 million from the general fund balance.
Serino’s administration says these steps are necessary to close a nearly $90 million gap between projected costs and revenues.Serino said, “Despite tremendous fiscal pressure from ever-increasing state and federal mandates and rapidly rising costs, we are delivering a 2027 budget that includes no cuts to services and no layoffs.  This plan protects what matters most for our neighbors and ensures Dutchess County remains strong and stable for the future.”
The spending plan prioritizes fiscal stability while continuing investments in public safety, health, mental health services, housing, and emergency medical services. Support for youth, veterans and older adults remains a focus, according to county officials.
The overall spending increase is limited to less than one percent, excluding state mandates and new grant programs. The property tax levy remains under the state cap. County officials project that, due to an 8% increase in property values, the average tax rate will drop to $2.02 per $1,000 of assessed value in 2027, down from $2.11 this year.
Mandated federal and state expenses make up nearly 70% of the budget. President Trump’s cuts to the federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) added $1.8 million in costs to the county. To help offset reduced federal funding, Serino is proposing increasing county sales tax by 0.25 percentage points to 4% starting June 2027. The exemption on clothing and footwear under $110 would remain. Serino’s budget requires no layoffs to the county workforce, uses $3,75 million in remaining ARPA funds, and draws on $28.5 million from the general fund balance to reduce the financial impact on county taxpayers, according to the county executive.
  • Key initiatives in the budget include:• Launching a Community Paramedicine Program to expand in-home care and telehealth services for emergency medical calls;• Participating in the state’s $22 million “First 3” childcare pilot program, aiming to create more than 1,000 new childcare slots for children ages 0-3 over three years;$3 million in support for the Dutchess County Drug Task Force, including over $1 million for local police agency partners
  • $1 million investment in the County’s Housing Trust Fund to expand the local housing supply
  • Addition of three new street outreach positions to assist those experiencing homelessness
  • Construction of the HOPE Center, a modern, state-certified emergency shelter
  • Combatting food insecurity by supporting food pantries’ staff training and investing $45,000 for programs expanding access to fresh, nutritious food
  • Expanding youth career pathways, supporting the successful Youth and Police Initiative (YPI) and launching a new initiative to help fathers strengthen their families
  • Partnering with Community Action Agency to help residents apply for SNAP benefits through a dedicated SNAP Navigator
  • Construction of a modern, countywide radio system to improve communication and coordination among emergency responders during emergencies and disasters
  • Enforcing the County’s ban on kratom products while expanding public education through opioid settlement funds
  • Using $1.5 million in State funding for free private-well PFAS testing and rebates up to $10,000 for water treatment or public water connections
  • Supporting older adults with expanded transportation, in-home care, caregiver support and social activities while strengthening efforts to prevent elder abuse and scams
  • Expanding veteran outreach to connect veterans and families to housing and financial assistance, peer support and transportation to help veterans access essential services
  • Marking the 200th anniversary of slavery’s abolition in New York State with mini-grants to support historical and educational programs
  • Strengthening animal welfare enforcement by adding a Humane Law Enforcement Officer to investigate cruelty, neglect and abuse.

Serino said, “This budget proposal is about making a real difference in people’s lives, all while considering the difficult choices counties throughout the state must make. I am grateful to all our County employees, including my fellow elected officials and Department Heads, for your commitment and cooperation through this budget process.  This plan represents shared sacrifice throughout our entire County Government.  I look forward to working with the County Legislature in the weeks ahead as we move toward the adoption of a final budget plan that serves our neighbors and protects our fiscal foundation so we can provide those services well into the future.”

The proposed budget was not provided to the county legislature ahead of the presentation, Democrats say, limiting lawmakers’ ability to respond immediately. Legislature Chairwoman Yvette Valdes Smith, a Democrat, said the legislature would review the budget closely and emphasized the need for a more collaborative process. The legislature’s Democratic majority plans to examine the proposal line by line to ensure essential services are protected and recurring costs are matched with recurring revenue.The full budget proposal was posted Friday morning on the Dutchess County website.The legislature’s Budget and Finance Committee will consider the proposal throughout November, with a final vote expected in early December.

County Executive Serino’s 2027 Executive Budget documents and a replay of her presentation are are available at  .


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