The County Exec's proposed Dutchess County Budget is a sham - it is unfunded by $20M, that is, it assumes $20M in revenue that does not really exist. In his letter that accompanies the budget, the County Exec, goes through a myriad of conditions leading up to why we have a daunting budget picture, unfortunately, the way that he tries to solve it, is unacceptable.
He did not fund $2M for the housing of over-crowded jail inmates out of county, he does not include contractual (legally bound) raises of $3.4M, and he is trying to mandate that the towns pick up the tab for the Board of Elections and Sheriff Patrols even though most town budgets for 2009 have already been set.
Worse yet, the County Exec seems to have spitefully reduced departments who have disagreed with him in the past and kept whole the departments filled with his 'yes' men. For example, the Legislative Staff, the Comptroller's Staff, and the Sheriff's Staff are all reduced in this budget.
Also - here is a short list of agencies that are slated to be axed to some degree: Human Rights Commission, Grace Smith House, Literacy Connections, Child Intervention Program, Homeless Management, Crime Victims Center, Teen Parenting Program, Mental Health Association, Foster Child Program, and SPCA.
Most of these agencies have a matching fund multiplier from the state and federal level so they are hurt on a scale of 2x - 3x their budget cuts. In these economic times, we can not take away from these programs that do so much for our community. Trust me when I say that funding these programs is an investment to avoid costs down the road.
I can not endorse this budget as it stands today - it would simply be unconscionable for me to do so. I do promise to work hard over the next two weeks to find other places to reduce county spending and balance the budget.
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