UTCHESS COUNTY COMPTROLLER ROBIN LOIS ISSUES SPECIAL UPDATE ON IMPACT OF AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN TO DUTCHESS COUNTY

UTCHESS COUNTY COMPTROLLER ROBIN LOIS ISSUES SPECIAL UPDATE ON IMPACT OF AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN TO DUTCHESS COUNTY

 

Dutchess County to Receive $57.5 Million in Relief; Lost $13 Million in Tax Revenue throughout 2020

Poughkeepsie, NY – Dutchess County Comptroller Robin Lois today released a Special Update to taxpayers on the American Rescue Plan and its impact on Dutchess County. Signed into law last week, the $1.9 trillion relief bill provides $65 billion in direct aid to counties to help fight the pandemic, make investments throughout their communities, and build critical infrastructure. The Comptroller reports that Dutchess County anticipates receiving $57.5 million in relief funding, and compares that to neighboring counties in the Mid-Hudson Region

“Throughout 2020 the dedicated employees and public officials of Dutchess County worked tirelessly to set up testing operations, conduct contact tracing, procure and provide PPE to first responders throughout our communities, and to help businesses navigate restrictions and operate safely,” said Comptroller Robin Lois. “In 2021 the County adds to that list the heavy lift of distributing vaccines. All of this is being accomplished with fewer employees due to the county’s early retirement incentive, while absorbing declining local revenues like sales tax, hotel/motel tax, and the loss of state reimbursements.”

The Comptroller’s Special Update also reports the final impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Dutchess County tax revenues – a $13 million decrease to revenue across all sources of tax revenue. Largest hit of all was Sales Tax Revenue which declined $11 million, a 5.2% decrease from anticipated revenues in the 2020 Adopted Budget.

“Dutchess County was fortunately in a strong fiscal position prior to the pandemic hitting our community, which has helped us to sustain and maintain our crucial services to the public,” concluded Comptroller Lois. “These additional ARP funds will not only help provide for a quick recovery and enhance the ability to respond to the additional work that needs to be done until this pandemic is over, but also help Dutchess County build back better.”

Author: Harlem Valley News