A bipartisan coalition of Putnam County municipal officials is urging the County Legislature to approve a proposal by County Executive Kevin Byrne to distribute $6.5 million in previously budgeted funds to the county's six towns and three villages to help offset rising expenses and address infrastructure needs.
The coalition, which includes town supervisors, village mayors, highway superintendents and Carmel Town Councilman Robert Kearns, held a press conference last week calling for swift legislative action on the proposal, which Byrne outlined during his recent presentation of the county's 2027 budget.
The $6.5 million was appropriated in the county's 2026 budget and is currently held in a sub-contingency account. Byrne wants to redirect the money to local municipalities rather than have it returned to the county's general fund.
The proposal would provide a one-time infusion of financial assistance to help towns and villages pay for infrastructure improvements, equipment and other expenses without additional county borrowing or taxes. However, the distribution requires approval from the County Legislature.
The funding would be separate from the county's existing sales tax revenue-sharing program, which was established last year through an agreement involving Byrne, state lawmakers and local municipal leaders.
That agreement, the first of its kind in Putnam County, distributed more than $2 million in county sales tax revenue to towns and villages last year, with a similar amount anticipated this year. The proposed $6.5 million would be in addition to those annual payments.
Kearns, who is running unopposed for Carmel supervisor, joined municipal leaders from throughout the county in supporting the proposal, said the additional assistance would help local governments manage expenses while protecting property taxpayers.
"Our tax dollars should be put to work addressing the needs of the communities we serve," Kearns said. "When the county helps our municipalities manage these growing expenses, we are better positioned to protect the taxpayers we all represent. It is a partnership where the county supports our local communities, and stronger local communities means a stronger Putnam County for everyone."
Kearns acknowledged that the original $6.5 million appropriation was intended for property tax relief but argued that providing financial assistance directly to municipalities could accomplish a similar goal by helping them avoid additional expenses that might otherwise be passed along to taxpayers.
"We have a chance to turn an existing appropriation into tangible improvements in the communities where people live, work, and raise their families," he said. "This is not about political parties or individual recognition. It's about cooperation, common sense and our shared responsibility to deliver results."
Other municipal leaders pointed to the rising costs of maintaining roads, purchasing equipment and providing essential services.
Kent Town Supervisor Jaime McGlasson said the cost of road salt in his town has increased 33 percent, while fuel and other operating expenses continue to climb.
"These are costs we cannot avoid, because maintaining our roads and keeping our residents safe are basic responsibilities of local government," McGlasson said. "This funding would help offset those rising costs and allow us to purchase essential equipment for our police and our fire departments."
Kent Highway Superintendent Rich Othmer said the cost of municipal highway trucks has also risen sharply, with vehicles that cost approximately $250,000 several years ago now carrying price tags exceeding $400,000.
"We are on the front lines. We are in the trenches," Othmer said, referring to the responsibilities local highway departments face when roads collapse, trees fall or flooding occurs. "We need help, and we're coming to you as a group."
Putnam Valley officials also cited increasing highway expenses, noting that the town's anticipated 2026 sales tax revenue-sharing allocation is approximately equal to its projected increase in road salt costs for 2027 alone.
The town's representatives urged county lawmakers to act quickly so municipalities can incorporate the additional funding into their financial planning.
Cold Spring Mayor Kathleen Foley said that although Putnam County has maintained a strong financial position, that stability has not eliminated the budgetary pressures facing individual towns and villages.
"We talk a lot about the county's fiscal health and how healthy and strong the county is," Foley said. "We are the county. And at the local level, we are struggling."
Foley said local governments must maintain infrastructure and respond to emergencies regardless of their financial circumstances, making additional county assistance particularly valuable.
The coalition's appeal comes as local governments prepare their 2027 budgets amid continued increases in equipment, fuel, materials, and other operating costs.
While the proposed funding would give municipalities additional resources, the amount each town or village would receive and the formula for distributing the money were not specified in the announcement.
Kearns urged the Legislature to build on the cooperation that produced the county's sales tax revenue-sharing agreement.
"Last year, our county leaders came together to accomplish something historic by sharing sales tax revenue with our towns and villages for the first time," he said. "Now we have another opportunity to build on that partnership."
The proposal remains subject to legislative review and approval before any money can be distributed.
Article provided by Councilman Rob Kearns
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