In his March 2 State of the County address in which he focused on tax relief, innovation and civic pride, County Executive Kevin Byrne said Putnam County is “more affordable, more accountable, more accessible, and stronger than ever before.”
Read the County Executive's 2026 Annual Report here
Speaking at the Palumbo Soccer Academy in Putnam Valley, Byrne framed his administration’s progress around three guiding principles — affordability, accountability and accessibility — calling them “the foundation of everything we do.”
Byrne emphasized affordability, highlighting what he described as the “largest property tax cut in county history.” In partnership with the County Legislature, Byrne said the county reduced the property tax levy by $1 million this year, lowering the rate to $2.39 per $1,000 of assessed value — the lowest in nearly 20 years.
Since taking office, Byrne said, the county has delivered more than $10 million in tax relief through property tax cuts and sales tax exemptions, including eliminating the county portion of sales tax on clothing and footwear under $110.
Byrne said those reductions were made possible by aggressive debt repayment and disciplined budgeting. Byrne said long-term debt, which stood at more than $51 million when he took office, is projected to drop to $21.6 million by year’s end — a 58 percent reduction. The county has also maintained a strong fund balance and preserved its Aa1 bond rating from Moody's, he added.
Byrne also pointed to a new sales tax revenue-sharing agreement with all nine towns and villages, preserving the county’s sales tax rate and creating $2.3 million in new revenue sharing for municipalities.
Addressing rising costs for older residents, Byrne announced an expansion of the county’s senior property tax exemption. The maximum exemption for eligible seniors will increase from 50 to 65 percent of a home’s assessed value, a move he said will help residents on fixed incomes remain in their homes.
“Affordability isn’t just about budgets and balance sheets,” Byrne said. “It’s about making sure the people who built our communities can stay here.”
Byrne highlighted the September opening of the Putnam County Early Learning Center in Patterson, which provides preschool and specialized services for children with developmental and intellectual disabilities under one roof. He said the move reduced the need for costly out-of-county transportation that had exceeded $1 million annually.
Byrne also touted the county’s Community Paramedicine Initiative, described as the first countywide program of its kind in New York. The program allows paramedics to conduct home visits for preventive care and post-discharge follow-ups, reducing unnecessary 911 calls and emergency room visits.
“That is accessibility in action,” Byrne said.
The county’s new Putnam On-Demand micro-transit system replaced an underused fixed-route bus with app- or phone-based, door-to-door service connecting residents to jobs, medical appointments and Metro-North. Ridership is growing monthly, Byrne said, and a countywide transit study is underway to explore expansion to underserved areas such as Putnam Valley and Philipstown.
In another milestone, all nine towns and villages entered into a Public Works Shared Services Inter-Municipal Agreement with the county, allowing municipalities to share equipment and personnel to reduce duplication and costs.
Among infrastructure projects, Byrne cited completion of the Peekskill Hollow Road project and the Sprout Brook Road Bridge, as well as continued work on the Fair Street reconstruction in Carmel. With those projects, he said, Putnam now has zero red-flag bridges.
Public safety remains a priority, Byrne said, noting an executive order that would enhance security on the Putnam County Trailway, and 115 investigations opened in 2025 by the District Attorney’s Office, many involving financial crimes.
“Public safety is not a slogan here. It is a commitment,” he said.
Byrne underscored efforts to make government more transparent, citing more than 40 public forums over three years, livestreamed public hearings on proposed local laws and his voluntary publication of financial disclosure statements online.
Looking ahead, he previewed events tied to America’s 250th anniversary, including a June 6 Revolutionary War reenactment at Veterans Memorial Park in Carmel, calling them investments in tourism, economic development and civic pride.
“The state of our county is not measured only in budgets and projects,” Byrne said, “but in families who can afford to stay, seniors who can age in place and children with new opportunities. We are the county where the country begins. And the best chapters of our story have yet to be written.”
Video of State of the County address is available putnamcountyny.gov/sotc2026.
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