Rising Putnam County Taxes a Big Fail Compared to Neighboring Counties
It is unreasonable and unconscionable that Putnam County property taxes may be increasing by 2.3 percent in 2022. In fact, there should be no increase at all.
Looking at neighboring counties illustrates this clearly.
Dutchess County’s property taxes are actually decreasing by 10 percent. In addition, sales tax on clothing and footwear (costing less than $110) will be eliminated. Those two factors should result in a savings of around $20 million for Dutchess County taxpayers. Lucky them.
Rockland County will have no property tax increase this year. Neither will our neighbor to the west, Orange County. And Westchester County Executive George Latimer is promising the same.
Better yet is Fairfield County, Conn., as they have the added bonus of no county government. None. But, of course, neither do any of the other counties in Connecticut. If only we could eliminate excessive government in New York.
And finally, to add insult to injury, all the aforementioned counties share sales tax with their municipalities. All except Putnam. To generate sales tax, our towns accommodate increased traffic and require more services yet still don’t get a piece of the sales tax pie. Just higher property taxes.
It’s time for Putnam to be fiscally responsible. At least three candidates running for the county legislature this year would not condone nor vote in favor of the 2.3 percent property tax increase, a refreshing change from consistently passed county budgets. If you’re in their district, please consider voting for Scott Reing, Stacy Dumont and Legislator Nancy Montgomery. Let’s break the chain of never-ending property tax increases.
We need innovation, we need hard work and we need to keep our taxes in check. Let’s get Putnam County back on track.
Lynne Eckardt
Brewster
Examiner Media – Keeping you informed with professionally-reported local news, features, and sports coverage.
