CARMEL, NY – Putnam County Executive Kevin Byrne today submitted his 2027 Executive Recommended Budget to the Putnam County Legislature, proposing a historic $6.5 million reduction in the County property-tax levy with no new borrowing as the centerpiece of a spending plan focused on affordability, fiscal responsibility and expanding successful County services.

The proposed $229,742,582 budget would reduce the property-tax levy from approximately $45.2 million to $38.7 million, a reduction of more than 14 percent in a single year. The proposed County property-tax rate would fall to approximately $2.04 per $1,000 of full value, marking the fourth consecutive Byrne budget to propose a lower County tax rate.

The $6.5 million figure is not arbitrary. Last year, the County Legislature appropriated $6.5 million, approved by County Executive Byrne, for a proposed taxpayer rebate program. However, to date, the Legislature has been unable to advance forward a legal mechanism to give those dollars back to residents in the form of rebate checks. Rather than asking taxpayers to continue waiting for a rebate program that has not materialized, Byrne is proposing providing the same amount of relief through a direct reduction in the County property-tax levy.

“The Legislature identified $6.5 million that they believed should go back to the taxpayers, and I agree with them,” said County Executive Kevin Byrne. “The problem is that nearly a year later, there still isn't a legal mechanism in place to send those rebate checks. So rather than make people wait, we're proposing something we know we can do because of the strong financial position we find ourselves in: collect $6.5 million less in property taxes next year.”

The $6.5 million reduction would be by far the largest property-tax levy cut in Putnam County history, eclipsing the previous $1 million tax cut adopted as part of the 2026 County Budget. The new proposed levy is also about $8 million less than the tax levy inherited when Byrne first took office as County Executive.

“Families are getting squeezed from every direction; utilities, groceries, housing, insurance and just about everything else costs more,” Byrne said. “County government cannot control all of those costs, but we can control how much we ask our taxpayers to send us. Putnam County is in a strong financial position, and I believe the responsible thing to do is leave more of that money where it belongs: in the pockets of the people who earned it.”

The proposed property-tax cut continues an affordability agenda Byrne has pursued since taking office.

During Byrne’s tenure, Putnam County has already delivered more than $10 million in tax relief through previous property-tax reductions and targeted sales-tax relief, in addition to savings provided through the County's temporary gas-tax suspension which is reflected in the 2027 budget as well. The 2026 budget included what was then the largest property-tax levy reduction in Putnam’s history and brought the County tax rate down to $2.39, its lowest level in nearly two decades.

With this new budget proposal, Byrne's cumulative tax relief would surpass $23 million over four budgets through property-tax levy reductions and targeted sales-tax cuts.

“When you cut a tax once, people save money once. When you consistently reduce the tax burden year after year, those savings begin to add up for families,” Byrne said. “This isn't about one budget or one headline. We've made affordability a priority from the beginning, and this budget takes that commitment further than ever before.”

The Executive Budget also accounts for Byrne's proposal to make Putnam County's popular sales-tax exemption on qualifying clothing and footwear purchases under $110 permanent. The exemption, first proposed by Byrne in 2023 and effective since March 2024, eliminates Putnam County's local sales tax on qualifying purchases whether made in stores or online. The current exemption is scheduled to expire in March 2027.

“Clothes and shoes aren't luxuries,” Byrne said. “Whether it's work boots, a winter coat or sneakers for your kids, these are things families have to buy. We've seen this tax cut work, and there's no reason Putnam County should go back to taxing those necessities.”

The 2027 Executive Budget provides for continued growth of the Putnam County Early Learning Center, which provides preschool and specialized services closer to home for Putnam children and families; continued funding for Putnam County's Community Paramedicine program, the first countywide program of its kind in New York State; and the planned expansion of Putnam On-Demand, the County's successful microtransit program, to additional communities.

The budget also continues Putnam County's commitment to sharing sales-tax revenue with its six towns and three villages. Sales tax revenue will continue to be shared to Putnam's local municipalities in 2027, continuing the revenue-sharing partnership established last year.

“We've rejected the idea that taxpayers have to choose between lower taxes and quality services,” Byrne said. “We're cutting the levy, continuing to invest in our infrastructure, sharing revenue with our towns and villages, and expanding essential programs that are producing real results. Responsible budgeting is what makes that possible.”

Byrne will formally present his 2027 Executive Budget and provide additional details and initiatives during his annual Budget Address before the Putnam County Legislature on Monday, October 5 at 7 p.m. at the Putnam County Historic Courthouse, 40 Gleneida Avenue in Carmel. All are welcome to attend, and the presentation will also be livestreamed by the County.

“The budget we're submitting today reflects the same principles that have guided our administration from the beginning: affordability, accountability and accessibility,” Byrne said. “There is much more to discuss, and I look forward to laying out our complete plan Monday evening.”