Are 'shared services' the solution to budget woes?

NORTH EAST — The  North East Town Board briefly discussed a county-level letter at its workshop meeting held on Thursday, Nov. 5. Essentially, when the county recently expressed its desire to explore the concept of “shared servicesâ€� with municipalities it raised a red flag to members of the Dutchess County Supervisors & Mayors Association (DCSMA). The organization then sent its own response back to the county Legislature (as well as copies to local municipalities), stating it had already addressed the matter with Dutchess County Executive William Steinhaus.

“It should come of no surprise to any member of the Dutchess County Legislature that the members of the Dutchess County Supervisors and Mayors Association are against any proposal to pass the cost of revenue needed to support county departments down to the municipal budget and taxpayer,� the letter stated. “The concept of ‘shared services’ cannot be assigned to county services simply to justify the passing down of those costs.�

The group cited an example of county executives, in which the county’s Board of Elections grew from a $1 million operation in 2005 to a $4 million operation today, as proof that more controls must be put in place.

“The members of the DCSMA urge all members of the county Legislature to actively manage the county departments under their control,� the letter stated. “Municipal taxpayers cannot be expected to pay for any part of a county government that has experienced exponential spending growth unchecked.�

The letter emphasized the crux of the matter in the following paragraphs.

“The message from the DCSMA is a simple one; the county Legislature must manage the county’s departments, budget for them according to your own analysis and pay for them through the county’s taxing authority. You should raise, or refuse to raise county taxes through the application of that management,� it stated. “Do not pass the costs of county services down to the municipal taxpayer. The result of doing so will be higher municipal taxes, and higher out-of-pocket costs to taxpayers due to the imposition of county-sanctioned unfunded mandates.�

Latest News

Legal Notices - January 15, 2026

Legal Notices - January 15, 2026

NOTICE TO CREDITORS

ESTATE OF

Keep ReadingShow less

Classifieds - January 15, 2026

Classifieds - January 15, 2026

Help Wanted

TOWN OF FALLS VILLAGE PART-TIME RECREATION DIRECTOR: The Town of Falls Village seeks a part-time Recreation Director to plan and oversee community events, seasonal programs, and recreational activities for residents of all ages. Position requires strong organizational and leadership skills, ability to work independently, and collaboration with town staff, volunteers, and community partners. Must promote an inclusive and welcoming recreation environment and ensure compliance with town policies. Applicants with interest in the position are encouraged to apply, even if not meeting all qualifications. Salary: $12,387 annually. Apply by: January 16, 2026. Submit: Letter of interest and rto Melissa Lopes, recreation@canaanfallsvillage.org.

Services Offered

Héctor Pacay Landscaping and Construction LLC: Fully insured. Renovation, decking, painting; interior exterior, mowing lawn, garden, stone wall, patio, tree work, clean gutters, mowing fields. 845-636-3212.

Keep ReadingShow less

Severe flu season strains hospitals, schools, care facilities across the region

Severe flu season strains hospitals, schools, care facilities across the region

Dr. Mark Marshall, an internist at Sharon Hospital, said, “The statistics suggest it’s the worst flu season in 30 years.”

Photo by Bridget Starr Taylor

A severe and fast-moving flu season is straining health care systems on both sides of the state line, with Connecticut and New York reporting “very high” levels of respiratory illness activity.

Hospitals, schools and clinics are seeing a surge in influenza cases—a trend now being felt acutely across the Northwest Corner.

Keep ReadingShow less
health

Protesters in Salisbury call for justice, accountability

Protesters in Salisbury call for justice, accountability

Ed Sheehy and Tom Taylor of Copake, New York, and Karen and Wendy Erickson of Sheffield, Massachusetts, traveled to Salisbury on Saturday to voice their anger with the Trump administration.

By Alec Linden

SALISBURY — Impassioned residents of the Northwest Corner and adjacent regions in Massachusetts and New York took to the Memorial Green Saturday morning, Jan. 10, to protest the recent killing of Minneapolis resident Renee Nicole Good at the hands of a federal immigration agent.

Good, a 37-year-old mother of three, was shot at close range by an officer with Immigration and Customs Enforcement, commonly known as ICE, on Wednesday, Jan. 7. She and her wife were participating in a protest opposing the agency’s presence in a Minneapolis neighborhood at the time of the shooting. The incident sparked protests and vigils nationwide, both in remembrance of Good and in opposition to what demonstrators described as a broader pattern of government overreach.

Keep ReadingShow less
immigration