Putnam Legislature conducts hearing on proposed county budget

CARMEL Putnam County Executive Kevin Byrne’s proposed $229 million budget for next year, a fiscal spending plan that would reduce the property tax levy from $45.2 million to $38.7 million, or $6.5 million, a reduction of more than 14 percent, was the subject of a public hearing Monday evening before members of the county legislature. For the past two and one-half weeks, the nine-member governing body has been reviewing the fiscal spending plan, line by line, and on Wednesday is expected to adopt the budget following a special meeting. During the hearing attended by seven of the lawmakers, Legislators William Gouldman of Putnam Valley and Erin Lee Crowley of Mahopac were absent, 10 residents addressed the body of elected officials. Requests focused on after-school activities for children and the Depot Theater in Garrison.  Cathy Percacciolo, a four-decade long employee of the Putnam Health Department, called on the lawmakers to fully fund the Supervising Public Health Nurse position.