While the County Executive makes requests in the budget, it is the Putnam County Legislature that oversees and approves how the money is allocated. The County Budget is set to be over $200 Million.

Once the budget is set, through committee meetings and full legislature meetings, the County Legislature then approves or denies various budgetary transfers or requests.

It is my job to ensure the budget is allocating tax payer dollars in a responsible way, making sure county government is giving tax payers bang for their buck, and keeping those dollars local whenever possible, something I have already been doing, on record, in the legislature itself.

This is done through the confirmation of appointments to lead the various county departments such as Department of Public Works, Law, Health, Planning, etc.

These men and women carry out the mission of the tax payers, ensuring they provide the best services and take great care of the tax payer dollars they are allocated to spend in the budget.

It is the job of the legislature to not only ensure these men and women are qualified, but are using tax payer dollars efficiently and responsibly. As a legislator,

I will take this responsibility seriously. I have great relationships with many of the department heads and have spent considerable time learning their responsibilities and where tax payer dollars are going.

A County Legislator has the ability to enact, amend or rescind county laws, charter laws, and resolutions.

It is my belief that these should be in direct service for the people, and not to inhibit their civil liberties in any way.

That is why I am on record advocating for Public Speaking rights, Government Transparency, and protection of our local farmers and ranchers.

Each County Legislator represents one of the nine districts in Putnam County. This is crucial. In every form of American Government, the legislature or congress serves as the direct line to the people.

It is why in the US Constitution the very first Article, Article One, is about Congress. Article Two is for the executive AND how the congress, as the representatives of the people, place a check on executive power.

Representing District 5 is a special privilege. Of all the elected seats that touch the Town of Carmel, District 5 County Legislator is the ONLY one that focuses on Carmel Hamlet and NOT Mahopac.

Currently, every elected town-level representative in Carmel lives in Mahopac. The Hamlet has no representation in Town government. That is why District 5 is special and gives the Hamlet true representation in government.

That Legislator should live here, pay taxes here and have roots here, and I am proud to say that I do: whether as a former Carmel High School Football Coach, former Carmel High School Lacrosse Coach, Carmel Hamlet Homeowner and Property Tax Payer, and a Husband and Father who has chosen to raise his family here.

Lake Carmel and Carmel Hamlet go hand in hand. We’re all neighbors who rarely make a distinction where one ends and the other begins on rt. 52. We use the same banks, the same grocery stores, the same schools. The District 5 Legislator should be an active part of that, and I am proud to say that I am.

This is a job for the Executive Branch of County Government. The County Executive, and the departments he oversees, administer and oversee their programs.

Whether it is construction, such as Fair Street, or things like health programs, a County Legislator cannot directly oversee those projects, regardless of how much experience they have in a certain field.

For example, having experience in construction as a County Legislator would not give you the power to directly oversee construction projects being done by the Department of Public Works. They report directly to the county executive only.

While a County Legislator can provide oversight through committee meetings and receiving informational reports, they cannot under any circumstance direct a department head on how they perform their job.

County Legislators DO have the power to levy taxes. They DO NOT have that power over anything other than County specific taxes.

Our Property Taxes are divided up into three (or more) main categories: School, Town, County. The County portion of our property taxes makes up the smallest amount of total property taxes, by far (typically around 9-12%).

School taxes are by far the largest, and make up typically between 70-80% of property taxes and are under the sole jurisdiction of elected school boards and administration.

Town taxes make up the rest, and varies based on if you live in a fire district, a water district, etc. For example, I personally live in Carmel’s Water District #2.

This IS where a county legislator can make a difference. I am on record, directly in the county legislature over four times, proudly advocating for excess County sales tax revenue to be sent back to the towns and local governments to ease the tax burden placed on residents due to massive infrastructure improvement.

I will also pledge to advocate for a grant program for local municipalities to make direct requests to the County Legislature, like they do from Albany, to help ease property tax burdens at the town level, for infrastructure purposes.

County Legislators have exactly zero impact on Albany lawmakers ability to hold their seats. They vote for them just like the rest of us do: as private citizens. County Legislators have zero jurisdiction over Albany.

This is also true of OTHER County or town Government. As of this moment, eight of the nine seats on the county legislature are held by Republicans, the County Executive is a Republican, the County Attorney is a Conservative, the Sheriff is a Republican. They can’t agree on anything.

On top of that, six of the nine Town Supervisors and Village Mayors are Republicans.

County Legislators have no jurisdiction over any of these positions and solely represent their district at the county level in the duties outlined in the above section. Nothing more, nothing less.