POUGHKEEPSIE – Fiscal responsibility and consumer confidence highlighted talks by regional county leaders at the annual President’s Breakfast of Pattern for Progress on Thursday.

Dutchess County Executive William Steinhaus, Orange County Executive Edward Diana, Sullivan County Legislature Chairman Jonathan Rouis and Ulster County Executive Michael Hein discussed ways to encourage businesses and individuals to have faith in their government, on all levels, that they will be cutting budgets and finding new ways to increase revenue- the same thing they expect their constituents to do.

"Times are tough right now," said Steinhaus.  But, he said local government must cut expenses even if it means to cut some services.

“Whether you are in Sullivan County or Orange or Ulster or Dutchess, you have people that are passionate about their leadership responsibilities,” he said. “We all know we have to have the same formula, and that’s to work with community groups, in coalitions, in consortiums, in partnerships and in teams with the private sector, the not-for-profit sector, because we all have the same mission.”

Earlier this year, Steinhaus announced they will be removing some LOOP bus routes in an effort to cut expenses; and has also denounced a resolution passed in the county legislature recently giving raises to community college educators, on the grounds that it is increasing expenses to county taxpayers.

In his remarks, Diana also encouraged fiscal conservatism. “Everybody is losing money, sales tax money, mortgage tax recording fees, so they are trying to say how do we balance these budgets without raising taxes,” he said. “You can’t raise taxes; people are stretched to the limits.

Jonathan Drapkin, president of Pattern for Progress, a regional economic think tank, was not surprised the 350 seats at the Poughkeepsie Grand Hotel's largest conference room filled so quickly.  "The people of the region know the issues, and they look toward their political leaders for answers. I think today's discussion brought some light on the subject of open government, and showed the people of the Hudson Valley that its leaders are working hard to keep the economy here strong."