Steinhaus: "devestating impact"

ALBANY – Technically the state budget must be adopted by midnight on March 31 and with that date right around the corner next Monday night, legislative leaders and the governor are burning the midnight oil trying to cut the deficit of some $ 4 billion.

Deep cuts on the state level could place the burden big-time on the counties, and that has Dutchess County Executive William Steinhaus concerned.

 “It’s going to impact families; health services for children. Negatively impact the services which we provide to our senior citizen population which are very much needed, and even things like highway maintenance for the county roads that people drive across every day. And, walk-in services for organizations in county government that do what we call retail services like motor vehicle bureaus, social services and others,” he said.

County executives from across the state were briefed late Thursday in a conference call with the New York State Association of Counties.

“The devastating impact of the state budget to Dutchess County property taxpayers could be far beyond what we had previously been told,” Steinhaus said.