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CARMEL, NY – Putnam County Executive Kevin Byrne was joined today by state and local elected officials outside the County Office Building in Carmel to announce that plans are in place to begin distributing a portion of the county’s sales-tax revenue with Putnam’s six towns and three villages.

On August 7^th, Governor Hochul signed legislation that was introduced and passed by the county’s delegation to the State Legislature, extending Putnam County’s existing sales-tax rate into law. To ensure compliance with the new law, Intermunicipal Agreements (IMAs) – essentially a cooperative contract between local governments – were sent to each town supervisor and village mayor on September 24. According to the terms of the historic agreement approved by the Putnam County legislature and executive in May, one-ninth of the revenue generated from the 1% sales-tax extension will be distributed beginning December 1 over the life of the extension until November 30, 2027, when it would have to be renewed again.

The sales-tax compromise presented earlier this year also came with a commitment from County Executive Byrne to leverage a portion of the County’s share of the sales tax revenue to cut the County property tax levy by $1 million and deliver the largest property-tax cut in county history. This and other details about the sales tax legislation, including what each local municipality is projected to receive next year, are expected to be detailed at this press conference and during Byrne’s Budget Address to the Putnam County Legislature on Wednesday, October 1^st.

“This administration has done more in the last three years to make Putnam County more affordable than any prior, but we couldn’t have done it alone,” said Byrne. “The success of the historic deal struck to distribute a portion of county sales-tax revenue will be remembered as a collaborative partnership among all levels of representative government – federal, state, and local – in order to provide tax relief where it matters while simultaneously doing more to support our local municipalities with the resources they need to make improvements to essential projects like roads, sidewalks, bridges, water systems, and more. In addition, we are poised to cut county taxes even more. We’ve laid out a vision for a better, more affordable, more transparent local government that serves the needs of everyday residents. I’m grateful to all our state and federal representatives and am happy to see our towns and villages standing shoulder to shoulder with us in this mission to improve Putnam County, together.”

Senator Peter Harckham said, “This law is a great example of government working together. The County brought us an idea, and we were able to turn it into action. By sharing this revenue, we’re providing vital funding for critical local needs without placing an unfair burden on taxpayers, while also addressing the serious budget challenges facing our counties and municipalities. Thank you to my colleague Assemblymember Slater for his help in making this possible.”

Senator Rob Rolison said, “This historic agreement is a win for Putnam County families, taxpayers, and communities. By extending the sales tax and ensuring that revenue is shared with our towns and villages, we are strengthening local government and providing critical resources for essential services that residents rely on every day. This cooperative approach ensures fairness and transparency while helping to ease the burden on local property taxpayers. I’m proud to have worked with my colleagues in the Legislature, the County Executive, and local leaders to make this happen, and I look forward to seeing these dollars put to work improving quality of life across Putnam County.”

Assemblymember Matt Slater said, “We get things done in Putnam County because we work together for the betterment of the people we represent, with the underlying goal of every decision being to uplift our local communities. This historic agreement is the result of true collaboration. I couldn’t be prouder of our local Putnam County leaders, our state delegation and, of course, County Executive Kevin Byrne for spearheading this effort. I look forward to seeing the positive impact this partnership will have on taxpayers and our communities for years to come.”

Assemblymember Dana Levenberg said, “I am so pleased to see Putnam County begin sharing its tax revenues with its municipalities. The Philipstown area that I represent generates a lot of this revenue through tourism, which can cause some challenges along with the benefits it brings. My constituents and their leaders at the local and county level have been very keen to see some of this money returned to them. This was one of the first issues that was brought to me when I took office in 2023, and I am proud that we were all able to work together to get this agreement done."