Dutchess County Budget Falls Short on EMS Funding, Legislator Says

At a public meeting at the Pine Plains Free Library on Wednesday, Nov. 20, Dutchess County Executive Sue Serino presented the proposed 2025 executive budget to county and town officials as well as a small group of residents.

“This budget reflects our commitment to making Dutchess County safer, stronger and more vibrant for every single resident, by focusing on three critical priorities: safety, youth and community well-being,” Serino said.

The $627 million proposed executive budget includes investments such as $100,000 to expand the Sheriff’s Office initiatives like Project Lifesaver; $200,000 to establish a Real Time Crime Center; $700,000 for youth services under the Youth Opportunity Union initiative; and $1 million in state grants to combat lead exposure in housing. The proposed budget also includes $2 million for Emergency Medical Services (EMS).

“We are proud to make a $2 million investment in our Emergency Medical Services, which will include the launch of a supplemental ambulance coverage, public awareness campaign and initiatives to address the workforce shortage,” Serino said. 

She went on to explain that the county is currently negotiating with two separate ambulance providers and plans to assess the needs of municipalities on a quarterly basis in order to determine where supplemental ambulance services are in highest demand.

While praising elements of the budget such as funding for mental health resources and youth services, Legislator Chris Drago (D-19th District) told the Herald that the EMS allocation falls short. “This is not enough to address the crisis,” he said. “If a prior administration found $25 million to fund improvements to a minor league baseball stadium, surely we can come up with more money to get people to the hospital faster.”

Drago said that he intends to propose an amendment to increase EMS funding, citing the need to relieve the financial burden of municipalities and their taxpayers who have scrambled to fund costly emergency services.

North East Town Supervisor Christopher Kennan echoed Drago’s concerns about EMS. “This has been a big issue for us,” he said, highlighting the town’s difficulty in maintaining services amid escalating costs.

Kennan said that North East’s contract for Advanced Life Support with Northern Dutchess Paramedics was poised to rise sharply. “Our contract went from $376,000 in 2024 to $646,000 in 2025 — a 71% increase, which we’ve managed to reduce to 36%, but it’s still a lot, it’s huge,” he said. He added that EMS services will consume 13% of the town’s $4 million budget next year.

Despite the financial strain, Kennan stressed North East’s commitment to maintaining EMS coverage. “We are small, with less than one call a day, but we can’t allow our residents to go without services,” he said. “We welcome the help that the county can give us. We are looking for more.”

Overall, the proposed budget reflects a 3% increase over 2024, driven by grant-funded programs and state funding, while maintaining flat staffing levels. Property taxes will decrease by 4%, with a projected 2% rise in sales tax revenue. Serino highlighted these fiscal measures as evidence of the county’s strong financial health, which includes an AA+ credit rating and zero fiscal stress score.

The Dutchess County Legislature will review the proposed budget in December, with a final vote expected before the end of the year.