Orange County Legislature approves sales tax home‑rule request, transit grant applications and a slate of capital bond actions

The Orange County Legislature on June 5 voted on a package of fiscal and capital actions, including a home‑rule request to extend an existing three‑quarters‑of‑one‑percent sales tax, authorizations to apply for Federal Transit Administration grants and approval of multiple county bond resolutions for facility and infrastructure work.

Legislators approved a home‑rule request to the New York State Legislature to extend the current 0.75% sales tax increase under S.7630/A.7461. Majority Leader Benton told colleagues the measure “keeps our sales tax at the same level that it is now” and that without extension the county could face a countywide property tax increase because the sales‑tax revenue would lapse. The measure was approved on a roll call (17 ayes).

The Legislature also authorized the county executive to apply for Federal Transit Administration (FTA) funding and state and local matches to support contracting with Short Line Transit LLC for service and to purchase 10 cutaway buses. Resolutions to apply for FTA funds and to purchase buses were approved by roll call; the motion authorizing an FTA grant application for contracting with Short Line was carried unanimously, and the purchase authorization for 10 cutaway buses passed (roll calls recorded in the session).

In committee‑level and full‑chamber action, legislators assumed lead agency status under the State Environmental Quality Review Act (SEQRA) for the 2025 Orange County Comprehensive Plan update and set a public hearing on the plan for June 23, 2025. The Legislature also approved several bond resolutions and supplemental appropriations including: replacement of exterior perimeter doors at the county jail ($500,000 bond); dock, vehicle sally port and cell maintenance at the county jail ($575,000 bond); a water monitoring system at the Valley View facility ($215,170 bond); and a series of capital appropriations for Valley View (awareness, fire doors, hot water equipment and other facility improvements). These measures were approved by recorded votes or voice votes as noted in the minutes.

Legislators also approved municipal grant awards, fire advisory board appointments, and a number of personnel schedule changes and budget supplementals for departments including Health, Emergency Services and Public Works. Where roll calls were held, several measures recorded unanimous or strong bipartisan support; a notable tally for the municipal solid waste rate increase recorded 16 ayes and one abstention (chairman abstained).

Taken together, the actions clear the way for county capital projects and transit funding applications and send the sales tax extension request to Albany for legislative enactment. Specific contract awards, grant amounts and deployment schedules required by some resolutions will be handled by the county executive and implementing departments under the terms authorized by the Legislature.