The Putnam County Legislature adopted the county's 2025 budget on Oct. 29, 2024, approving appropriations that include salary upgrades for county nurses, a new criminal investigator position in the sheriff's office and a series of departmental cost-of-living adjustments. Lawmakers also moved a planned arts-council contribution into subcontingency for later release.

The budget resolution, which takes effect Jan. 1, 2025, was approved by the legislature after roll-call votes. Chairperson Young thanked the county auditor and finance staff during final remarks: "Our auditor Michelle Sharkey and her staff, Commissioner Mike Lewis, thank you for your hard work." The approved package does not change the county tax levy or tax rate, according to the legislature's motion adopting the budget.

Why it matters: The package shifts dollars to address staff shortages in public health and adds personnel for public safety, changes that officials said are necessary to maintain services. At the same time, the decision to place the arts-council contribution in subcontingency drew sustained debate among legislators and will delay release of that funding until further review.

Key approvals and debate
- Nursing salaries: The legislature approved moving $70,560 into the budget for the health department to raise a supervising public health nurse salary and upgrade nurse pay across the department. A supervising senior nurse told the legislature the department currently had multiple vacancies and that failing to raise pay could force program cuts. Lawmakers said the change was intended to improve recruitment.

- Sheriff’s office staffing and pay: The legislature approved restoring a deputy sheriff criminal investigator position with an associated budget figure of $187,300 and approved a separate pay-differential adjustment for captains, correction captains, lieutenants and the undersheriff totaling $63,310. Several legislators cited recent incidents and rising investigative needs as justification for increased staffing.

- Departmental COLA and miscellaneous salary adjustments: The body approved multiple 2.75% cost-of-living adjustments moved out of subcontingency for county employees and for positions in county departments including the county clerk, sheriff, legislature and others. Several confidential-secretary and administrative assistant salary adjustments were approved after discussion.

- Arts council funding moved to subcontingency: A proposed county contribution for the county arts council (listed on the agenda at $13,993) was moved into subcontingency so the council would receive the funds at a later date subject to follow-up. A separate motion to restore a larger $15,000 allocation to the regular budget failed on a roll call after extended debate about committee comments and grant oversight. Legislators who defended the arts council said its grant and receipt records were appropriate and urged colleagues to restore funding later; others favored delay pending further review.

- Law department salary amendment failed: A motion to add $5,000 back to a senior deputy county attorney's proposed salary adjustment was defeated. Multiple legislators framed the vote as a response to questions over whether the merit increase was justified.

Other procedural items
- Offset and technical changes: The legislature voted to increase the sales-tax revenue estimate (by roughly $269,718 as presented) and to reduce the general contingency by $275,000 to balance the changes made during the special meeting. Lawmakers stated there would be no change to the county tax levy or tax rate as a result.

- Creation/placement of public information officer funding for the sheriff: Legislators approved placing funding for a sheriff’s public information officer into subcontingency with the expectation the sheriff's office can request release next year if needed.

What remained contested: Debate was most heated over the motion to restore arts-council funding and the proposed law-department raise; both drew multiple rounds of argument about process, prior committee comments and whether the county executive had adequately negotiated contracts. Several legislators explicitly argued against restoring the art-council money immediately; others pressed for prompt restoration once clarifying steps were taken.

Votes at a glance
- Resolution adopting 2025 budget (agenda items 7a/7b): Approved (roll call; motion carries).
- Offset changes to revenue/contingency (agenda item 6): Approved (increase sales-tax estimate; decrease general contingency; no change to levy/rate).
- Health department nurse salary upgrades ($70,560; move out of subcontingency): Approved.
- Deputy sheriff criminal investigator position (restore; $187,300): Approved.
- Sheriff pay differential for captains/lieutenants/undersheriff ($63,310): Approved.
- Senior deputy county attorney $5,000 salary add-back: Motion to restore failed (vote failed).
- Putnam County arts-council county contribution ($13,993): Moved to subcontingency for later release; motion to restore $15,000 to regular budget failed.
- Sheriff public information officer funding placed in subcontingency: Approved.

What’s next: Several items placed in subcontingency — notably the arts-council contribution and funding for a sheriff public information officer — require follow-up before funds are released. The legislature noted outstanding contract negotiations with county unions (CSEA and PSC/CSA) remained unresolved and that some pay adjustments were deferred pending settlements.