Putnam County approves year-end transfers, $255,000 911 grant and $650,000 dam repairs

Putnam County’s Audit & Administration Committee and the full Legislature finished 2024 on Dec. 19 by approving a slate of routine year-end transfers, grant awards and personnel-related budget moves.

Committee remarks said county revenues finished the year roughly on target. “We’re in great shape for 2024,” said an audit committee speaker, noting the county had met its sales-tax target for the year (the transcript’s stated total appears garbled; the committee characterized receipts as about $78 million). The committee reviewed monthly sales-tax and revenue reports, contingency balances and department overtime before forwarding items to the full Legislature.

Key approvals included several law-enforcement and emergency-services items. The committee moved a $62,769.89 incoming reimbursement to cover sheriff overtime and recommended a $150,000 use of federally seized assets to purchase firearm-related equipment. It also approved a $12,735.19 insurance recovery for sheriff vehicle repairs. The county accepted a New York State law-enforcement technology grant of $255,000 directed to the county’s 911 dispatch center for software and related purchases.

Emergency-services funding also included a State Homeland Security Program award described as roughly $152,575 (packet backup shows two revenue lines and an internal split); a county official noted that federal guidance requires at least 35% of those funds to be directed to terrorism-prevention activities.

The Department of Public Works presented an insurance recovery covering guardrail repairs on Crane Road in the amount of $5,303,117.16; the county credited its risk manager, Matt Bruno, with stewarding the claim. The audit committee and the Legislature approved the insurance reimbursement.

Health and human-services transfers were routine but sizable. The Legislature approved multiple Department of Social Services transfers to cover mandated or increased caseload costs (listed in committee as $299,500, $520,000 and $470,000). The health department received a transfer of $4,835 for reception staffing needs, and an $82,000 transfer for preschool administrative costs was approved. The county also accepted a $12,480 grant to support a Putnam County Suicide Prevention Task Force outreach team; staff told the committees the grant will be placed formally on the January reorganizational meeting agenda.

Personnel and labor items were also handled: a finance salary-and-benefits item tied to a PCSEA union contract settlement was held for the January organizational meeting because it affects the 2025 budget; training funds of $9,391 for a new children’s SPOA coordinator and a reclassification to create an IT operations assistant were forwarded for formal action at the organizational meeting.

On other business, the audit committee added and approved a change in funding source for a previously approved DPW capital maintenance project. Committee discussion said the project had already been approved in the 2024 capital plan but staff switched the funding source to sales-tax surplus after review; the committee subsequently moved a $650,000 allocation from sales tax revenue for repairs to county-owned dams. One legislator raised a technical concern that current Water Quality Improvement Program (WQIP) schedules have shifted and some past uses may not be approvable, and staff said they had researched the change and would proceed with the sales-tax funding.

Votes at a glance - Approval to forward sheriff overtime reimbursement ($62,769.89) to full Legislature: passed (committee voice vote). - DPW insurance recovery for Crane Road guardrail repairs ($5,303,117.16): forwarded and approved by committee and Legislature. - Sheriff vehicle-repair insurance recovery ($12,735.19): passed (committee vote). - Use of federally seized assets for firearm equipment ($150,000): passed (committee vote). - State Homeland Security Program grant (~$152,575): forwarded and approved (committee voice vote); federal guidance noted for 35% terrorism-preventive allocation. - NYS law-enforcement technology grant to 911 ($255,000): forwarded and approved. - DSS year-end transfers ($299,500; $520,000; $470,000): forwarded and approved. - E-911 dispatch overtime transfer ($43,000): added as other business and approved (signature-level action). - BES temporary staff funding ($3,100): approved (signature-level action). - Health reception area transfer ($4,835): signed at committee level. - Preschool administrative transfer ($82,000): forwarded and approved. - PCSEA-related finance item (salary/benefits): held for January organizational meeting (affects 2025 budget). - Reappointment of Dr. Daniel Doyle to Putnam County Board of Health (term to Dec. 31, 2029): approved by Legislature. - Local law setting 2025 salaries for certain elected officials: approved by roll call (one recorded no vote by Legislator Crowley). - DPW capital: transfer of $650,000 from sales tax revenue for county dam repairs: approved.

What this means Most items were routine, year‑end housekeeping: moving budgeted but unspent funds, applying incoming insurance or grant revenues to departmental needs, and placing contract‑related increases in the 2025 budget for the organizational meeting. The largest single item was the DPW insurance recovery for Crane Road and the $650,000 sales-tax funded transfer to dam repairs; together those carry the biggest dollar impact described at the meeting. A legislator’s question about the allowable uses of WQIP funds was noted and staff said they would confirm the change of funding source.

The county’s next procedural step is the January 7, 2025 reorganizational meeting, where several items affecting the 2025 budget (including the PCSEA-related salary and benefit adjustment) will be considered.

Quotes (representative) “We’re in great shape for 2024,” an Audit Committee speaker said when describing year-end sales-tax and revenue results. “At least 35% based on the federal guidelines, you have to give towards the sheriff’s department for terrorism preventive activities,” a county official said in reference to the homeland-security grant allocation split.

The Legislature adjourned after recognition of outgoing members and holiday remarks.