Orange County Executive Steven M. Neuhaus delivered his State of the County Address twice this year, first to a gathering at the Emergency Services Center auditorium in Goshen and then the following night to a meeting of the Orange County Chamber of Commerce that was held at Woodbury Common Premium Outlets.
“The state of our county is strong and I look forward to continuing to work hard for our residents,” Neuhaus said. “This is the most important thing. You want to give real relief to people? Poor people, rich people, companies, households? The average family has gotten an actual tax reduction, property tax reduction in their county taxes.”
Neuhaus also underscored that at the same time the county has been cutting the property tax it has been promoting business activity.
“Everyone matters, whether you talk about Legoland, you talk about the Newburgh Mall, which has now seen some activity with the casino … and there’s also Main Street, your local delis, your local hardware stores, your local restaurants,” Neuhaus said. “Every time we’re spending a dollar in the county and you’re paying sales tax it contributes not only to that big fund that we have there but it also contributes to what we don’t have to pay in property tax.”
Neuhaus reported that the county generated $381 million in sales tax in 2022, up from $292 million in 2018. He said that the county shared $100 million in sales tax revenue with municipalities in 2022. The county realized $6.3 million in hotel and motel taxes in 2022.
Neuhaus said that the county”™s unaudited fund balance was $206.7 million in 2022, dramatically higher than where the fund balance was in 2013 at $21.1 million.
Neuhaus said that the only thing that keeps him up at night is the threat of an active shooter situation. He said that he and other county leaders are immediately notified of every significant 911 call.
“Last November on Election Day, because schools were open but no students were there we did an active shooter drill where we simulated something happening in the school,” Neuhaus said. “We had first responders there, we had educators and faculties in schools, we also had videographers. I’m going to be releasing … a video that’s going to be in three different parts. One video is going to be for parents, one video is going to be for faculty and staff of schools, and one is going to be for emergency responders as a training tool of what you will see, what you can expect if God forbid you happen to be in one of these situations.”
Neuhaus said the county has been working with school districts to plan for family reunification centers that would be used in event of a significant event in which parents needed to be reunited with their children.
Neuhaus said that the county’s stepped-up promotions to attract tourists have been working, with an 89% increase in county tourism website traffic, a 39% increase in Facebook followers and a 19% increase in hotel and motel occupancy tax revenue.
Neuhaus pointed out in his April 19 and April 20 addresses that the county is doing a feasibility study to help determine whether to pursue the building of a conference center. A consultant was hired using a state grant of $55,000 along with county funds.
