City Of Poughkeepsie Must Cut Debt, State Says

POUGHKEEPSIE, N.Y. – After reviewing Poughkeepsie’s 2017 budget at the request of Mayor Rob Rolison, the state Comptroller’s Office has told the city it must find a better way to reduce its $13.1 million deficit, according to a report by The Poughkeepsie Journal.

Poughkeepsie Mayor Rob Rolison asked the state Comptroller's Office to be a second pair of eyes on the city's 2017 budget. Both the mayor and the auditors agree that the city needs to come up with a longer-range, and tougher, deficit-reduction plan.
Photo Credit: *Skip Pearlman*

Carol Reif

02/16/2017 9:00 a.m.

The state found that the financially struggling city had only set aside $225,000 in the current spending plan – or less than 2 percent of the monies owed – for this purpose, The Poughkeepsie Journal story said.

At that rate, state auditors said, it would take the city more than 50 years to pay down the general fund deficit, according to The Poughkeepsie Journal report.

Finance commissioner Marc Nelson defended the city, saying it was the first time it had budgeted any funds for deficit reduction, and added that Rolison intends to work with the Common Council to come up with a tougher plan, The Poughkeepsie Journal reported.

Other issues addressed in the state review included retirement system payments and health insurance costs, The Poughkeepsie Journal said.

To read The Poughkeepsie Journal story, click here.

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