By The Epoch Times | Created at 2026-10-04 16:22:02 | Updated at 2026-10-04 16:56:36
42 minutes ago
The Orange County Government Center in the Town of Goshen, N.Y., on Aug. 19, 2025. Oliver Mantyk/The Epoch Times
MIDDLETOWN, N.Y.—Orange County executive Steve Neuhaus presented his budget recommendation for 2027, revealing that the county will undergo its 11th consecutive year of property tax rate cuts.
Neuhaus spoke during an Orange County Association of Towns, Villages, and Cities meeting at the Erie Hotel in Port Jervis on Sept. 29 to a room full of town supervisors, county officials, and others about the $1.07 billion budget.
A key point was reducing the County Property Tax Rate—measured per $1,000 of assessed property value—from $2.013 to $1.945, a reduction of about 3.4 percent. For example, a property assessed at $400,000 would pay $778 per year in county taxes at the $1.945 rate.
In Orange County, however, property tax is not determined simply by multiplying a property’s market value by a fixed percentage. The combined annual property tax rate comprises city, county, and school costs, among other levies.
The county tax rate has dropped by 44.9 percent since 2014, when it was $3.88 per $1,000; adjusted for inflation, that is $5.56 today. Neuhaus says this is the lowest rate in the county since the 1960s.
The county’s property tax rate is paid annually.
Zillow reports the current average home price in Orange County is $468,342. The tax collection is based on assessed value rather than market value, and the two can differ. Assessed property values are available at the Orange County Real Property Tax Services Office.
The full value of properties assessed by the county has more than doubled since 2014, rising from $29.4 billion to $66.8 billion.
The total sales tax revenue is predicted to be $433.6 million, up from $412.3 million in 2026. Neuhaus plans to share $115.1 million with 43 municipalities.
Neuhaus said in a statement that his budget protects taxpayers, promotes economic growth, and invests in quality of life.
Denise Quinn, president of the Orange County Association of Towns, Villages, and Cities, supported the budget, saying in a statement that the executive’s commitment to lowering property tax rates and sharing sales tax revenue helps municipalities plan and deliver for their residents.
“A County budget that strengthens local services while maintaining long‑term fiscal stability is essential for our towns, villages, and cities,” Quinn said.
New issues Neuhaus cited include costs for SNAP benefits and the county jail. A federal change shifted more SNAP administration costs to states, and New York is passing those costs down to counties. The impact in the coming fiscal year will be $2.1 million, with a larger impact next October. The county is also projecting a $10 million revenue loss from the county jail.
Initiatives in the 2027 budget include the modernization of the 911 center; free CPR training (800 residents were certified last year); setting up more mental health satellite clinics in schools; adding three senior congregate dining sites; continued investment in the GoGo Grandparent senior ride platform; and paving 25 miles of county roads.
Democratic legislator Jonathan Redeker said in a social media post that he appreciated Neuhaus’s vision for the budget. He worried about the effects of broader national policy on the county’s finances in the coming years and whether raising the budget while reducing taxes is sustainable.
