Orange County Executive Neuhaus Celebrates Financial Advancements in Annual Address
He credited much of this fiscal success to his pro-economic development policies, which he claims have attracted new businesses, generated jobs, and stimulated local spending.
“When our businesses succeed, and our community thrives, they can afford to pay for services, leading to increased sales tax, which allows us to offer property tax relief,” Neuhaus stated to an audience at the county emergency services building in Goshen.
Over the past decade, he mentioned that the county’s tax base has expanded by 80 percent, with sales tax—the largest source of county revenue—rising by more than 50%.
Enhanced financial conditions have also resulted in a $58 million reduction in county debt, with the unrestricted fund balance—surplus funds free of stipulations—more than tripling over Neuhaus’s tenure.
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With the unpredictability of federal funding, maintaining strong local finances enables the county to fill gaps left by the federal government, he noted.
“Since January, I’ve met with nonprofits to ensure that, if federal or state funds are reduced, the county will step in to sustain those services for our residents,” he remarked.
However, Neuhaus cautioned that the financial outlook isn’t entirely positive, as there are challenges ahead, including the global economy, state budget disputes, and federal tariffs.
Looking ahead to 2025, Neuhaus expressed his intention to initiate key projects, such as potentially acquiring the Sugar Loaf Performing Arts Center as a county venue, transforming the old Chester High School building into a high-tech training center, and launching a critical infrastructure mapping project to support active shooter responses.
