SERINO ENSURES BUDGET DELIVERS FOR 41st

SERINO ENSURES BUDGET DELIVERS FOR 41^st

ALBANY, NY— Senator Sue Serino (R, C, I—Hyde Park) proudly announced that the new State Budget for 2015-16 will include almost $5 million dollars in critical funding that will help hold the line on taxes in Dutchess County and support critical services for our some of our most vulnerable citizens.

“When we began budget negotiations, I made a promise to the residents of the 41^st District, that I would fight tirelessly to ensure that the State Budget delivered for our local communities,” said Senator Serino. “This funding will go a long way to ensure that our most vulnerable citizens have access to the services they need, while providing real, tangible improvements to our local communities, and direct assistance to local taxpayers."

 As a result of the multiple closures of local psychiatric facilities, Dutchess County has experienced a significant growth in its mental health populations. According to the County, the closures have resulted in their having disproportionately more deinstitutionalized mentally ill and developmentally disabled residents than almost any other county in the state.

This is especially significant when you consider that the closures have resulted in the loss of critical services and has had a serious impact on the local economy which has suffered due to the loss of jobs and local business. Further, the loss of the three psychiatric faculties, and in part related to those closures, the significant costs related to housing 450 inmates, of which more than 60% suffers from mental health issues, the Dutchess County taxpayers have experienced unique and significant hardships. The funding provided in the State Budget will have a direct impact on alleviating these burdened by providing $3.5 million to address the growth in the mental health populations and $1.4 million to fund criminal justice initiatives aimed at jail-based mental health programs.

“As someone who has lost a brother to mental illness, I understand wholeheartedly the importance of providing services to those who have critical and at times, life threatening needs. This funding will empower the County to strike a balance between providing those critical services and assisting the hardworking taxpayers in desperate need of relief,” Serino continued. “I am incredibly proud to have been a champion for this funding.”

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