Orange County Hits Fiscal High Note in Annual Address
Commentary
Hey, Orange County! Last week, my staff and I put the finishing touches on the State of the County address, which I delivered on April 23. I'll start with that, but there's so much more going on around the county that I'm excited to share with you as well.
I delivered the State of the County address to a packed auditorium at the Emergency Services Center on April 23. The address highlighted the work of the county's departments, including Finance, Community Development, DPW, Parks, County Attorney, Human Resources, Tourism, Emergency Services, and many more.
I am so proud of my administration—from our great part-time and full-time county employees to department heads and deputies—for their continued dedication and hard work on behalf of Orange County residents. I am happy and proud to say that the Orange County government is a well-oiled machine, running efficiently and on all cylinders.
During my address, I spoke about the many positive developments in the county that protect taxpayer dollars and contribute to our positive fiscal ratings. We have continued to simultaneously reduce the county property tax rate, lower county debt, and share sales tax revenues with our municipalities. This combination keeps our financial rating as one of the highest in New York state, and, per the state's Comptroller's Office, our fiscal stress score remains at zero. Our unemployment rate is lower than those of both the federal and state governments, and our tax base continues to grow. We're moving full speed ahead in a positive direction!
Orange County Executive Steve Neuhaus delivers the State of the County address on April 23, 2025.
Courtesy of Rebecca Sheehan
If you missed it live, you're in luck—you can watch the full address on YouTube here:
Related Stories
4/29/2025
2/5/2025
In other news, it was a wonderful evening celebrating the world's most incredible scientists, pioneers, conservationists, astronauts, and more at the Annual Gala of The Explorers Club.
I had an amazing opportunity to meet and see some truly inspiring people. There's a distinct and special relationship that Orange County, the Orange County Land Trust, and our conservation partners locally share with The Explorers Club. The passion to explore and protect the environment is alive and well! Stay tuned, there's more to come regarding our conservation efforts.
Speaking of great encounters, I ran into Chef Robert Irvine, truly a full-circle moment! We first met six years ago in April 2019 in Iraq during his USO tour to support the troops. Fast forward to the present, we recreated our original photo, swapped challenge coins, and shared our continued appreciation for the armed forces. It's always inspiring to see celebrities take time to support those who serve. Great seeing you again, Chef!
Orange County Executive Steve Neuhaus with Chef Robert Irvine at West Point in New York.
Courtesy of Rebecca Sheehan
I also have some exciting news about the Maple Avenue School in Chester—it is now officially owned by Orange County. Many thanks to the Chester Union Free School District for working with us to make this happen. We have exciting plans for this building that will bring real benefits to our residents. Once again, I ask that you please stay tuned.
Switching gears to the international front, I'm thrilled to announce that Orange County has officially entered a sister city partnership with Kaohsiung City, Taiwan. This agreement will strengthen ties through smart city innovation, economic and tech collaboration, and cultural and educational exchange. As your county executive, I'm proud to build global connections that create new opportunities and growth for our county.
Another point of pride: At this year's New York State Information Technology Leadership Awards held recently in Albany, two outstanding members of the Orange County IT Department—Karen Norrell and William O'Connor—were honored for their leadership and contributions to technology. We are incredibly proud of their achievements and grateful for their dedication to serving our community. Congratulations, Karen and William!
And last but certainly not least, on April 24, we celebrated Administrative Professionals Day, where we honored the incredible individuals who keep the Orange County government running smoothly every single day. From Social Services to Mental Health, Health, Aging, Probation, and the Youth Bureau, and every great department in between, the hard work, dedication, and attention to detail of the county's administrative professionals are noticed and appreciated!
Enjoy the beautiful spring weather! I hope to see you soon, around the county!
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Bloomberg
29 minutes ago
- Bloomberg
US Dollar Weakens Amid Trade Talks
Comprehensive cross-platform coverage of the U.S. market close on Bloomberg Television, Bloomberg Radio, and YouTube with Romaine Bostick, Alix Steel, Scarlet Fu, Carol Massar and Tim Stenovec. (Source: Bloomberg)
Bloomberg
39 minutes ago
- Bloomberg
Robinhood Traders Playing S&P Index-Guessing Game Get Schooled
In the end, Robinhood Markets Inc. found itself caught in the same kind of trade its users favor: One driven more by speculation than certainty. Last week, traders were speculating Robinhood would be added to the S&P 500 as part of the index's quarterly rebalancing. Shares of the online brokerage climbed every day in anticipation, setting four consecutive all-time highs and gaining 13% across five sessions.
CBS News
44 minutes ago
- CBS News
How much will a $20,000 short-term CD earn if opened now?
We may receive commissions from some links to products on this page. Promotions are subject to availability and retailer terms. Savers could earn hundreds of dollars with a $20,000 short-term CD account if opened now. imageBROKER/gregor jeric A certificate of deposit (CD) account is a commitment. To earn interest on your money you'll need to commit to keeping the funds untouched in the account for the full CD term (or length). If you withdraw the money before the account has matured, you'll have to pay an early withdrawal penalty, potentially negating all or most of the interest earned on the account to date. Even with CD interest rates still comfortably above 4% now, some savers may be less inclined to earn that money if it requires sacrificing the access they've been accustomed to. With a short-term CD, however, that becomes less of a concern as it's easier to leave your money alone if you know you're going to regain access relatively quickly. And with short-term CDs ranging from three months to 12, that's exactly what savers will experience. This is especially advantageous for larger deposit amounts, as it won't involve giving up a lot of money for an extended period. And, right now, rates are generally higher on short-term CDs than long-term ones, a direct reversal from historic trends. Before opening an account, however, it helps to know what one could stand to earn with a large deposit amount like $20,000. So, how much will a $20,000 short-term CD earn if opened this June? Below, we'll do the math. Start earning more interest on your money with a high-rate CD here. How much will a $20,000 short-term CD earn if opened now? Savers will need a series of figures to precisely determine what they can earn with a $20,000 short-term CD that's opened now. But thanks to the fixed rate that CDs come with, this is easy to calculate, as they'll just need the initial deposit amount figure (in this case, $20,000), the rates available and the length of the term. Here, then, is what a $20,000 short-term could earn if opened now, calculated against available interest rates on the assumption that no fees or penalties are applied: 3-month CD at 4.40%: $216.46 for a total of $20,216.46 after three months $216.46 for a total of $20,216.46 after three months 6-month CD at 4.49%: $444.07 for a total of $20,444.07 after six months $444.07 for a total of $20,444.07 after six months 9-month CD at 4.31%: $643.08 for a total of $20,643.08 after nine months $643.08 for a total of $20,643.08 after nine months 1-year CD at 4.40%: $880.00 for a total of $20,880.00 after one years With hundreds of dollars to be earned by depositing this amount of money into a CD now, and market uncertainty making it difficult to otherwise predict the short-term future of your savings, it can be smart to open one of these short-term CD accounts now. Not only will you earn a sizable return on your money, but you'll also protect against any volatility to come in the weeks and months ahead, allowing your money to grow untouched by market conditions during the term. Get started with a short-term CD online today. What are my other savings account options? If you don't want to give up access to your money, even if it's just for a few months, that's understandable. But savers should be well-informed about their other savings account options before making a final decision. High-yield savings accounts, for example, are a popular alternative because they come with interest rates almost as high as CDs but with the same flexibility and access that traditional savings accounts have. The catch, however, is that rates here are variable and subject to change and potentially cool if the interest rate climate declines. So the rate you open the account with may not be the same one in a few weeks or months. The same caveat applies to money market accounts, too. A CD, however, will keep its rate for the full term, even if the market changes. Traditional savings accounts, meanwhile, have rates under 0.50% now, according to the FDIC, making them a poor place to keep your money, especially with rates on both high-yield savings and CD accounts exponentially higher. Learn more about yur high-yield savings account options here. The bottom line A $20,000 short-term CD could earn savers between $216 and $880 if opened this month and, potentially, even more if opened with an online bank. Since these banks don't have the maintenance costs that banks with physical locations do, they often pass on those savings to account holders in the form of higher rates. Be sure to shop around for rates and terms, then, before committing. Just don't wait too long either, as these rates are already on the decline and could fall further later this year.
