Next year's proposed budget for Dutchess County is projected to be historic for its taxpayers.

Dutchess County Executive Marc Molinaro's proposed 2022 budget would cut the tax levy by $5 million and reduce county property taxes by 10% - said to be the largest in Dutchess history.

"There is no slight of hand. And this is not a political statement. When we do not need taxpayer money, we shouldn't take it. And when we can give it back, we ought to," he says.

His full plan for next year was presented inside Dutchess Community College's new Aviation Education Center.

"We will not reduce county services. We will provide nearly $20 million in tax relief, and we will not, do not appropriate any dollar of fund balance in order to balance this budget," he said.

On top of those big budget items, it would eliminate sales tax on clothes and shoes less than $110.

It would help those with mental health, substance use disorder, people with disabilities, veterans and seniors and county parks.

There's more money for the Dutchess County Sheriff's Office, a grant for volunteer fire departments and funds to build the youth opportunity center in Poughkeepsie, which used to be a YMCA.

The budget now waits for adoption by the county Legislature.