Brett believes Putnam should stop managing decline and start leading growth.

He and his wife are raising their children in Carmel. Like so many parents, Brett wants his children to grow up in a county where they can see a future for themselves.

Brett Yarris and his wife are raising their children in Carmel.

Facebook

Brett serves on the Putnam County Soil and Water Conservation Board.

2026 New York General Election

We can do this without raising taxes. Putnam has allowed its unassigned fund balance to balloon far beyond what is needed for responsible reserves. By ending Tax and Hoard budgeting, using existing community college chargeback dollars more strategically, pursuing state and federal grants, and partnering with SUNY and regional institutions, we can build a Putnam Careers Campus that strengthens our economy and helps lower the pressure on property taxes over time by growing opportunity, jobs, and local revenue.

Brett's Policies — Yarris, For Us

The current County Executive has defended Tax and Hoard budgeting, where taxpayers are overcharged and the excess is allowed to pile up in an unassigned fund balance instead of being put to work for the people who paid it. As County Executive, I will end Tax and Hoard budgeting and invest responsibly in the people and communities of Putnam County. That means maintaining strong reserves while using excess taxpayer dollars for long-term priorities like community college, trade school, infrastructure, downtown revitalization, farmland protection, lake communities, and workforce development.

As artificial intelligence changes the economy, practical skills and hands-on technical careers will become even more important. Putnam should be preparing people for that future instead of watching opportunity move elsewhere. A Putnam trade school would restore and strengthen our blue-collar roots by connecting residents directly to jobs that are needed right here at home. We should partner with labor, local employers, BOCES, SUNY, regional businesses, and apprenticeship programs to create training pipelines that lead to real careers.

I supported sharing sales tax revenue with our towns and villages before the current County Executive finally came to the table. But when he did, he set the bar at the lowest percentage shared by any county in New York that shares sales tax with local municipalities. As County Executive, I will increase the rate of sales tax sharing and distribute it based more fairly on where the revenue is generated. Towns and villages that welcome business, support economic development, and help grow Putnam’s tax base should not be punished for doing so.

Putnam County needs a serious, line-by-line review of how taxpayer money is spent. For too long, county budgets have been built by starting with last year’s spending and adding more on top. As County Executive, I will implement a zero-based budgeting philosophy that requires every department, program, and expenditure to justify its purpose, cost, and results.

Proposes a Putnam Careers Campus using existing chargeback funds, grants, and institutional partnerships to expand jobs and local revenue without raising taxes.

Pledges to end "Tax and Hoard" budgeting while maintaining reserves and investing excess county funds in long-term priorities.

Advocates a Putnam trade school and partnerships with labor, employers, educational institutions, and apprenticeship programs to create local career-training pipelines.

Plans to increase sales-tax revenue sharing with towns and villages and allocate it more in accordance with where revenue is generated.

Plans to implement zero-based budgeting requiring every county department, program, and expenditure to justify its purpose, cost, and results.

- Proposes a Putnam Careers Campus using existing chargeback funds, grants, and institutional partnerships to expand jobs and local revenue without raising taxes.
- Pledges to end "Tax and Hoard" budgeting while maintaining reserves and investing excess county funds in long-term priorities.
- Advocates a Putnam trade school and partnerships with labor, employers, educational institutions, and apprenticeship programs to create local career-training pipelines.
- Plans to increase sales-tax revenue sharing with towns and villages and allocate it more in accordance with where revenue is generated.
- Plans to implement zero-based budgeting requiring every county department, program, and expenditure to justify its purpose, cost, and results.

Economy

We need to preserve them while strengthening the agribusiness and tourism they bring. We need vibrant Main Streets to make Putnam work for residents AND small businesses. We will thoughtfully and strategically partner with all levels of government to re-awaken our downtowns.

Yarris for Putnam

Calls for partnerships among governments to revitalize downtowns and support residents and small businesses.

- Calls for partnerships among governments to revitalize downtowns and support residents and small businesses.

Public Services

Putnam’s housing crisis cannot be solved with a one-size-fits-all approach. Each town and village has different infrastructure, character, downtowns, hamlets, and needs. As County Executive, I will work directly with local municipalities to support solutions that fit each community, including smart deregulation, expanded accessory dwelling units, workforce housing, senior housing, mixed-use development, and targeted incentives for projects that help people live near where they work.

Plans to partner with municipalities on locally tailored housing measures, including accessory dwelling units, workforce and senior housing, mixed-use development, and targeted incentives.

- Plans to partner with municipalities on locally tailored housing measures, including accessory dwelling units, workforce and senior housing, mixed-use development, and targeted incentives.

Housing & Urban Development

Meany: How would you respond to the county legislature's proposal to create a crisis stabilization center in Putnam County?

Yarris: Yes, I do support a crisis stabilization center here in Putnam County. The previous administration was able to secure $2.1 million to fund such a thing from the federal government. That was free money here. And unfortunately, this administration, due to inaction and indecision, forfeited that money. We did not get a crisis stabilization center.

Questions for Candidates: Putnam Executive – The Current

Investing in our first responders means faster response times, a dedicated training center right here at home, and a Sheriff's Department that can attract and retain great officers with the competitive compensation and modern resources they deserve. Putnam needs a shared training center right here in Putnam for firearms qualification, tactical training, and ongoing certification. Under a shared service agreement with local police departments across the county, our Sheriff's Office and every town PD, using the same responsible approach as the Putnam Careers Campus: funded through existing resources, not new taxes.

Supports establishing a crisis stabilization center in Putnam County.

Proposes a countywide shared law-enforcement training center for firearms qualification, tactical training, and ongoing certification using existing resources.

- Supports establishing a crisis stabilization center in Putnam County.
- Proposes a countywide shared law-enforcement training center for firearms qualification, tactical training, and ongoing certification using existing resources.

Public Safety

As of October 28, 2026, Brett Yarris’s website did not contain information on this issue.

Transportation & Infrastructure

I believe I’m the only person here who is a municipal leader who has actually written a resolution to make sure that we don’t put solar panels on our open farmlands by force and that we don’t put solar panels on our waterways. That said, I’ve always advocated for where solar panels belong — on parking lots and rooftops. And we have been maximized that opportunity and that’s something that we would explore doing under my leadership.

Putnam needs housing reform because too many young people, working families, seniors, municipal workers, first responders, teachers, and small business employees are being priced out. If we want to keep our children here, support our local businesses, and protect taxpayers, we need a broader housing strategy that respects local control while giving municipalities the tools, support, and county partnership they need to succeed. At the same time, protecting farmland, open spaces, watersheds, and lake communities is essential to preserving the character and environmental health of Putnam County. We can grow our local economy while protecting the land and water that make this county special.

As Vice Chair and Treasurer of the Putnam County Soil and Water Conservation District Board, I have worked directly on conservation, water quality, farmland protection, and responsible land use. I have also been willing to take on this administration when it mismanaged funds designed to support exactly this work. Putnam needs leadership that understands agriculture, respects farmers, protects lake communities, and makes sure conservation dollars are used for conservation results.

Advocates siting solar panels on parking lots and rooftops rather than open farmland or waterways.

Supports protecting farmland, open space, watersheds, and lake communities alongside local economic growth.

Calls for conservation dollars to be used for conservation results while protecting lake communities and supporting agriculture.

- Advocates siting solar panels on parking lots and rooftops rather than open farmland or waterways.
- Supports protecting farmland, open space, watersheds, and lake communities alongside local economic growth.
- Calls for conservation dollars to be used for conservation results while protecting lake communities and supporting agriculture.

Energy & the Environment

Instagram

YouTube

Brett Yarris

- Advocates a Putnam trade school and partnerships with labor, employers, educational institutions, and apprenticeship programs to create local career-training pipelines.
- Plans to increase sales-tax revenue sharing with towns and villages and allocate it more in accordance with where revenue is generated.
- Plans to implement zero-based budgeting requiring every county department, program, and expenditure to justify its purpose, cost, and results.

- Proposes a countywide shared law-enforcement training center for firearms qualification, tactical training, and ongoing certification using existing resources.

- Supports protecting farmland, open space, watersheds, and lake communities alongside local economic growth.
- Calls for conservation dollars to be used for conservation results while protecting lake communities and supporting agriculture.