Dutchess County Executive Marcus Molinaro amplified via his Instagram that the county has decided to shift federal American Rescue Plan (ARP) funds away from the planned minimum of $11.6 million that was dedicated for a renovation to Dutchess Stadium, as reported by Times Union and Daily Freeman. Instead, the county changed its focus to allocate $9.5 million for housing, as reported by Times Union after an announcement by Dutchess County Executive Marc Molinaro at a recent county legislature meeting.

The Highlands Current pointed out that using federal funds from ARP money for a stadium upgrade had grouped Dutchess County into a New York Times story highlighting projects that were being criticized for use of the federal funds.

The County Executive received pushback from the allocation of the funds towards tourism instead of the current housing crisis in the Hudson Valley.

The Times Union reported that “Dutchess County Comptroller Robin Lois released an audit scrutinizing the county’s plan, finding ‘investment in water, sewer and broadband infrastructure surprisingly low at $1.7 million, particularly compared to the stadium spending.’”

In the article, Dutchess County Minority Leader Yvette Valdés Smith (D-Fishkill) told the Times Union: "This should have been the case from the get-go. Our county needs so much assistance. Our housing market has really boomed, but it has really hit us hard as communities. There are a lot of renters in my own district … trying to buy their first home and simply cannot. Prices have really gone up.”

Dutchess County has received $57 million in federal ARP funds.

Dutchess County announced today that $3.1 million will be spent on an Emergency Housing facility with wrap around services for guests.