Michael Polasek

Voted for a county law limiting hazardous pollution sources near public water supplies, aquifers and wetlands (Local Law No. 2 of 2024). It passed 23-0.

September 9, 2024Supports Environment and Public Health

Source: dutchessny.gov

Seconded the motion to override the County Executive's veto of three District Attorney's office positions in the 2026 budget. The override passed 24-1.

December 17, 2025Opposes Government Spending Reduction

Source: dutchessny.gov

Voted against a Democratic budget amendment to add $750,000 from county reserves to the county's emergency response program. It failed 9-15.

December 8, 2025Supports Government Spending Reduction

Source: dutchessny.gov

Voted for the county's 2026 budget, which passed 15-9.

December 8, 2025Opposes Government Spending Reduction

Source: dutchessny.gov

Voted to accept a state homeless housing grant of about $13 million and to spend $1.1 million designing a transitional housing center at 26 Oakley Street in Poughkeepsie. It passed 14-10.

August 12, 2024Opposes Government Spending Reduction

Source: dutchessny.gov

Voted against overriding the County Executive's vetoes of three small 2024 budget additions: $20,000 for the Human Rights Commission, a youth recovery coach job, and $25,000 for the Path to Promise program. All three vetoes stood, 10-13.

December 18, 2023Supports Government Spending Reduction

Source: dutchessny.gov

As budget committee chair, defended a 2024 budget change raising county legislators' pay 68 percent, from $16,391 to $27,500 a year. The committee approved it.

November 16, 2023Opposes Government Spending Reduction

Source: midhudsonnews.com

As budget committee chair, said his analysis showed that paying cash for $25 million in Dutchess Stadium upgrades would save taxpayers $11 million in bond interest. The Legislature moved the $25 million from reserves, 17-6.

December 8, 2022Opposes Government Spending Reduction

Source: midhudsonnews.com

Voted to spend $3.1 million in federal pandemic relief funds to buy and plan renovations for 26 Oakley Street in Poughkeepsie as emergency housing for homeless people. It passed 16-8.

May 9, 2022Opposes Government Spending Reduction

Source: dutchessny.gov

Co-sponsored and voted for a plan spending federal pandemic relief money on county projects, including nonprofit grants and Dutchess Stadium improvements. It passed 15-10. He voted against a rival plan to move the stadium money to rural broadband and town water and sewer projects.

June 14, 2021Opposes Government Spending Reduction

Source: dutchessny.gov

Seconded the motion to override the County Executive's veto of three District Attorney's office positions in the 2026 budget. The override passed 24-1.

December 17, 2025Supports Public Safety and Crime Control

Source: dutchessny.gov

On the budget committee, voted against delaying a vote on the city-county settlement that allows a homeless shelter at 26 Oakley Street in Poughkeepsie. Democrats postponed it to September.

July 23, 2026Supports Social Programs and Welfare

Source: midhudsonnews.com

Voted to accept a state homeless housing grant of about $13 million and to spend $1.1 million designing a transitional housing center at 26 Oakley Street in Poughkeepsie. It passed 14-10.

August 12, 2024Supports Social Programs and Welfare

Source: dutchessny.gov

Voted to spend $3.1 million in federal pandemic relief funds to buy and plan renovations for 26 Oakley Street in Poughkeepsie as emergency housing for homeless people. It passed 16-8.

May 9, 2022Supports Social Programs and Welfare

Source: dutchessny.gov

Voted against creating a standing Legislature committee on artificial intelligence and technology oversight. It passed 16-8.

May 11, 2026

Source: dutchessny.gov

Pushed for the Legislature to back state bills for a one-year tax holiday on utility bills. The Legislature chair refused to put the resolution on the May agenda.

May 5, 2026

Source: midhudsonnews.com

Voted against a resolution urging the state to pass the MELT Act, a bill requiring law officers, including federal immigration agents, to wear visible identification. The resolution passed 13-9.

April 13, 2026

Source: dutchessny.gov

Spoke and voted against new Legislature rules that dropped a two-thirds vote requirement tied to budget matters, saying the rule protected the budget process. The rules passed 15-10.

February 9, 2026

Source: dutchessny.gov

As Minority Leader, spoke against appointing a new counsel to the Legislature, arguing it broke the County Charter, and moved to table it. The motion failed 10-15.

January 5, 2026

Source: dutchessny.gov

Offered a 2026 budget amendment to keep the county sales tax exemption on clothing and footwear under $110, using about $5.4 million from reserves instead. The budget committee approved it unanimously.

November 19, 2025

Source: midhudsonnews.com

Co-sponsored a resolution that set aside $100,000 for a county lawsuit against the state law moving county elections to even-numbered years. It passed 14-7.

April 8, 2024

Source: dutchessny.gov

Voted for the county's Local Solid Waste Management Plan after voting against a motion to delay it. The plan passed 17-7.

September 11, 2023

Source: dutchessny.gov

Co-sponsored and voted for a county charter change cutting the Legislature from 25 to 21 members. It passed 15-10, but voters rejected it in a referendum on November 2, 2021.

July 12, 2021

Source: dutchessny.gov

Voted against adding industrial development agency board members and other officials to the county list of people who must file yearly financial disclosure statements. The change failed 9-16.

December 3, 2020

Source: dutchessny.gov