The Gist
Putnam County Executive

Brett Yarris

Candidate for Putnam County Executive

Democratic, Working Families, For the People

Background

Campaign website
yarrisforputnam.com

Yarris is a former special education teacher and business owner who co-founded The Behavior Movement and founded Football Behavior; he is vice chair and treasurer of the Putnam County Soil and Water Conservation District Board. He lost a 2025 race for the Putnam County Legislature's District 5 seat.

Report

Documented positions

Taxes & budget

  • Proposes spending down excess county fund balance on priorities

    Calls the county's reserves "Tax and Hoard budgeting" and would use the excess above a 10-12% reserve for items such as the college, trade school and infrastructure.

    Brett's Policies: The Putnam Possible Project

    Campaign website · Yarris for Putnam · yarrisforputnam.com

    “As County Executive, I will end Tax and Hoard budgeting and invest responsibly in the people and communities of Putnam County.”
    Report

  • Proposes zero-based budgeting for county departments

    Brett's Policies: The Putnam Possible Project

    Campaign website · Yarris for Putnam · yarrisforputnam.com

    “I will implement a zero-based budgeting philosophy”
    Report

Public safety

  • Proposes a shared county police training center

    Brett's Policies: The Putnam Possible Project

    Campaign website · Yarris for Putnam · yarrisforputnam.com

    “Putnam needs a shared training center right here in Putnam for firearms qualification, tactical training, and ongoing certification.”
    Report

Education

Housing

  • Supports accessory dwelling units, workforce and senior housing

    Brett's Policies: The Putnam Possible Project

    Campaign website · Yarris for Putnam · yarrisforputnam.com

    “including smart deregulation, expanded accessory dwelling units, workforce housing, senior housing, mixed-use development”
    Report

Economy & jobs

  • Proposes a county trade school tied to local jobs

    Brett's Policies: The Putnam Possible Project

    Campaign website · Yarris for Putnam · yarrisforputnam.com

    “Putnam County needs a trade school because our future depends on more than four-year degrees.”
    Report

Government & transparency

  • Pledges to raise sales tax sharing with towns and villages

    Would also distribute the shared revenue based more on where it is generated rather than by population.

    Brett's Policies: The Putnam Possible Project

    Campaign website · Yarris for Putnam · yarrisforputnam.com

    “As County Executive, I will increase the rate of sales tax sharing”
    Report

Other issues in this race

Other candidates in this race addressed these topics. We found no documented position from Brett Yarris on them.

  • Roads & infrastructureNo documented position found.
  • Health & human servicesNo documented position found.

All sources (5)

Positions are summarized from the sources listed and are not inferred from party affiliation. Items marked “Provided by” were published by the candidate's verified campaign or party office under our campaign content standards. See something wrong? Use the Report link beside it, or contact us.