The newly proposed 2024 operating budget for Ulster County increases spending to $413 million, up from last year’s $381 million while holding property taxes steady, according to County Executive Jen Metzger.
“It is a budget that allocates resources where they are needed most, builds on the county’s strengths, and responsibly manages government finances to deliver for our residents and businesses,” Metzger said.
Of the new spending, $9 million comes from federal and state grants. An additional $17 million in new spending is mandated under programs such as Medicaid and a $5 million increase in non-mandated spending represents a boost of less than 1.4%, according to Metzger.
In her budget address, Metzger emphasized the importance of housing in Ulster.
“As we work to preserve and expand our housing stock, we must also improve access to emergency housing for those in need,” Metzger aid. “The experience of becoming ‘unhoused’ can be destabilizing and traumatic, particularly if you are already in crisis, and it is not easy to navigate the complex web of services and resources. That is why I am proposing in this budget to create a more proactive, personalized, and nimble team within the Department of Social Services – a new Housing and Homelessness unit to streamline the client experience and connect people with the resources they need.”
The proposed budget dedicates 25% of the county’s hotel/motel occupancy tax to a new Housing Action Fund. Another 25% of those tax receipts are to be devoted to helping pay for improvements to the Ulster County Area Transit bus system. Metzger said that the bus system is transitioning to electric vehicles and federal funds are helping to do that.
Metzger pointed out that the county has been vulnerable to severe weather events, especially flooding, due to climate change. The 2024 proposed budget includes nearly $20 million to improve roads and bridges.
“As we assess, repair, and replace our bridges and culverts, we’re preparing for the impacts of climate change,” Metzger said. “100-year events now occur roughly every 20 years, and we have to build our infrastructure and capacity accordingly. This means investing in our human power as well, and in the Executive Budget I am adding positions to the Bridge Crew in the Department of Public Works to more readily respond to safety and maintenance issues. The additions will also enable the department to do more work in-house at a savings to taxpayers.”
Metzger said that tourism is the number one economic activity in Ulster County and called for natural landscapes and outdoor recreational opportunities to be protected.
“We have to come up with thoughtful strategies to balance protection of sensitive areas and unique ecosystems with our tourism industry,” Metzger said. “In 2024 we will develop a sustainable tourism plan that gives our visitors a high-quality experience and keeps them coming back, while also building in the values of stewardship and environmental responsibility.”
