MILTON – Ulster County Executive Jen Metzger unveiled her proposed 2024 budget, her first since being elected in 2022, Tuesday at Marlborough Town Hall, a $413 million spending plan that hikes spending by $32 million from 2023 – without a property tax increase.
“It’s 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,” said Metzger. “We are in a very strong financial position as a county going into 2024. We expect the fund balance to exceed $110 million. Because the numbers are not certified, I have taken a highly conservative approach to the budget. The budget reserves 20 percent of operating expenditures as a rainy-day fund, which is the most permitted by county policy.”
Metzger’s proposed budget generates $259 million generated from property and sales taxes and federal and state aid.
And allocates:
- 81 percent dedicated to contractual and salary expenses.
- $20 million is proposed for improvements to roads and bridges.
- $18 million for reserve fund for a planned government operations center in New Paltz.
- $18 million for a decarbonization reserve fund and creates an energy/electrification manager to oversee county facilities.
- $6.9 million for SUNY Ulster operating expenses and $21.5 million, half of which is reimbursed by the state, for capital funds.
- $3.8 million for a county community behavior center that will provide 24/7crisis stabilization services.
- Invests $700,000 for the first phase improvement to the Trudy Resnick Building in Ellenville as a community service hub.
- Dedicates 25 percent of annual motel/hotel bed taxes, about $1.5 million, to improve UCAT routes and services.
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