A Message from Ulster County Executive Jen Metzger

The big news this past week was the adoption of the 2024 Ulster County Budget, which passed the Legislature with a bipartisan majority vote of 18 to 3, greenlighting plans I proposed in the Executive Budget to improve our infrastructure, relieve the housing crisis, combat climate change, and bolster mental health support. You’ll also be pleased to know that the 2024 budget keeps property taxes flat! This edition of the newsletter shares some of the budget highlights, as well as information about the process itself. 

Also of note, this week marks the 75th Anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, and we are recognizing this special occasion with programming by our Human Rights Department and Ulster County Human Rights Commission. Read on for this and other news! 

All the best,
Jen

Recent News & Events

Photo from the Executive Budget Address on Oct. 3

Breaking Down the 2024 Budget

The $412 million 2024 County Budget seeks to address the diverse needs and challenges facing our communities and reflects the County's commitment to investing in the well-being of our residents. These investments include:

• Infrastructure - Invests nearly $20 million to improve roads and repair and replace bridges.
• Housing - Anticipates 25% of revenues from motel/short-term rental bed tax to the Housing Action Fund to expand housing that our residents can afford. Creates a special Housing and Homelessness unit in the Department of Social Services to help meet emergency and long-term housing needs.
• Mental Health - Allocates $230,000 for supplemental clinical mental health support for middle school-age students countywide. Invests $3.8 million in a County Community Behavioral Health Center that will provide 24/7 crisis stabilization services for youth and adults.
• Education - Provides $6.9 million in operating assistance for SUNY Ulster, which helps keep higher education affordable to our residents. 
• Public Transit - Anticipates 25% of motel/short-term rental bed tax to UCAT to keep fares free and expand routes and service.
• Expanded service to the western portion of the county - $700K investment in Phase 1 improvements to Trudy Resnick Farber Building in Ellenville to transform the building into a community service hub for the Village and surrounding municipalities.
• Climate Action - Creates a new Energy & Electrification Manager position in DPW to oversee investments to improve energy use and shift off fossil fuels in County buildings and facilities. Proposes $18 million Decarbonization Capital Reserve (to be considered by the Legislature on Dec. 18). Integrates assistance with accessing clean energy resources in the Department of Social Services. Allocates funds for Climate Justice Outreach. 
• Pathways from Probation - Supports a new pre-apprenticeship program with the Carpenters Union for individuals on probation, providing a pathway into a career in the trade of their choice. 
• Professional Development - Creates the Ulster County Leadership Academy, an educational and micro-certification program for emerging leaders in the County workforce.

Budget Process Nuts & Bolts

Developing the County Operating Budget is a year-long process that begins with analyzing the previous year's revenues and expenses in the winter before budget development kicks off in spring, with the County Executive fielding requests from Department heads for budgetary needs for the next year. The process accelerates throughout the spring and summer before being finalized in the fall and passed before the end of the year. Here’s how it unfolds:

• The County Executive and her budget team review and assess the operating budget requests of 33 County Departments, as well as the annual SUNY Ulster request for operating assistance. We also review the Capital Plan and proposed projects for the coming year. 
• Based on these reviews and assessments, the County Executive develops the Executive Budget. The budget also includes new initiatives for the coming year. 
• The Executive Budget is presented to the Legislature in early October and reviewed by the Legislature’s financial team and in legislative committees in meetings open to the public. 
• Public hearings on the Executive Budget are held in different areas of the County.
• Legislators have the opportunity to introduce amendments to the Executive Budget.  
• The Legislature’s Ways and Means Committee reviews each amendment and votes on whether to support moving them to the floor.  
• The Legislature convenes a special session to vote on the Executive Budget and legislative amendments. 
• The County Executive has five business days to review legislative amendments and decide whether to exercise line-item veto authority. (This is where we are now in the process.) Any vetoed amendments can be overturned by a two-thirds majority vote of the Legislature.
• The budget becomes adopted once the Executive has signed it or the veto process is completed, and no later than December 31.

Ulster County Sheriff's Office Celebrates $400,000 DOJ Grant and Launch of I.G.N.I.T.E Program

The Ulster County Sheriff's Office has secured a $400,000 grant from the U.S. Department of Justice to create a mental health response team, building on the successful ORACLE program. This new team will connect people with the help they need and ensure that County law enforcement responds appropriately and effectively to situations and crises. Congratulations to Sheriff Juan Figueroa on receiving this grant and on his visionary leadership!

Ulster County also recently became the second county in the state to launch the I.G.N.I.T.E. program, which provides incarcerated individuals with meaningful opportunities for growth and development while in jail– helping to reduce recidivism and support a productive new beginning upon release. Even before this new initiative, County Executive Metzger and Sheriff Figueroa were already working together with the Carpenters Union on a “Corrections to Careers” pre-apprenticeship program in the jail that creates a pathway for a future career in the trades. Providing these opportunities pays dividends by helping individuals build productive lives after incarceration.

Recap of Lower Esopus Creek Management Plan Workshop

The County's Environment and Planning Departments joined forces to host a workshop last Tuesday in Kingston to engage the community in shaping the future of the Lower Esopus Creek Management Plan.

We had a fantastic turnout, with 75 community members attending in person and another 50 participating on Zoom, with Spanish interpretation services available both on-site and online. The broad and diverse input we received will help this plan to reflect the priorities and values of communities in the Lower Esopus watershed.

Join the Ulster County Medical Reserve Corps

Become a part of a network of volunteers who support the County’s Department of Health and Department of Emergency Services in protecting health, preserving life, and administering aid and assistance during times of disaster and community need.

We Want to Hear From You!

Employment Services at the Restorative Justice Center

Take our community survey to help the County Office of Employment and Training plan a calendar of events and workshops for the Restorative Justice and Community Empowerment Center in the coming year. This programming will be free to the community, and we want to hear from you on the topics of greatest interest!

Attention Seniors! Take the 2023 Senior Survey to Inform the Office for the Aging's Four-Year Plan

The County's Office for the Aging (OFA) wants to learn more about you to better tailor our services and programs to the needs of our aging residents. Please take a moment to fill out the 2023 Senior Survey and help guide the work of OFA Director Sue Koppenhaver and her team!

Shaping Our Future Together Join us on our web-based platform to learn about County projects, programs, and issues that directly affect your community– from housing initiatives to rail crossing safety to farmland protection.

Upcoming Events & Happenings

Photo from DSS Temporary Assistance Lobby on Dec. 12

Celebrating the 75th Anniversary of Human Rights

When the U.N. General Assembly adopted the Universal Declaration of Human Rights in 1948, Eleanor Roosevelt, a main architect of the Declaration, told the Assembly: "This Declaration is based upon the spiritual fact that man must have freedom in which to develop his full stature and through common effort to raise the level of human dignity. We have much to do to fully achieve and to assure the rights set forth in this Declaration."

This work continues today, and the Ulster County Department of Human Rights would like to invite you to stop by one of the planned events, below, in recognition of this important anniversary and to learn more about the work of the Department and County Commission on Human Rights.

📅 Wednesday, December 13
🕕 12 PM - 2 PM
📍 Dept. of Health & Mental Health, 239 Golden Hill Lane, Kingston.

📅 Thursday, December 14
🕕 12 PM - 2 PM
📍 Trudy Resnick Farber Building, 50 Center Street, Ellenville.

📅 Friday, December 15
🕕 12 PM - 2 PM
📍 Kingston Center of SUNY Ulster, 94 Mary’s Ave, Kingston.

The Ulster County Human Rights Commission serves county residents through education and advocacy to promote awareness of Human Rights protections and compliance. If you are in need of assistance, please contact (845) 334-5492.

Neighborhood Office Hours

Don't miss out on this special opportunity to participate in one-on-one naloxone training, gain access to valuable opioid prevention materials, and discover the wide range of services offered by the Ulster County Department of Mental Health and Ellenville Regional Hospital.

📅 Thursday, December 14
🕕 1 PM - 4 PM
📍 50 Center Street in Ellenville

Connect, Engage, & Serve: Opportunities and Resources

The 2023-2024 Emergency HEAP Program Opens January 2

New York State's Emergency Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP) benefit can help you heat your home if you are in a heat or heat-related emergency, such as being at risk of running out of fuel or having your utilities shut off.
Visit New York State's Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance website to learn more about eligibility and benefits.

Opportunities to Give and Receive this Holiday Season

Whether you are in need of assistance or eager to lend a helping hand, there are various local organizations across Ulster County ready to make this season a little brighter for everyone in our community:

• Visit UlsterCorps for a list of Ulster County Soup Kitchens and Food Pantries and discover local organizations committed to serving the community as well as find opportunities for volunteering or assistance.
• Access both English and Spanish maps of Ulster County Food Pantries, Soup Kitchens, and UCAT bus lines, provided by People’s Place and developed by UlsterCorps, Ulster BOCES New Visions Health Career Explorations Students, and Ulster County Winter Watch.
• UlsterCorps has also compiled a list of organizations currently accepting items from Holiday Wish Lists as requested by local service agencies in Ulster County. For details on collection items and locations, contact UlsterCorps at (845) 481-0331 or email info@ulstercorps.org.
• Caring Hands Soup Kitchen, located at 122 Clinton Ave. in Kingston, will be serving a community meal at 6:30 PM on Christmas Eve, and they are looking for 5-10 volunteers to help set up, serve, and clean up. If you are interested in learning more, please call the church office at (845) 331-7188.
• Angel Food East delivers meals to those who are homebound in Ulster County and is currently seeking volunteers to assist with cooking, prepping, dishwashing, and making meal deliveries on Thursdays from 11:30 AM to 1:00 PM. If you can help or want to learn more, please email contact@angelfoodeast.org or call (845) 331-6538.

 Job Openings in Ulster County

Consider a career in public service and earn a living by making a difference. 

We’re hiring accountants, bus drivers, grant writers, and more. Visit the civil service portal and apply today to join our team.

The Ulster County Government strictly adheres to the principles of the Equal Employment Opportunity Act and Americans with Disability Act.

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