Recent News & Events
County Executive Metzger Charts a Steady Course for the County in the 2026 Executive Budget, amid Federal Cuts
Ulster County Executive Jen Metzger delivered her 2026 Executive Budget Address in Legislative Chambers earlier this week, before County Legislators, department heads, local elected officials, union leaders, and community partners. The proposed budget makes targeted investments to address food and housing insecurity, strengthen emergency medical services around the County, improve public transit and infrastructure, and protect the environment – with no increase in taxes. At the same time, as the federal government shifts more costs to states and counties, the County Executive has limited new expenditures in this budget to responsibly balance current needs with future obligations.
The Legislature will spend the next two months reviewing the proposed budget and will hold three public hearings around the county in November before adopting the final budget in December.
You can watch the County Executive’s budget address here or learn more about the 2026 Executive Budget below.
County Poised to Benefit from $20.8M in Funding for Broadband in Remote, Unserved Areas
A huge win for internet access in remote areas of Ulster County! Approximately 1,300 households, businesses, and community anchor institutions are poised to gain reliable fiber optic broadband service through a $20.8 million award from the New York State ConnectALL Program. The award is funded through the federal BEAD program — short for Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment – created in the 2022 Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act to expand access to unserved areas of the country. This and other BEAD-funded awards will now go to the National Telecommunications and Information Administration for final approval following a public comment period.
County Executive Jen Metzger participated in the evaluation process, together with the Ulster County Citizens Commission for Digital Inclusion, and issued a letter of support for Verizon’s application based on its commitment to serve all BEAD-eligible areas of the County, its capacity to build and maintain the system, and its fair labor practices.
A special thanks to the Citizens Commission on Digital Inclusion and its Chair, Jenny Lee, for laying significant groundwork for this award. Created by Comptroller March Gallagher in 2022, the Commission held broadband town halls, mapped access gaps, and successfully challenged state and federal broadband maps to identify additional unserved and underserved households.
New Affordable Housing for Seniors in New Paltz!
 Applications are now open for Harmony Hall — affordable housing for seniors 55+ in New Paltz! Ulster County is very proud to have provided grant support for this project of the Affordable Housing Conservancy through our Housing Action Fund.
Located at 52 South Manheim Blvd, Harmony Hall offers 51 thoughtfully designed units — 48 one-bedrooms and 3 two-bedrooms — including 8 mobility-accessible units, and 3 units that can accommodate individuals with hearing or visual disabilities. Built to Enterprise Green Communities standards, the development features energy-efficient appliances and a 151kW solar roof system.
Income guidelines apply (50-60% of the area median income). Applications are due November 21, and the lottery will occur at 10 AM on December 5.
Statewide Burn Ban in Effect
 Due to increased fire risk and continued dry conditions, Governor Hochul has issued a 14-day outdoor burn ban across New York State from now until October 15. The ban will be reevaluated prior to expiration.
Here’s what you need to know:
All open burning is prohibited, including brush, debris, recreational fires, and uncontained cooking fires.
Exceptions include:
- Barbecue grills and outdoor cooking devices used for food
- Contained campfires under 3 ft high and 4 ft wide in a fire ring or fireplace
- Agricultural waste burning on farms over 5 acres
- Emergency and prescribed burns under specific guidelines
- Fire training exercises following NYS protocols
Fires must never be left unattended and must be fully extinguished when done.
Let’s all do our part to prevent wildfires and protect our communities
COVID Vaccines are Available!
Protected! Our Public Health Director gets her COVID & Flu vaccines
Under the Governor’s Executive Order, anyone age 3 and up can get vaccinated at any pharmacy in New York State — no prescription needed.
✅ Check ahead: Not all pharmacies have the vaccine in stock yet
✅ Most insurances cover the cost, but it’s smart to confirm first
Protect yourself and your community this season. For more info, contact the Ulster County Department of Health at (845) 340-3070.
Tourism Director Lisa Berger Named to NYSTIA Executive Board
Congratulations to Ulster County Tourism Director Lisa Berger on her appointment to the Executive Board of the New York State Tourism Industry Association (NYSTIA)!
Lisa will serve as Vice Chair at Large on the 2025–26 Executive Committee, joining a powerhouse team of tourism leaders from across the state. Her vision, dedication, and deep knowledge of Ulster County’s assets make her an incredible ambassador — not just for our region, but for New York’s tourism industry as a whole.
We’re proud to see Lisa’s leadership recognized at the state level and excited for what’s ahead! Tourism represents the largest sector of Ulster County’s economy, and it's growing, with tourists spending over a billion dollars in Ulster County annually!
Climate Week Kickoff at Dietz Stadium
 We kicked off Climate Week in Kingston at a gathering of municipal climate leaders from across the Mid-Hudson region, who came to Dietz Stadium for a special presentation of Climate Smart Community certifications by DEC Commissioner Amanda Lefton. We’re very proud that the City of Kingston received Silver recertification — the highest level of achievement!
We’re also very proud that Ulster County was the first Silver-certified County in the state, and we remain as committed as ever to protecting the planet for our children. As the federal government steps back, it’s all the more important that states and local governments lead the way.
Celebrating Sun Day with Solar at the New Paltz Fire Station
 County Executive Metzger joined the New Paltz Fire Department and the community to celebrate National Sun Day on Sept. 21 with a ribbon-cutting on the firehouse’s new solar array. The County contributed a $100,000 grant toward the project, and we’re proud to play a part in making this energy-efficient, all-electric firehouse the first net-zero firehouse in the state!
Congratulations to the Village, Town, and New Paltz Fire Department, and thank you for your climate leadership!
Honoring Ulster and Dutchess County Veterans at the Second Annual Salute2Service
 Ulster and Dutchess Counties came together on the Walkway Over the Hudson for the 2nd annual Salute2Vets — uniting both sides of the river in a special tribute to local veterans and active service members. Many thanks to our partners — Ulster & Dutchess County Veteran Services, Vet2Vet programs, MHA Dutchess, and Hudson Valley National Center for Veteran Reintegration — for making it all possible and for the work you do every day to support veterans and their families.
ThinkDIFFERENTLY at the Disability Resources Fair
 Creating more inclusive and accessible communities starts with listening, and on Sept. 20, Ulster County Chief Diversity Officer Dina Suggs had the opportunity to hear directly from disabled community members during a special listening session for the County’s ThinkDIFFERENTLY initiative at the Jim Garvey Memorial Disability Resources Fair on Sept. 20. The fair, held at St. James United Methodist Church in Kingston, is organized annually by the Resource Center for Accessible Living (RCAL) and offers a wide range of resources and workshops for people with disabilities and their families. RCAL certainly lives up to its name!
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