Recent News & Events
2026 State of the County Highlights
County Executive Metzger delivered her 2026 State of the County Address on Wednesday evening at the Rosendale Theatre. You can find a longer recap of the speech here, and the recording and transcripts here. Here are some notable announcements:
 Ensuring Accountability and Public Safety
The County Executive will work with the Legislature, Sheriff, and District Attorney on a law applying to all law enforcement operating in Ulster County — including federal agencies like ICE — setting a countywide standard that officers remain unmasked, and that they display a visible badge with their name and ID number, consistent with practices followed by local and County law enforcement.
 Property Taxes
In addition to keeping property taxes flat in 2026, the County Executive has proposed for Ulster County to pilot a 10% property tax exemption for full-time residents and has partnered with Senator Michelle Hinchey to introduce the necessary state legislation. The proposal is rooted in the recognition that we would have no community or local economy without the people who call this County their home, and we have to make sure they can continue to afford to live here. The exemption would shift proportionately more of the costs to second‑home owners.
 Housing
The County is supporting the creation of nearly 700 affordable homes for rent or ownership through the Housing Action Fund, Plus One Home Program, and other housing initiatives:
- This past year saw the completion of three major affordable housing developments — Silver Gardens in Highland and Harmony Hall in New Paltz, both for seniors, and Golden Hill in Kingston, which includes a mix of seniors and families.
- In the time since County Executive Metzger and the Legislature established the Housing Action Fund in 2023, a diverse mix of 11 housing projects creating a total of 362 units around the County have received awards for housing that is both affordable and sustainably built.
- The Kingston Planning Board has approved plans for our county’s first affordable housing cooperative on the County–owned Elizabeth Street property.
- RUPCO will open Willow Landing before the end of the year, a redevelopment of the Quality Inn in the Town of Ulster to provide permanent supportive housing for homeless individuals and families.
- The County is investing $2 million to create small, community‑based shelters operated by nonprofit partners, offering an alternative to private motels for emergency housing that provides stability and dignity while families transition to permanent housing.
 Transportation
- Starting March 1, UCAT will launch new Sunday service in Kingston, connecting Stony Run, Kingston Plaza, Midtown, the Rondout, and points in between. You can learn more about the new route here.
- Later in the year, the County plans to roll out the first phase of the County's Route Optimization Plan, beginning with more service to Pine Hill and Port Ewen.
 Mobility for All
- The County Executive will launch a new Snow Angels Program, pairing volunteer high school students and community members with elderly or disabled neighbors to clear steps and walkways of snow and ensure safe mobility during winter. The volunteer program will be overseen by the County Emergency Services Department.
- The County will conduct a self-evaluation of government operations this year to identify and begin to correct barriers by people with disabilities to accessing programs, services, and facilities.
- The County will launch a voluntary certification program for businesses that meet accessibility and sensory-friendly criteria.
Economic Development and Local Business Support
The County is rolling out two new Revolving Loan Funds to expand business access to low-cost capital:
- A refreshed County loan fund will provide small loans ($7,500–$10,000) for equipment or repairs, gap financing for larger projects in partnership with local banks, and bridge loans to businesses and non-profits for reimbursable grants.
- A new Agricultural Revolving Loan Fund, administered in partnership with the Hudson Valley AgriBusiness Development Corporation, will support farm viability, climate resilience, and efficient energy and water use.
 Arts and Culture
- With the completion of the County’s first Arts & Culture Master Plan, a new Arts & Culture Advisory Council will help guide implementation under County Arts, Culture, and Open Spaces Director Sarah Kramer‑Harrison.
- In honor of the 250th Anniversary of the American Revolution, County departments are coordinating County-wide programming with schools, museums, and cultural organizations to celebrate Ulster County’s important role in our democracy’s founding.
- For the upcoming 2026 World Cup, the County will be publishing a map of businesses hosting international‑themed events and will host a countywide Youth Soccer Tournament in New Paltz this spring.
 Protecting the Environment and Public Health
- A new Task Force will oversee the County’s recertification as a Silver-level Climate Smart Community; and a new Local Government Climate Action Partnership will support the climate work of local governments.
- In partnership with Bard College and JustAir, Ulster County will launch New York State's first countywide real‑time air quality monitoring system this spring.
- The Department of Health will pilot a PFAS testing and mitigation program for private wells, offering free testing and grants for remediation.
New UCAT Sunday Service in Kingston starts March 1!
 UCAT is launching new Sunday service in the City of Kingston! The new route — 2S: Kingston Local Sunday Service — will connect key residential areas and destinations, including Stony Run, the Kingston Plaza and Uptown area, the Broadway corridor in Midtown, the Rondout, and Kingston Point Beach. See the new route map and schedule here.
Check out our new Participate Page on the Reimagining SUNY Ulster Initiative
 Reimagining SUNY Ulster is about exercising careful, long-term stewardship so that our college remains strong, accessible, and rooted here for decades to come. Launched by the County Executive in partnership with the College, the goal is to make sure that the physical campus is meeting the needs of the students who use it, and that the college remains a vital community asset well into the future. The committee leading this effort is composed of representatives from the college, County government, and host community, and will begin holding weekly meetings in March open to the public.
We’ve created a Participate Page where you can learn more about this initiative, find documents for the committee’s work, and share your ideas!
Applications are Open for the 2026 Ulster County Climate Corps!
 Join the 2026 Ulster County Climate Corps and be the change you want to see in the world! This paid, 10-week summer internship program gives students and emerging professionals hands-on experience working on climate-related projects in County government, supplemented by professional development sessions, guest lectures, community engagement, and fieldwork.
- Program runs from June 8 - August 14
- 2-5 days a week
- $18/hour
- Open to applicants ages 16 & up
- Applications due March 20
County Executive Metzger Signs Executive Order Reaffirming Climate Commitment
 Last week, County Executive Metzger signed an Executive Order affirming the County’s commitment to addressing climate change, and creating a task force to renew Ulster County’s certification as a Silver-level NYS Climate Smart Community. The County has reduced climate-damaging emissions by nearly 30% from 2012 levels, and we’re continuing to reduce emissions by adding more solar to our rooftops, installing more heat pumps to replace gas and oil, electrifying more of our buses and county fleet, and making our buildings more efficient. (We’ve saved taxpayers a half million dollars in utility bills just by improving energy use in County buildings!)
You can read the full Executive Order here.
Legislature Approves New Sales Tax Sharing Agreement
 The Ulster County Legislature has approved a five-year sales tax sharing agreement negotiated by County Executive Metzger and Kingston Mayor Steve Noble, and approved by the Kingston Common Council on February 3. The previous five-year agreement expires on February 28. The new agreement holds the City of Kingstonʼs share at 11.5% and increases the distribution to towns from 3% to 3.5% — the first increase since 2001.
The County government collects 4% on taxable purchases made in Ulster County. Under the new agreement, effective March 1, 2026, the County government share of this 4% would decrease from 85.5% to 85%, with 3.5% distributed among the Countyʼs 20 towns based on assessed property values. If, however, the Governor and State Legislature decide in the future to lift the cap on the Countyʼs weekly share of Medicaid costs, the County share would revert to 85.5% (and the towns' share to 3%) in the following fiscal year. The provision was included because counties are facing significant fiscal uncertainty in the wake of federal Medicaid cuts rolling out over the next two years.
The new sales tax sharing agreement includes a provision to potentially increase townsʼ share by up to 12% of excess sales tax proceeds if those proceeds exceed the amount budgeted for the fiscal year — a provision that was added based on input from Legislators Laura Donovan (D-11, Marlborough), Lindsey Grossman (D-19, Rosendale/Marbletown), and Ann Peters (D-2, Saugerties).
Celebrating the Gardiner Fire Department’s Service and Welcoming New Leaders
 County Executive Metzger joined the Gardiner Fire Department to celebrate their accomplishments over the past year and see the installation of the officers who will lead the department in 2026. Thank you to outgoing President Meghan Goodnow for your service, and congratulations to incoming President David Gilman as well as to Fire and Rescue Chief Matt Goodnow and all the 2026 officers!
This past November we saw this Department's swift, coordinated response, together with other departments, to the devastating fire at Wright's Farm, and we thank the Department for keeping the community safe on that day and every day.
Thanks to Ulster County SPCA for the Puppy-gram
 Ulster County SPCA stopped by the County offices on Valentine’s Day with a delightful puppy-gram. "Birch" is a bundle of joy and available for adoption, along with many other furry friends! For more information, visit their website here.
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