Referred to: The Economic Development, Planning, Education, Employment, Arts and Agriculture Committee (Chairwoman Sperry and Legislators Clinton, Corcoran, Hewitt, Litts, Stewart and Walls), and The Ways and Means Committee (Chairman Gavaris and Legislators Collins, Hansut, Kovacs, Nolan, Roberts, and Uchitelle)

Minority Leader Kevin A. Roberts and Legislator Clinton offer the following:

WHEREAS, according to the United States Department of Agriculture, more than 47.4 million people, including 7.2 million children, in the United States are food insecure, with 13.4% of Ulster County residents and 17% of Ulster County children reported as being food insecure; and

WHEREAS, the Ulster County Legislature is committed to finding ways to address the serious and imminent threat that food insecurity poses to families in Ulster County by finding ways to improve access to food; and

WHEREAS, Ulster County is reliant upon the emergency feeding network to meet the ongoing needs of some of our most vulnerable citizens as well as to respond and provide community resilience during emergency events; and

WHEREAS, the Legislature adopted Resolution No. 340 of September 2022, Establishing the Food Security and Access Project, which convened an Emergency Food Working Group to update the UC Emergency Feeding Plan to help to ensure adequate healthy food supply to those residents in need of assistance on a day-to-day basis, as well as in emergency situations; and 

WHEREAS, the Ulster County Legislature, pursuant to Ulster County Charter §C-11, is the legislative, appropriating and policy-determining body of the County; and

WHEREAS, based upon food insecurity confronting Ulster County residents and the availability of food within Ulster County’s emergency feeding network, the Legislature deems it necessary to appropriate funding urgently needed for organizations in the County’s emergency feeding network so that they may provide food to individuals and families facing food insecurity; and

WHEREAS, the Director of Economic Development, pursuant to Ulster County Charter §C-75 B. shall perform duties as appropriated by the County Legislature; now, therefore be it

RESOLVED, the Ulster County Legislature hereby appropriates $350,000.00 in funding for the sole purpose of enhancement and sustainability of the Ulster County emergency feeding network with the intention that such funds shall be distributed within allowable means to organizations providing food to individuals and families facing food insecurity; and, be it further

RESOLVED, that the appropriation as set forth herein, shall be overseen and administered by the Director of the Ulster County Department of Economic Development; and, be further

RESOLVED, that no later than September 1, 2025, the Director of Economic Development, or his/her/their designee, shall prepare and submit a written report to the Clerk of the Ulster County Legislature for distribution and review by the Economic Development, Planning, Education, Employment, Arts and Agriculture Committee detailing plans for implementation of the appropriation set forth herein; and, be it further

RESOLVED, should the program not be implemented in 2025, the funding appropriated pursuant to this Resolution shall be included and identified in the 2026 Proposed Ulster County Budget; and, be it further

RESOLVED, that the 2025 Ulster County Budget is hereby amended as follows:

INCREASE                                         AMOUNT

AA.8021.3405-4300.4505             Professional Services Other Fees     $350,000.00

(App. #)

AA.9900.9900-3700.9990              Appropriated Fund Balance              $350,000.00

(Rev. #),

and, be it further

RESOLVED, that no section of this resolution shall be interpreted as augmenting the existing legislative process for expenditures,        

and moves its adoption.

ADOPTED BY THE FOLLOWING VOTE:

AYES:                    NOES:      

Passed Committee: Economic Development, Planning, Education, Employment, Arts and Agriculture on ________________.

Passed Committee: Ways and Means on ________________.

FINANCIAL IMPACT:

$350,000.00 - ADDITIONAL 2025 APPROPRIATION DOLLARS