Referred to: The Ways and Means Committee (Chairman Gavaris and Legislators Collins, Hansut, Kovacs, Nolan, and Roberts)

Legislator Joe Maloney offers the following:

WHEREAS, pursuant to Charter §C-11(A), the Ulster County Legislature is empowered to make appropriations, levy taxes, incur indebtedness; and

WHEREAS, pursuant to Charter §C-11(N), the Ulster County Legislature is empowered to adopt a budget and to determine and fix real property tax equalization rates among the various districts of the County for County purposes; and

WHEREAS, upon closing of the 2023 financials, Ulster County ended with an unrestricted fund balance of over $102 million, or 27% of total General Fund expenditures and operating transfers out; and

WHEREAS, a surplus is anticipated for the year ended December 31, 2024; and

WHEREAS, Ulster County’s adopted Fund Balance Policy requires the unrestricted fund balance within the General Fund to be between 15% and 20% of current General Fund operating expenditures; and

WHEREAS, Ulster County has continued the decade long practice of not providing any significant relief to the County taxpayers, and this legislation equates to a 20% decrease to the proposed Real Property tax levy, while bringing the County into compliance with existing policy; now, therefore be it

RESOLVED, that a total of $14,805,645.00 will be reimbursed to Ulster County property taxpayers, in a proportionate share based upon the amount of county property tax paid on each parcel of property for the 2024 tax year, less penalties and fees; and, be it further

RESOLVED, that the Commissioner of Finance be and hereby is authorized to calculate, determine and remit payment/credit to said property taxpayers the proportionate share due pursuant to the formula set forth herein; and, be it further

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

INCREASE                               AMOUNT

AA.9900.9900.3700.9990            Appropriated Fund Balance                 $14,805,645.00

(App. #)

INCREASE                               AMOUNT

AA.1310.1076.4600.4660            Misc. Contractual, Other                       $14,805,645.00

(App. #),      

and moves its adoption.

ADOPTED BY THE FOLLOWING VOTE:

AYES:                       NOES:             

Passed Committee: Ways and Means on ________________.

FINANCIAL IMPACT:

$14,805,645.00 – APPROPRIATED FUND BALANCE