Hein presented his budget to a full house
KINGSTON – A Restorative Justice and Community Enhancement Center
is prominent feature in Ulster County Executive Michael Hein’s proposed
2018 Ulster County executive budget. The facility will become a new division
of the Department of Probation, should the county legislature approve
it.
Property taxes are also expected to decrease in his spending plan for the sixth year, along with expenditures, lowering the bottom line by roughly $1 million, to $324 million over the upcoming year.
Despite that good news, Hein said they face some financial challenges.
“Like employee healthcare costs, especially with the uncertainty and never-ending repeal and replace efforts that seem to emanate from our nation’s capital almost every day, plus there are more looming potential federal budget cuts to key areas like the office of employment and training, the office for the aging and transportation cuts that could directly affect our countywide system of buses,” the county exec said.
Hein said his 2018 executive budget “is more than just a basic set of revenues and expenses,” Hein explained, underscoring his philosophy of merging finances with social responsibility, through change, innovation, and partnership.
Intended to keep adolescents out of adult prison, the Restorative Justice and Community Enhancement Center utilizes extra storage space inside the Midtown Probation office at 733 Broadway in Kingston.
Hein said he hopes the new facility becomes a center of hope, diverting young people away from a school-to-prison cycle. Recent state legislation addresses the problem of 16- and 17-year-old offenders – an issue known nationally as Raise the Age.
A total of $15 million is earmarked for Building A Better Ulster County, making the three-year infrastructure investment $60 million total. Emergency lifelines for every fragile senior citizen will also be provided next year.
An Ulster County Water Quality Management Agency will help residents test and remediate pollution, Hein added.
More info: http://ulstercountyny.gov/budget
