KINGSTON – The Ulster County Legislature gave its stamp of approval on County Executive Patrick Ryan’s 2020 budget of $342 million.
Lawmakers debated 37 potential amendments of which about a dozen were passed.
Chairwoman Tracey Bartels said in the end, the budget was full of compromise. “You are never fully happy, it never is 100 percent. There is some give and take along the way, but on the whole, I am pleased that we were able to move the budget unanimously. It contains a lot of great initiatives that I am in looking forward to implementing in 2020,” Bartels said.
The lawmakers added a two percent raise for management non-union employees and created a new position for the department of the environment.
“What I learned in the 20-plus town halls I held in every town, village and city in Ulster County is that our residents want us to protect our environment, they want smart and proven economic development strategies, and they want a workforce that reflects the diversity of the community they are tasked to serve,” said Ryan after the legislative vote.
“My budget delivers on the priorities that I heard from every part of our community.”
He said he would review adopted amendments from lawmakers to ensure “that we deliver a budget that taxpayers can be proud of.”
