PORT EWEN – Ulster County Executive Pat Ryan signed the county’s $342 million 2020 budget, which includes a 0.25 percent decrease in the property tax levy.
“People want us to hold the line on taxes, which we did,” Ryan said. He signed the spending plan in Esopus on Thursday.
The budget addresses the county’s opioid epidemic and creates an economic development department. The budget also funds a newly created Green Career Academy with SUNY Ulster to help county residents train for green jobs.
“We’re really excited about that,” said Ryan.“People want us to hold the line on taxes, which is what we did; we lowered the tax levy to the lowest level in a decade. They want us to protect the environment and create jobs, green jobs as we do it,” he said. “They want us to tackle the opioid epidemic and they want us to all work together – executive and legislature; so to work through my first budget and to get it passed unanimously, I’m proud of the budget and I think the people of the county should be proud of the budget.”
County Legislature Chairwoman Tracey Bartels credited the partnership between Ryan and the lawmakers for delivering on new initiatives to serve county residents.
