KINGSTON – Ulster County will save over $1 million in 2021 as a result of fiscal belt-tightening at the county jail.
County Executive Patrick Ryan and Sheriff Juan Figueroa announced the adjustments.
Ryan said most of the savings will be applied to address mental health issues.
“We have seen in the last six months a doubling of our suicide rate in Ulster County, which just unacceptable,” he said. “So, to specifically address that in next year’s budget we are directing $900,000 specific to mobile mental health and almost $14 million in total to overall mental health services as a county.”
The county was able to make the cuts because the state’s criminal justice reforms lowered jail populations, making it possible to “right-size” the staffing levels in the jail.
