KINGSTON – The year 2020 coming to a close has been a difficult one for everyone and counties are no exception. Conservative budgeting in previous years appears to be helping them survive.
In Ulster County, Comptroller March Gallagher said the belt-tightening that has been common practice, will continue into the new year as it faces new challenges.
“For 2021, I think we are going to have to manage our budget extremely conservatively. We are going to have to rein in expenditures and we have to make sure we spend as little as possible, that we are as frugal as possible because my biggest concern is that going into 2022, that budget cycle is going to be very difficult because we will have really spent a lot into our fund balance, and we are not going to have the same flexibility.”
The state is withholding a portion of its aid because of its multi-billion deficit caused by the pandemic making the local fiscal situation that much more difficult.
