NEW PALTZ – Ulster County Executive Pat Ryan unveiled his 2022, $351 million budget, and it’s a spending plan dependent on a strong economy to help pay for programs that will benefit residents.
The budget does not increase property taxes or lay off workers and projects, conservatively says Ryan, an 18.6 percent increase in sales tax and an occupancy tax hike of 43.8 percent.
“We’re seeing tremendous economic recovery,” said Ryan. “All the indicators are very strong.”
A fraction of the budget, a little more than five percent or $16.5 million, is being dedicated to establishing the Ulster County Mental Health and Addiction Recovery Center, and Ryan said this is the most important component of the budget after Westchester Health Alliance closed its unit in Kingston to help with these issues.
“Every day I get more upset and frustrated when I see the toll from the devastation by Westchester Health Alliance to pull out those beds. We have to do everything on our level to fill that hole,” he said. “We have to recommit and reinvest in that area. We have seen the toll of the devastation of the pandemic, combined with the twin epidemics mental health and addiction.”
The budget will dedicate $32.4 million to infrastructure for transportation, sewer, water and the Wallkill Valley Rail Trail. The O&W Rail Trail in and around Accord will also get funding for improvements.
The budget is dedicating $1.5 million to support the redevelopment of Golden Hill and for 160 units of affordable housing. And a planner is being hired by the county to help with housing.
Economic and workforce development will get an $8 million investment, and $3 million will be dedicated to training and creation of green jobs needed to retrofit the energy needs of the county’s residential houses.
“We’re trying to plant the seeds now for future generations,” said Ryan. “We’ve done well coming out of the pandemic, and we really need to look long-term.”
