Ulster County Executive Jen Metzger used her annual State of the County address on Wednesday to propose a 10% cut in property taxes for full-time residents, aiming to shift more of the levy to the part-timers who flocked to the Hudson Valley in the wake of the pandemic.
The county is working with State Senator Michelle Hinchey on legislation to create a pilot program for the tax break, aiming to ease the financial pressure faced by working families as housing costs rise, Metzger said in her speech at the Rosendale Theatre. The county is supporting an additional 700 affordable homes, she said.
“The State of the County is strong, despite these unsteady times nationally, and we remain focused on what our residents need—housing that’s affordable, communities that are safe, a healthy environment and local economy, and services that support our residents’ well-being,” Metzger said.
In a nod to national politics, Metzger said she’ll work with politicians and other county officials to bar all law enforcement officers, including Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents, from wearing masks and to display badges with visible names and identification numbers. ICE agents routinely conceal their identities, saying the practice protects their safety, while critics argue it allows them to evade accountability.
Turning to the environment, Metzger said the county has cut government emissions by almost 30% since 2012 and hopes to reduce them by 55% by 2050. This spring, Ulster County will launch what officials describe as the first countywide real-time air quality monitoring system in New York, in partnership with Bard College and JustAir.
In addition, the Health Department will pilot a PFAS testing and mitigation program for private wells, offering free testing and remediation grants. A separate $4 million federal grant will fund inspections and lead remediation in high-risk rental housing.
On transportation, Ulster County Area Transit will start a Sunday service in Kingston on March 1 and expand service to Pine Hill and Port Ewen later this year. Paratransit service has increased by more than 50%, and the county aims to buy buses for aging and veterans services.
Metzger also said the county is creating two revolving loan funds, including one dedicated to agriculture, to provide low-cost capital to small businesses and farms.
At iPark, the former IBM site in the town of Ulster, the county is pursuing legal steps to regain control of the West Campus after a default by National Resources and is in talks with a local food and beverage company to base a production facility on the East Campus. The county is also exploring a cold storage facility to support local farms.
The county is also planning to hold an Economic Futures Summit this year to strengthen ties between educational institutions, workforce organizations and employers.A video of her speech is available on Metzger’s website and on social media channels.
Noah Eckstein is the editor-in-chief of The Overlook. Send correspondence to noah@theoverlooknews.com.