Ulster County Executive Pat Ryan Announces Inflation Relief Plan, Including The Largest Tax Reduction in Ulster County in 40 Years

Posted August 12, 2022

Ryan’s Inflation Relief Plan Proposes Major Property Tax Cut of 3%

Plan Includes Immediate Actions To Counteract Rising Costs for Families and Businesses As Well As Priorities for 2023 County Budget 

Inflation Relief Plan Includes Initiatives Developed Collaboratively With Ulster County Legislature to Provide Free Public Transit on the UCAT System; to Bolster Relief for Those Struggling to Afford Food, Utilities and Childcare; and to Provide Direct Relief to Small Businesses and Farmers

 

KINGSTON, N.Y. - Ulster County Executive Pat Ryan announced today an Inflation Relief Plan aimed at supporting households and small businesses struggling with rising costs. In an open letter to residents, County Executive Ryan highlighted multiple initiatives and priorities that will provide much-needed relief during an unprecedented time of economic pressure.

“Right now we’re all feeling the pressure due to the rising costs of everything – from food, to fuel, to housing. Ulster County is stepping up and taking aggressive action to provide urgent relief to our residents – the largest property tax cut in 40 years, free public transit for all, and direct relief to tens of thousands of households and small businesses” Ulster County Executive Pat Ryan said. “From the beginning, I promised to make County government more responsive and responsible, so I’m proposing an ambitious and broad-reaching Inflation Relief Plan to help address these challenges.”

The Inflation Relief Plan includes several initiatives that are ready to roll-out immediately using a combination of existing County appropriations and funding awarded to the County through the American Recovery Plan Act. The plan includes measures championed by members of the County Legislature, such as support for small farmers, eliminating bus fares, and investments to strengthen main street corridors and business districts. Other measures, such as the historic reduction in the County property tax will be included in County Executive Ryan’s proposed 2023 Executive Budget.

The Inflation Relief Plan includes:

  • A proposed property tax reduction of 3%, the largest reduction in Ulster County’s property tax since 1982
  • Direct economic relief to households, including:
    • $3.5 million to provide direct food assistance for up to 27,000 households across the county
    • Eliminating UCAT bus fares for all residents
    • Expanding access to subsidies for home heating (up to 1,000 additional households) and childcare (up to 2,500 additional, newly-eligible households)
  • Small business support, including:
    • An additional $1 million in grants for small businesses, building on previous successful rounds of Ulster County CARES small business relief program
    • $2 million to reinforce main street corridors and business districts 
    • $2 million to small farmers
  • $5 million to acquire land and build infrastructure to support hundreds more housing units, building on the growing momentum in adding desperately-needed housing inventory for seniors and working families. 

“The United Way and the organizations we support – frontline service providers with programs addressing hunger, homelessness and basic needs – know first-hand that many of our families and households are already struggling financially,” said Su Marcy, President & CEO of the United Way of Ulster County. “At this time of high inflation and economic uncertainty, I’m pleased that Ulster County is proposing to take decisive action to reduce costs through property tax relief coupled with direct assistance to families for basic necessities like food, childcare, transportation and utilities.”

“It has indeed been a tough couple of years for small businesses in Ulster County, and I am grateful that our County leadership understands that many of our entrepreneurs and small business owners still need help getting back on their feet,” Ward Todd, President of the Ulster County Regional Chamber of Commerce said. “Following a year of forced closures and the lingering impacts of the pandemic, many Chamber members continue to report rising costs of doing business and a shortage of available, qualified workers. By reducing property taxes, providing additional direct support to business owners, and focusing the County’s efforts on childcare, transportation and housing, the County Executive’s proposed Inflation Relief Plan will help stabilize and rebuild our local economy to be more sustainable and equitable for the future.” 

View the full letter to residents here.

###

Weight: 
0