Ulster Strong Calls for Pause on 'Fair Taxes' Proposal
Ulster Strong is formally calling on Ulster County Executive Metzger and the Ulster County Legislature to pause the proposed "Ulster County for Fair Taxes Act." This is not a dismissal of the affordability challenges facing our county, nor do we take lightly the need to support our most vulnerable residents. Rather, it is a request for the deliberation, engagement, and evidence-based decision-making that a structural change of this magnitude requires.
Waiting for the Full Financial Picture
According to the latest publicly available data, Ulster County’s fiscal position has gained strength throughout the last five reported years. At the end of 2024, the combined fund balance stood at over $182 million, with nearly $100 million of unrestricted funds. While the landscape is clearly evolving as federal policies shift costs down to states and counties, we believe it is essential that any long-term tax strategy be based on the most current and comprehensive financial data available. Audited financial statements for 2025 are expected to be released this September, well before the State Legislature reconvenes in January. If these final figures confirm a substantial shift or decline in the county’s fiscal position, the case for targeted action will be much clearer. Moving forward with a permanent new tax structure before these numbers are analyzed would be premature and risks acting on incomplete information.
Prioritizing Fiscal Discipline and Growth
Any sustainable solution to our affordability crisis must prioritize fiscal discipline. While we understand the pressures that federal and state funding shifts place on the county—and we agree with the goal of creating a more equitable tax structure to fund vital services—we believe a new revenue stream should not be the automatic answer. We must be wary of a trend where the solution to every fiscal challenge is to increase the tax burden on residents and businesses.
True long-term stability for Ulster County will not come from recurring tax increases, but from fostering a vibrant, expanding economy. We must prioritize strategies that broaden our local tax base rather than relying on ever-growing government budgets. When government spending consistently outpaces our local economic growth, we create an environment that stifles innovation and limits the ability of our small businesses—the backbone of our community—to reinvest, hire, and thrive. A measured review of the county’s operational needs is a necessary precursor to asking stakeholders to commit to a new tax obligation.
A Collaborative Path Forward
Ulster Strong remains focused on supporting smart and sustainable economic growth for our community. We agree with the County Executive that affordability is a critical issue; our goal is not to stop progress, but to ensure that the solutions we implement are as robust, sustainable, and equitable as they are intended to be. To that end, we believe business leaders and economic stakeholders must be active participants in crafting solutions. A tax policy developed in isolation risks missing the nuances of how it might impact the local business ecosystem or the migration patterns that have been central to the county’s recent growth.
We urge the Ulster County Legislature to reject the rush to a vote. By delaying this decision until the fall, the county can ensure that it has the full 2025 audit in hand and that it has engaged in a robust, transparent dialogue with the business community. Taking the time to answer common sense questions, like why the thresholds were set at the proposed levels, why it makes sense for Ulster County to act alone, or how the new tax will be guaranteed to offset property taxes will help people arrive at informed positions, rather than emotional reactions.
Ulster Strong stands ready to help, in good faith, to bring stakeholders to the table to understand the county’s fiscal challenges and to identify options that preserve the county’s fiscal strength while balancing equity with long-term economic sustainability.
Let’s take the time to get this right.