Partisan Legislative Proposals Would Gut Funding for County’s New Department of Economic Development, Department of the Environment, and Eliminate Critical Position Promoting Diversity in The County Workforce
KINGSTON, NY – Ulster County Executive Pat Ryan today responded to a series of proposals by a faction of the Ulster County Legislature to strip critical funding and services meant to protect the environment, support economic development efforts, and promote diversity in the county workforce.
The proposals, sponsored and submitted by individual members of the Ulster County Legislature, are meant to amend County Executive Ryan’s proposed 2020 budget, which fully supports programs and services county residents have called for and come to expect. Ryan’s budget was shaped by extensive public input, including a series of town hall meetings in every community within Ulster County during his first five months in office. Ryan, who was re-elected earlier this month as the county’s chief executive by a historic margin, presented his proposed budget which fully funded critical programs while cutting the county’s property tax levy to the lowest level in more than two decades.
“It’s crystal clear that these proposed cuts are out of step and out of touch with the values, needs, and concerns of our residents,” said County Executive Ryan. “What I learned in the twenty-plus town halls I held in every town, village, and city in Ulster County is that our residents want us to protect our environment, they want smart and proven economic development strategies, and they want a workforce that reflects the diversity of the community they are tasked to serve. Not a single member of the public attended the budget hearings held by the Legislature. These Legislators should listen to the residents of their communities who have spoken to these values both in person and through the ballot box.”
Among the harmful proposals County Executive Ryan opposes is an attempt to strip $50,000 in funding from the county’s Department of the Environment and cut all funding and resources needed to run the county’s newly formed Department of Economic Development. In addition, a proposal exists to eliminate the newly proposed position of Chief Diversity Officer for Ulster County.
“As the Mayor of the City of Kingston, I fully support and share County Executive Ryan’s vision for economic development in Ulster County and I look forward to building an even stronger economic development partnership between the City of Kingston and the County of Ulster,” said City of Kingston Mayor Steve Noble. “This can only be done if funding for the Economic Development office is restored. It is surprising and discouraging to learn that the Legislature, which so recently decided by an overwhelming majority to create the first-ever Department of Economic Development, is now considering de-funding these efforts.”
“I encourage supporting this economic development budget to give our Economic Development efforts a fighting chance,” said Don Tallerman, Ulster County business owner and Fifth Ward City of Kingston Aldermember-elect. “As we all know, we face a major challenge – bringing business to our region. For many reasons, it seems to be an uphill battle attracting large companies to upstate New York. The $275K for funding this effort, in support of Pat Ryan’s vision, is a very good start. The idea of cutting this budget now is like throwing away our sneakers as were getting ready to run a marathon.”
“I am disappointed by the amendment to remove the Chief Diversity Officer from the Ulster County’s 2020 budget,” said Tyrone Wilson, Founder and Executive Director of Harambee. “As someone who works every day to promote and celebrate our heritage, I believe that we need a county government that reflects our diverse cultures. Without a position dedicated to recruiting people who have been historically underrepresented in our workforce, we will not see this type of change.”
“A Chief Diversity Officer would make sure that our County workforce represented the many voices and cultures that make Ulster County such an amazing place to live,” said Rita Worthington, Councilmember City of Kingston 4th Ward. “A more inclusive and diverse workforce would help our County create and implement services for all of our residents. We hope that the Legislature can see the value of diversity and not eliminate this much-needed position.”
“Riverkeeper supports County Executive Ryan's "Green Fund" included in his 2020 budget to support energy efficiency and renewable energy projects across Ulster County government,” said Riverkeeper Legislative Advocacy Manager Jeremy Cherson. “Energy efficiency is the cheapest and often most underutilized strategy for reducing energy use and is vital to meeting the county's climate and energy goals. The intended use for the 2020 funds at the Department of the Environment are to finalize a solar assessment on county buildings, which we hope will lead to future installations of rooftop solar.
“On behalf of the membership of the Hudson Valley and Catskills Chapter of former Vice-President Al Gore’s Climate Reality Project, we support the $50,000 in the Executive's 2020 budget called the “green fund,” said Tim Guinee, Chairperson of the Hudson Valley Chapter of the Climate Reality Project. “I ask the Legislature to not cut this funding but recognize it’s vital importance and leave these funds alone.”
Amendments to County Executive Ryan’s 2020 budget will be heard at the Monday, November 25th meeting of the Ulster County Legislature’s Ways and Means Committee at 3pm in the Karen Binder Library located on the 6th floor of the Ulster County Office Building. All amendments will be heard on the December 3rd special meeting of the Ulster County Legislature as part of the budget discussion and adoption.
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