mgal@co.ulster.ny.us
Ulster County Wins Momentous Broadband Fiber Award
After years of planning and work behind the scenes, Ulster County has received news this week that broadband fiber will be run to all 1,293 unserved locations in the County under the federal Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) Program through a grant of $17.3 million to Verizon and an …
Fraud Prevention Through Good Accounts Payable Processes
We have created this set of guidance and checklist resources to assist Ulster County accounts payable and finance staff submit materials for approval with the highest likelihood of approval. You are the first line of defense against fraud on behalf of taxpayers! Accounts Payable Processing Checklist Contract Guidance Employee Reimbursement …
Press Release Re: NYS Retirement Tier Differences
As momentum builds during this year’s New York State budget cycle to reform Tier 6 of the New York State Retirement System, the Ulster County Comptroller’s Office is urging careful consideration of the financial impact on local governments. With more than half of Ulster County employees enrolled in Tier 6, …
What is the story with SNAP?
You may have been hearing the news that SNAP benefits are going to be cut. What is the real story with SNAP? It’s the largest federal program to ensure food security for the American people and it’s funded through the United States Department of Agriculture. The full name of SNAP …
Press Release: Audit of the License of the County Fairgrounds to the Ulster County Agricultural Society
The Ulster County Comptroller’s Office today released an audit of the County’s license agreement with the Ulster County Agricultural Society (UCAS), the nonprofit organization that operates the County Fairgrounds in New Paltz. The audit found that while UCAS generally met its annual capital investment obligations, it failed to consistently provide …
Occupancy Tax Audit Finds $250,000 in Recoverable Revenues: Tax Enforcement Needs Work
The Comptroller’s Office recently audited Ulster County occupancy tax from the largest taxpayers and those who claim exemptions. This audit did not cover occupancy tax revenue from short-term rentals. The County occupancy tax law allows taxpayers to claim an exemption when they have services or amenities included in the nightly …
The Comptroller Highlighted Samadhi Issues a Year Ago. Where Was the Samadhi Board?
The recent closure of the Samadhi Refuge housing facility—abrupt, uncoordinated, and deeply disruptive to the vulnerable individuals who had come to rely on its services and to the employees that serve them—represents a troubling culmination of issues this Office has raised for well over a year. The Ulster County Comptroller’s …
Housing Oversight
The Comptroller’s Office plays a role monitoring this issue in several ways. We have audited the compliance with occupancy tax by short-term rentals and identified that short-term rentals are impacting our housing inventory. We have also published on emergency housing in Ulster County. Finally, we have oversight over the many …
Audit of Installment Contracts Shows Opportunities for More Consistent Enforcement
Kingston, NY (December 4, 2024) – Today Ulster County Comptroller March Gallagher released an Audit of Real Property Tax Installment Agreement Contracts. When a real property taxpayer becomes delinquent on their property taxes, they can enter into an installment agreement contract with the County to repay the back taxes. The …
The One Thing that 2,800 Ulster County Households Lack Across 21 Municipalities
Portions of Ulster County are not served with high-speed internet. Knowing this lack of service, in 2022 the Ulster County Comptroller used her power under the Ulster County Charter to convene a Citizens Commission for Digital Inclusion. The Commission is made up individual citizens and elected officials from those communities …