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Ulster County SNAP and Taxes: Questions and Answers
As the fiscal watchdog elected by the people of Ulster County, I believe it is important to help residents understand the fiscal implications of major policy proposals. There has been considerable confusion surrounding the proposed Ulster County Fair Taxes Act, Property Taxes, and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program known as …
Ulster County Income Tax Surcharge
Currently at issue is the Ulster County Fair Taxes Act proposal (Resolution No. 2026-295). As the County continues to adopt deficit budgets that anticipate relying on Fund Balance appropriations, and we face impacts from federal cuts, I applaud the Executive and the Legislature for considering additional new revenue sources. While …
Petition to Discharge: Encouraging Robust Debate
The Ulster County Charter does not direct the Comptroller to evaluate pending legislation, but our team does review all pending resolutions and local laws for their fiscal implication. This month, Resolution 2026-331 raises broader questions about transparency, public debate, and minority participation in government that warrant discussion. Pending Resolution 2026-331 …
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 …
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 …
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 …
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 …
Four Recommendations to Strengthen Ulster County Government’s Internal Controls
Since its inception in 2009, the Ulster County Comptroller’s Office has issued numerous recommendations on addressing internal control weaknesses. What exactly are internal controls? They comprise the “plans, methods, policies, and procedures used to fulfill the mission, strategic plan, goals, and objectives of the entity.” The Office of the Ulster …
6 Ways You Can Audit Ulster County Government Today
This year, the office of the Ulster County Comptroller launched a new transparency tool called the Ulster County Vendor and Contract Dashboard. The Dashboard provides visibility into most active Ulster County contracts, the vendors with whom we work, and payments to those vendors. Going forward, the Dashboard will be updated …