Ulster County News

FROM: ULSTER COUNTY PUBLIC INFORMATION OFFICE

DATE: August 1, 2002  

At the July 11, 2002 session of the Ulster County Legislature, Chairman Ward D. Todd joined Michelle Mosher, Town Clerk of the Town of Gardiner, who is also the President of the Ulster County Town Clerks and Tax Collectors Association, to present a Pride of Ulster County Award to Laurilyn J. Frasier, Town Clerk of the Town of Shandaken. The pride was presented in recognition of having been selected by the Ulster County Town Clerks and Tax Collectors Association as the "Town Clerk of the Year." In addition, Legislator Susan Cummings representing Senator Bonacic presented a New York State Senate Proclamation honoring Laurilyn J. Frasier.

Also, Chairman Ward D. Todd called upon District 7 Legislators, Majority Leader Richard Gerentine, Daniel Alfonso, Charles Busick, Frank Felicello, Barbara Santoro and Fawn Tantillo to present a Pride of Ulster County award to Chief Robert Troncillito and President Aldo Santini of the Marlboro Fire Hose Company No. 1 in recognition of being awarded "Best Overall" in the Dress Parade Competition at the 2002 Hudson Valley Firemen’s Association Convention Parade in Lake George on June 22, 2002.

In other business, lawmakers approved the 2003 budget for the Ulster County Community College. In maintaining Ulster County’s commitment to education and our youth, an increase of $150,000 to $5,789,195 is allotted for 2003, reflecting a 2% increase.

In other business, the Ways and Means Committee, chaired by Legislator Susan Cummings, put forth a review on the concept of Zero-Base Budgeting. The Ways and Means Committee yearly requires all department heads to submit Mandated and Optional Program Survey Summary Sheets. The summary sheets provide much of the same information as the zero-base budget concept. The County Budgetary Process includes the most important characteristics of a "Modified" Base Line Budget, which essentially accomplishes the same results as a zero-base budget process for a governmental type organization.

Noting that the County property tax rate has remained at less than 0% over the past four years, Chairman Cummings remarked "that the Ways and Means Committee welcomes the ideas of individual Legislators to improve and streamline Ulster’s already successful Budget process."

The next meeting of the Ulster County Legislature will be held on August 8^th, 2002 at 7:00 P.M. The meeting will be held in the Legislative Chambers at the Ulster County Office Building.