“We face challenging and uncertain times ahead as a result of federal budget cuts, but Ulster County remains steadfast in our commitment to the health, safety, and well-being of our residents,” said County Executive Jen Metzger. “The 2026 Executive Budget reflects this commitment, with targeted and fiscally responsible investments to address food and housing insecurity, strengthen emergency medical response, improve public transit and infrastructure, and protect the environment — while keeping taxes flat. At the same time, as the federal government shifts more costs to states and counties, we are closely monitoring long-term fiscal impacts and have limited new expenditures in this budget to responsibly balance current needs with future obligations.”
"County Executive Metzger's presentation made clear why we need to be prepared for uncertain times ahead,” said Peter Criswell, Chair of the Ulster County Legislature. “We appreciate her leadership in developing a budget that anticipates federal cost shifts, and we're ready to engage in the collaborative process of review, amendment, and adoption."
For a detailed overview of the budget presentation, see the attached (PDF, 136KB)2026 Executive Budget Summary(PDF, 1MB) document.