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Ulster County adopts 12‑week parental leave policy after fiscal and scope debate
Summary
The Ulster County Legislature adopted Resolution 119 to create a county parental leave program after extended debate over fiscal impact, benefit accrual and scope; the measure passed 19-4.
On March 18, 2025 the Ulster County Legislature adopted Resolution 119, creating a parental leave program for county employees. The resolution passed on a recorded roll call 19 to 4 after more than an hour of debate over the program's cost, scope and implementation details.
Majority Leader Ushitel described the policy as providing employees with paid family leave and said benefits would continue to accrue during the leave. "We're actually providing full wages for 12 weeks," he said, framing the measure as an effort to support families and improve employee retention.
Opponents raised several concerns before the vote. Legislator Kovacs called the resolution "rubber stamping an expensive policy with no cost analysis," arguing the legislature should have a fiscal impact study before adopting a costly program. Legislator Maloney said he supported leave for mothers but opposed a blanket policy that grants extended paid time off to both parents without clearer fiscal and operational guardrails, saying, "I don't think I should have gotten 4 months off" in reference to the scale of leave being discussed and the program's affordability.
Other questions raised during debate included whether benefits such as health insurance and retirement contributions would continue during leave (the majority leader said benefits would accrue), whether foster care placements should be included (a legislator asked for clarity), and how small county departments would manage staffing during absences. A motion to send the measure back to committee was proposed but ultimately withdrawn; the full body then proceeded to a long roll call and the resolution passed 19-4.
The resolution directs county staff to implement the parental leave program. Several legislators urged follow-up work: produce a clear fiscal impact and an implementation plan for smaller departments, and clarify whether fostering and elder care are covered in future amendments.
The resolution's adoption extends paid family leave to county employees, but several members said they expect administrative follow-through to answer the open operational and fiscal questions.
