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Ulster County Legislature removes short‑term rental language from property tax exemption local law, adopts measure 6-0
Summary
Legislators amended and adopted local law (Resolution No. 553 of 02/2024) to provide a county real‑property tax exemption while striking a provision referencing short‑term rentals; amendment and final local law passed unanimously, 6‑0.
Ulster County legislators on the floor amended and adopted a local law (Resolution No. 553 of 02/2024) that provides a county real‑property tax exemption while striking a provision that would have referenced short‑term rentals. The amended local law passed by a 6‑0 vote.
The measure, described during discussion as a local law providing an exemption on the county portion of real property tax, had included language addressing short‑term rentals. A sponsor noted the county had provided members a copy of the City of Kingston law as a reference. Several legislators and staff said Kingston’s ordinance treated short‑term rental violations as grounds for rescinding benefits, and that Kingston had recently tightened its short‑term rental rules.
Legislators moved to strike the section of the draft local law dealing with short‑term rentals (identified in the draft as section g). A voice/hand vote on the amendment was recorded in the meeting transcript with multiple legislators voting yes; the amendment was adopted. After the amendment, the Legislature voted to adopt the local law as amended; the meeting record shows the final adoption vote was 6 in favor, 0 opposed.
During debate a legislator asked whether the county executive’s office concurred with removing the short‑term rental language; the transcript records a request to confer with the county executive’s office but indicates staff did not provide a definitive position at the time of the vote. A legislator also observed that Kingston’s approach left enforcement to municipalities and suggested the county likewise leave short‑term rental regulation to municipalities.
The adopted local law, as amended, will apply the county portion of the exemption without the short‑term rental disqualification language that had been under consideration.
The discussion and votes on this item occurred during the legislature’s regular session; copies of the county annual reports and the draft local law were made available to legislators electronically before the vote.
