Legislative counsel presented proposed language on July 1 to amend the Ulster County Resource Recovery Agency service agreement so the legislature would receive written notice if the agency intends to issue bonds above $40 million and would have an opportunity to register opposition.

The counsel explained the $40 million figure was drawn from the contract language in a 1992 agreement; when adjusted for inflation to 2025 dollars it is roughly $91 million, but counsel said the amendment would keep the numeric threshold at $40 million to align with prior contractual language. Under the draft amendment, the agency must provide written notice of intent to bond above that threshold; the legislature would have a period (drafted at 30 days, with possible extension) to act and, if it passed a resolution opposing the bond, the agency board could still proceed by supermajority (the amendment refers to a two‑thirds or four-fifths override depending on board composition).

Why it matters: several legislators said the amendment may be largely hortatory because the agency already requires board votes and state comptroller review for revenue bonds. Some legislators argued the amendment as proposed would allow the legislature only to express displeasure, not to impose a binding cap, while others said a clear contractual constraint—if legally enforceable—would provide mutual deterrence.

Debate and outcomes: Committee members questioned whether the amendment meaningfully changes the legislature’s leverage, whether the threshold should be updated for inflation, and whether a cap without a net service fee is enforceable. Director Ryder and counsel said the amendment was designed to provide a legislatively visible role without unduly intruding on the agency’s revenue-bond authority; counsel noted the amendment does not create an absolute cap. Members said they had not had time to study the circulated language and asked for additional review. A motion to postpone action on the UCRA service agreement (Resolution 209) for a month was made and seconded; the committee postponed the resolution to allow members more time to review the amendment language and related materials.

Ending: Counsel and agency staff said they will provide the committee the redlined amendment language, legal background on why $40 million was chosen and an inflation comparison, and proposed timing changes for the notice period to help the committee refine the draft before a formal vote.