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Ulster County Legislature caps summer gas sales tax at $3 a gallon
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Summary
On April 21 the Ulster County Legislature voted 21–2 to cap the county sales tax on gasoline at $3 per gallon for June, July and August, a temporary measure sponsors said will deliver modest relief to commuters and small businesses amid rising fuel costs.
KINGSTON, N.Y. — The Ulster County Legislature on April 21 approved a short-term cap on the county portion of the sales tax on gasoline, setting a $3-per-gallon maximum for the summer months of June, July and August.
Legislator Laura Donovan, the resolution’s sponsor, urged colleagues to support the measure as targeted relief for residents facing higher fuel prices. “We as the Ulster County legislature can’t get us back to under $3 a gallon for gasoline, but we can reduce the total cost of a fill up by capping the county sales tax levy on fuel at $3 per gallon,” Donovan said.
Why it matters: backers said the cap will immediately lower pump prices for commuters, small businesses and farms during a period of steep increases. Opponents cautioned that the measure is a short-term fix that does not address the underlying causes of high fuel prices and may not guarantee price reductions at retail.
Supporters described the policy as a symbolic, practical effort to help residents now. Legislator Val Marino, a cosponsor, said the measure sends a message that the county stands with families confronting inflation and higher energy costs. “This will provide some type of levity for people,” Marino said.
Debate centered on effectiveness and equity. Legislator Nolan said he could support the temporary measure while warning it is not a long-term solution; he and others encouraged parallel investments in public transit and renewable energy. Legislator Sperry noted that the $0.04-a-gallon reduction after a $4 threshold represents modest savings for many drivers, while Grossman estimated that a family driving a truck could save about $28–$30 over the three-month period.
Several legislators also raised questions about whether gas stations would pass the saving to consumers. “My biggest concern is that the savings won’t actually get passed on to the consumer and that the gas stations are gonna eat it up,” one legislator said during debate.
Roll call and outcome: after an extended roll call and multiple members explaining their votes, the resolution passed 21–2. The sponsors said the cap applies only to the county sales-tax component and is limited to June, July and August.
What’s next: The legislature adopted the resolution during its regular meeting; implementation will depend on the county’s administrative steps to adjust the tax rate on gasoline sales for those months.
Sources: Ulster County Legislature meeting transcript, April 21, 2026. Quotes and vote tally drawn from the official proceedings.
