Ulster County Legislature adopts immigration-enforcement policy, selects cents-per-gallon gas tax and approves broad consent package

The Ulster County Legislature met April 21 in Kingston and approved a large consent package of routine appointments, contracts and budget adjustments, adopted a county policy related to federal immigration enforcement and selected a cents-per-gallon method for the county motor-fuel sales tax.

The meeting opened at 7:04 p.m., with roll call showing 23 members present. After routine announcements and several communications from the County Executive and staff, the Legislature moved quickly through dozens of consent items, awarding contracts, confirming appointments and amending capital and operating budgets.

The Legislature voted 19–4 to adopt Resolution No. 189, "Establishing A Policy In Relation To Federal Immigration Enforcement In Ulster County." The recorded no votes were Legislators Kovacs, Lopez, Roberts and Walls. The resolution establishes a county-level policy on how county departments and officials handle requests or interactions related to federal immigration enforcement; the text of the resolution and implementing directives were part of the packet presented to members.

Lawmakers also acted on tax policy. Resolution No. 233 elected to impose a cents-per-gallon rate, rather than a percentage rate, for county motor fuel and diesel sales taxes pursuant to Article 29 of the New York State Tax Law. That measure passed with 21 votes in favor and 2 opposed (Noes: Legislators Briggs and Sperry). Members in favor said the cents-per-gallon option provides predictable, per-unit revenue; opponents recorded their objections in the roll call.

Energy and capital items included actions on the County’s Paradies Lane solar project. The Legislature adopted a SEQRA classification and moved a related design and environmental engineering work order; members later voted to amend the funding approach for the Paradies Lane solar installation, with Legislator Roberts moving and Legislator Lopez seconding an amendment to fund the project with Decarbonization Capital Reserve funds. That amendment carried unanimously.

Several bond authorizations and capital projects were approved, including authorizations tied to SUNY Ulster roof work, pavement preservation and other DPW projects. Multiple department contract awards and amendments were approved as part of the consent and non-consent business, among them agreements for information‑technology infrastructure and emergency services equipment.

Public comment on agenda items included five speakers during the public-comment period on resolutions. Alex Pantea spoke against the BusPatrol America contract (Resolution No. 180). Manna Jo Greene spoke on the Paradies Lane solar project and the Ulster County Community College roof project (Resolution No. 171). Joseph Caserto, Patricia Haidaoui and Daniel King each spoke in favor of Resolution No. 233 (gas sales tax). During the general public-comment period, speakers including Marie Beichert and Jennifer O’Donnell spoke in support of the Reuner House.

Legislator William W. Murray (District 20) offered closing remarks noting April is National Child Abuse Awareness Month. Murray cited county child-protection figures in his remarks: the county’s child-protection department managed about 2,000 cases in the past year and 10,000 cases since 2021; in 2025, 107 children were placed in foster care and 168 cases were documented by mandated reporters.

The Legislature adjourned at 8:40 p.m. The next regular meeting is scheduled for May 19, 2026; the resolution deadline was listed as April 22, 2026.