Ulster board adopts 2026 budget under tax cap and approves hires, contracts

The Town of Ulster board unanimously approved a preliminary 2026 budget on Nov. 20 that the board said comes in $12,907 below New York State's 2% tax cap and increases property taxes by roughly 0.59653 percent.

Why it matters: Town leaders said the budget preserves existing positions and services while reducing projected health‑insurance costs and adjusting several line items so the town remains under the tax cap. Residents questioned large cash‑balance changes in the town's reports before the vote.

The board chair said the administration and comptroller scrutinized the numbers and that the package submitted to the county office would be the preliminary 2026 budget as modified. Chair said adjustments included changes to police retirement and contract timing, and a projected $186,000 savings from lower health‑insurance costs across funds. The chair also noted smaller savings in the highway, sewer and water funds tied to corrected insurance allocations.

A member of the public, identified in the record as a resident speaking on behalf of taxpayers, urged the board to adopt the final budget and said the version before the board increased property taxes by about 0.59653 percent. Another resident, Nick Werner, asked for clarification after the town's cash position in the most recent packet showed an $8,222,369 increase in about 30 days; the board said it would investigate and respond before the vote.

The board voted without recorded dissents to adopt the preliminary budget as modified. The chair said the document will be signed and delivered to the county by the statutory deadline.

Votes at a glance (formal actions approved Nov. 20): - Hire: Andrew Pettit, full‑time Municipal Codes Officer (MCO); wage reported at $24.26/hour, competitive civil‑service, union Local 17, full‑time health insurance; outcome: approved. - Contract: Award of sanitary sewer relining contract (project TU253) to Instaform Technologies LLC for $479,390.60; outcome: approved. - Agreement: Deputy supervisor authorized to execute a transition agreement with Margaret "Peggy" King through 03/31/2026 with continued duties at existing pay and lifetime retiree health insurance; outcome: approved. - Delegation: Resolution revoking a prior delegation and delegating day‑to‑day administrative authority to the deputy supervisor; outcome: approved. - District orders: Final orders approving Cherry Hill Water District extension No. 1 and Washington Avenue Sewer District No. 2; outcomes: approved. - Consulting: Agreement with La Bella Associates to support the early avenue project; outcome: approved.

Board members and staff emphasized that most votes were unanimous and that documentation will be posted to the town website. The comptroller recorded the abstract of claims for the night at $2,698,558.02 and the town clerk's and supervisor's monthly reports were accepted after staff corrected a file‑month error in the supervisor's report.

The board said it will follow up with the resident who asked about the recent cash increase and will report back with details on the cash‑position changes and whether any of the funds are available for one‑time tax relief.

The board adjourned the public portion of the meeting after approving the agenda items and moved to an executive session on collective negotiations.