KINGSTON, N.Y. — Ulster County Executive Jen Metzger presented a proposed $519.7 million executive budget Thursday, saying the spending plan seeks to maintain core services while addressing rising costs and new financial pressures.

Metzger delivered the 2027 Executive Budget Address in the Ulster County Legislative Chambers before county legislators, department heads, local elected officials, union leaders and community partners.

“Ulster County is navigating through a sea of rising costs, driven by major federal cuts and global economic pressures,” Metzger said. “In this difficult fiscal environment, we remain committed to protecting and supporting the people of Ulster County. The Executive Budget reflects that commitment, seeking to meet new and growing needs in the most cost-effective way possible.”

The proposed budget includes $519.7 million in expenses, $414.2 million in anticipated revenue, $30.4 million in fund balance appropriations and a $75.1 million property tax levy.

The plan calls for a 1.5% increase in the county property tax levy, which the county says would amount to about $20 for many homeowners, depending on household valuation.

The county says the budget faces increased costs for retirement, employee health insurance, mandated safety-net programs and other services. Federal changes to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program are expected to result in a $1.4 million loss in SNAP administrative revenue, along with $1.7 million in additional SNAP program obligations.

Major drivers of the $23.7 million increase in the budget include:

• Regular pay: $6.8 million increase
• Sales tax distributions: $3.5 million increase
• Health insurance: $3.2 million increase
• Department of Social Services programs: $2.7 million increase
• Emergency medical services: $1.9 million increase
• Retirement: $1.7 million increase
• Other costs: $1.5 million increase
• Software: $1.4 million increase
• Equipment rental: $1 million increase

The budget also reduces the number of funded positions by seven, eliminating 13 vacant positions while adding six positions that are either state- or federally funded or meet requirements established by the Legislature. Budgeted overtime would be reduced by nearly 4%, saving an estimated $250,000 from 2026 levels.

Among its program priorities, the budget includes funding for domestic-violence prevention, emergency food grants, housing, child care and workforce development. It includes $250,000 for continued emergency food grants, $2 million for family shelters supported by the Housing Action Fund, and $130,000 for a pilot home-based child care startup program.

The plan also proposes a new full-service DMV office at the Trudy Farber Center in Ellenville beginning in mid-2027.

Ulster County Legislature Chairman Peter Criswell said the budget comes as counties face new administrative costs associated with SNAP.

“This budget arrives on the very day Washington begins shifting the administrative cost of SNAP onto New York’s counties, and SNAP, like Medicaid, is a service we are required to provide,” Criswell said. “I thank County Executive Metzger for building this budget with that reality in mind, and the Legislature looks forward to doing the careful work of reviewing it on behalf of every Ulster County resident.”