Ulster County Executive Addresses Chamber of Commerce
Ulster County Executive Michael Hein will discuss county property taxes and much more when he appears at the monthly breakfast meeting of the Ulster County Regional Chamber of Commerce on Feb. 22. The breakfast, scheduled for 7:30-9 a.m. at the Best Western Plus in Kingston, is sponsored by Villa Veritas Foundation Inc.
Under the recently adopted 2018 county budget, the property tax levy—or the amount to be raised from property owners—is $76.7 million. The levy was $77 million in 2010. Hein also noted that Ulster County’s unemployment rate, which was 7.9 percent in 2009 at the height of the economic downturn, was 4.5 percent in November.
Helping out the local economy is a burgeoning film industry, which has received a boost from the state extending a film production tax credit to Ulster and surrounding counties. Productions that film in Ulster County were already eligible for a 30-percent tax credit for certain expenses. But last year, the state extended an additional 10-percent credit to Ulster and 11 other upstate counties.
“We fought and won a leveling of the playing field and a tax credit being extended for the Hudson Valley,” Hein said. “Not only has Ulster County benefitted, but surrounding counties have benefitted as well. It’s wonderful when you see an immediate impact.” Film production spending in the Hudson Valley was up 300 percent in 2017.
Hein said he will also unveil plans to “impact generational poverty” in Midtown Kingston. “We’re talking about investments in excess of $11 million in multiple programs,” he said. “We’re talking about creating access to a better future for many people who have been underserved and underprivileged for an extended period of time.”
Regarding his appearance before the Chamber of Commerce later his month, Hein said, “It’s a wonderful opportunity for people to get great insight into what’s going on in their government that has a direct impact on them. I’ve always firmly believed that what goes on in local government has the most direct impact on our citizens’ day-to-day lives.”
Hein, a Democrat, was elected Ulster County’s first executive in November 2008 after residents voted to change the county form of government. He formerly served as county administrator and also worked in the county treasurer’s office.
Chamber breakfast programs are a great way to network with other local business leaders and stay on top of current events. Pre-registration is strongly encouraged. For more information or to register, call the Chamber at (845) 338-5100 or go online at www.ulsterchamber.org.