Ulster County lawmakers continue to scrutinize the proposed county budget for next year, a spending plan that would carry a 49 percent property tax hike.
That is “unacceptable” to Michael Stock, Republican majority leader of the legislature who told MidHudsonNews.com yesterday he wants the tax hike to be in the range of no more than 10 to 12 percent.
Legislative leaders have instructed department heads to come back with tighter budgets.
Stock is hoping that no layoffs will be required and has a plan of attrition and longer hours. “What we may do is go from 35 hour weeks to 40 hour weeks, and that eliminates a desk, a computer, a telephone, benefits and all the expenses associated with an additional employee,” he said.
Stock wants to keep any growth in the county operations to a little over two percent.