COUNTY REIMBURSES MILLIONS TO SCHOOLS FOR UNCOLLECTED PROPERTY TAXES
COMPTROLLER ESTIMATES $22,000,000.00 TO BE PAID BY APRIL 2010
KINGSTON, NY (January 8, 2009)… Ulster County Comptroller Elliott Auerbach released a BY THE NUMBERS report indicating that the County can expect to make local school districts “whole” for close to $22,000,000.00 for their unpaid 2009-2010 school taxes. The County, by law (NYS Real Property Tax Law Section 1330), “on or before the first day of April “must pay to the fifteen (15) school districts “the amount of unpaid school taxes”. This is after the taxes remain unpaid subsequent to being re-levied on the 2010 town and county tax bill.
According to Auerbach, “unpaid school taxes are expected to climb by over 50% since 2006-2007
“In better financial times this was less of a burden on the County,” said the Comptroller. “As a matter of fact the County was rewarded with a 7% penalty for its efforts once the obligation was met.” “But these are unconventional times and a multi-million dollar strain will reek havoc on the already reduced fund balance or force the County to borrow in anticipation of the future revenues,” Auerbach said.
“As a county we inherit an annual financial burden that is not of our own making nor one that we have any control over,” Comptroller Auerbach stated.
Thursday, January 7, 2010
Wednesday, January 6, 2010
Hotel operators, comptroller discuss how to boost room tax revenues
KINGSTON – In 2007, Ulster County collected more than $1 million from its hotel/motel tax. But in 2009 that figure dropped to $937,000.
On Wednesday, Ulster County Comptroller Elliott Auerbach wanted to know how to increase business and those revenues when he met with county innkeepers, resort managers and owners, and Chamber of Commerce and tourism officials.
“We’re seeing a considerable drop, especially when you see the 2007 numbers to the 2009 numbers. We’re close to a 10 percent drop in the bed numbers,” he said.
During the 30-minute meeting, questions were raised about whether all lodging facilities, ranging from singular B & Bs, to mid-level motel and national chains and resorts, were accurately reporting their occupancy rates and the taxes to coincide with those numbers.
“The folks here have been strong participants in the occupancy tax. Our concern here is: First and foremost is everybody participating paying the tax,” said Auerbach.
Large scale resorts are planned for Williams Lake in Rosendale and Belleayre Mountain on the Delaware County line. Auerbach said the county and the county’s lodge owners need to help bring in more operators to help with these needed revenues.
“What can we do to help the resort industry to bolster their ranks?” said Auerbach.
Jerry Luke, of Fox Hill Bed and Breakfast in Highland, attended the meeting. He said all lodge owners need to support their industry in the county.
“We want to help the county as much as we can because we’re all in it together,” he said.
And Luke feels all businesses are affected by tourism in Ulster County, a major driver in the county’s economy.
“It also affects every small business in the county,” he said, of the hotel/motel tax. “If we’re going to be collecting taxes, we want to ensure everybody benefits from it.”
Copyright © 2009 Mid-Hudson News Network, a division of Statewide News Network, Inc
On Wednesday, Ulster County Comptroller Elliott Auerbach wanted to know how to increase business and those revenues when he met with county innkeepers, resort managers and owners, and Chamber of Commerce and tourism officials.
“We’re seeing a considerable drop, especially when you see the 2007 numbers to the 2009 numbers. We’re close to a 10 percent drop in the bed numbers,” he said.
During the 30-minute meeting, questions were raised about whether all lodging facilities, ranging from singular B & Bs, to mid-level motel and national chains and resorts, were accurately reporting their occupancy rates and the taxes to coincide with those numbers.
“The folks here have been strong participants in the occupancy tax. Our concern here is: First and foremost is everybody participating paying the tax,” said Auerbach.
Large scale resorts are planned for Williams Lake in Rosendale and Belleayre Mountain on the Delaware County line. Auerbach said the county and the county’s lodge owners need to help bring in more operators to help with these needed revenues.
“What can we do to help the resort industry to bolster their ranks?” said Auerbach.
Jerry Luke, of Fox Hill Bed and Breakfast in Highland, attended the meeting. He said all lodge owners need to support their industry in the county.
“We want to help the county as much as we can because we’re all in it together,” he said.
And Luke feels all businesses are affected by tourism in Ulster County, a major driver in the county’s economy.
“It also affects every small business in the county,” he said, of the hotel/motel tax. “If we’re going to be collecting taxes, we want to ensure everybody benefits from it.”
Copyright © 2009 Mid-Hudson News Network, a division of Statewide News Network, Inc
Tuesday, January 5, 2010
Monday, January 4, 2010
Ulster County Legislative Report Card
Rodriguez scores perfect attendance for 2009 as comptroller starts his “Measure 12 Manage” audits
KINGSTON – Only one Ulster County legislator had a perfect attendance at all meetings in 2009. Hector Rodriguez didn’t miss one meeting of the full legislature, public hearings or committee meetings.
County Comptroller Elliot Auerbach Monday released “Measure 2 Manage” report, this one taking a look at the county legislature and how the more than $500,000 in salaries and benefits were spent.
He said that he plans on issuing other such reports looking at other department spending.
“Things like gas consumption by county departments or reimbursement of personal vehicle use by county employees or E-ZPass use or money generated through hotel-motel bed tax,” he said.
Auerbach hopes his reports result in reflection and questions from county residents “and in so doing, create new strategies, ideas and concepts for continuous improvement in governance.”
For a complete list of how all legislators did regarding attendance, reach tomorrow's edition of MidhudsonNews.com. or go the Comptroller's website at
http://www.ulstercountyny.gov/comptroller/2009%20Leg%20attendance.pdf
Sunday, December 6, 2009
COMPTROLLER CONFIDENTIAL DECEMBER 2009
Here are some of the issues and projects facing the Office of the Ulster County Comptroller for the month of December 2009.
1) An extensive audit of the $183,000+ medical bills for convicted killer Anthony Passaro Jr., while he was in the custody of the Ulster County Sheriff. Early indications are that there may be overcharges and duplicate billing.
2) An appeal to the Ulster County Legislature who diverted $92,000 from the Comptroller’s budget in order to gain control and authority over the county’s independent outside audit.
3) A review and report of the obligations of the County to reimburse school districts for unpaid taxes.
4) A review and report of the hotel/motel bed tax.
5) A review and report of EZ-PASS use by Ulster County employees.
6) A review and report of vehicle fuel consumption.
7) A review and report of mileage reimbursement to County employees using personal vehicles to conduct county business.
8) A “report card” on 2009 legislator attendance at monthly meetings, public hearings and committee meetings.
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