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An Ulster County legislator is proposing the creation of a task force to explore eliminating property taxes as a way to address the county's affordability crisis.
Kevin Roberts, the Republican minority leader representing Plattekill, has introduced a resolution calling for a seven-member feasibility task force to study phasing out county property taxes over five years. The group would examine alternative revenue sources or spending reductions to replace the lost tax revenue, according to the Daily Freeman.
Roberts said Tuesday (April 7) that reducing or eliminating county property taxes could help solve what he described as an 'affordability crisis' affecting Ulster County residents. 'We've been struggling with the affordability crisis for the last five or six years,' Roberts told the Freeman. 'I think we should make housing more affordable for the people who live here.'
The task force would be required to deliver its findings and recommendations to the county legislature no later than December 31st.
Ulster County's property tax levy has decreased from $76.5 million in 2019 to $74 million in 2026, even as overall county spending has increased by $66 million during the same period. Roberts believes the county could cut the tax levy in half through reduced spending and downsizing county government.
The proposed resolution will be considered by the Legislature's Ways and Means Committee at its meeting on April 16.
The Ulster County proposal reflects a broader national conversation about property tax reform. States including Florida, Texas, Georgia, Indiana, Ohio, and Wyoming have begun exploring policies to significantly reduce or eliminate residential property taxes as housing affordability concerns grow nationwide.
In Florida, lawmakers recently advanced legislation that could eliminate most homestead property taxes if approved by voters through a constitutional amendment, with reforms potentially taking effect as early as 2027. Similar discussions are occurring in Texas, Georgia, Indiana, and Ohio, where legislators are considering proposals to lower taxes on primary residences.
Rising home values and higher tax bills have intensified pressure on homeowners across the country, sparking debates about whether property taxes should continue after a home is paid off. The combination of elevated mortgage rates, insurance costs, and property taxes has increased the overall cost of homeownership for millions of Americans.
Roberts' proposal follows criticism he leveled at current County Executive Jen Metzger and former County Executive Pat Ryan, both Democrats, for budget increases over recent years. He contrasted their approach with what he described as more stable spending under former Democratic County Executive Michael Hein and Republican legislative control.
The resolution does not specify how the county would replace lost property tax revenue, leaving those determinations to the proposed task force's research and recommendations.