Ulster County Leaders Propose Tax Surcharge on High-Income Earners

Ulster County Executive Jen Metzger, State Senator Michelle Hinchey, and Assemblymember Sarahana Shrestha announced legislation Thursday that would allow Ulster County to create a local income-based surcharge on high-income residents.

The proposed legislation, known as the Ulster County for Fair Taxes Act (S.10532/A.11460), would authorize the county through Home Rule to establish a local surcharge on income earned above certain thresholds. The measure must first pass the State Legislature before Ulster County could begin the local law process through the County Legislature.

Under the proposal, the surcharge would apply only to income above $200,000 for single filers and above $400,000 for joint filers who live in Ulster County. Officials said the surcharge would function as a 16.75% surcharge on the state income tax paid on income above those thresholds, amounting to about a 1.5% tax on income over the threshold.

County officials provided an example of a single filer earning $300,000 annually. Under the proposal, the filer would pay an estimated $1,465 surcharge to Ulster County based on income above the $200,000 threshold.

“The deck is really stacked against working families and people living on fixed incomes, who can barely keep up with the rising costs of basic necessities, and on top of this have to shoulder a disproportionate share of the cost of funding essential government services,” Metzger said in a statement.

Metzger said the county is seeking “an additional revenue option based on ability to pay” using the existing state income tax system.

Hinchey said the legislation is intended to help residents struggling with rising costs.

“We need creative solutions to protect our residents from being priced out of their community,” Hinchey said. “We’ve put this legislation on the table to provide Ulster County with a new tool to make the local tax system fairer.”

Shrestha said local governments have increasingly relied on property and sales taxes to fund services.

“When the wealthy don’t pay their fair share in taxes, the burden is unfairly borne by those who have less,” Shrestha said.

Ulster County Legislature Majority Leader Abe Uchitelle contrasted the proposal with federal tax policy.

“In Washington, they’re handing tax breaks to billionaires and taking food off people’s tables,” Uchitelle said. “In Ulster County, we’re asking the highest earners to pitch in a little more so working families can finally catch a break.”

Ulster County Legislator and Ways and Means Chair Jeff Collins said the county has not raised property taxes since 2012 and described the proposal as a way to reduce reliance on property and sales taxes.

According to county officials, 41% of renters and homeowners in Ulster County are considered severely cost-burdened, spending at least half of their income on housing, while about one-third of working households struggle to afford basic necessities.

Image: Ulster County Executive Jen Metzger (at the podium) announcing the Ulster County for Fair Taxes Act at a press conference May 22, 2026, in Kingston, NY. (Ulster County Government)