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Ulster County has shared over $27 million in sales tax revenue with local municipalities from the record $175 million collected in 2024. The City of Kingston received the largest portion, over $20.1 million, while the towns collectively received $7 million. Despite significant retail sales in towns like Ulster and New Paltz, they do not receive the largest shares due to the distribution method based on assessed value or population, as explained by County Comptroller March Gallagher.
The county retains $148.2 million of the total revenue. According to Mid Hudson News, sales tax revenue has been steadily increasing, with $170.2 million collected in 2023 and $165.4 million in 2022.
Additionally, Ulster County Executive Jen Metzger announced that the county's towns and villages will receive an extra $1.7 million this month, thanks to a 2021 sales tax-sharing agreement with Kingston. This agreement allows for an additional 1% of gross sales tax revenues to be shared if collections exceed a certain threshold. The City of Kingston approved this proposal, marking the third consecutive year of additional allocations.