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Ulster panel advances charter amendments that raise contract amendment threshold to $75,000

5807098 · August 15, 2025
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Summary

Committee approved amendments to a proposed local law modifying budget and finance provisions in the county charter; notable change raises the county’s contract and amendment threshold from $50,000 to $75,000.

The committee voted Aug. 14 to advance proposed local law No. 6 (Resolution 3-76), which would modify various charter and administrative code provisions governing budget and finance. The changes are primarily recommendations from the county’s Charter Review Commission issued in September 2023.

Committee members moved to amend the draft ordinance with changes proposed by the County Executive’s Office and then voted to forward the law for further consideration. The committee summary highlighted a change raising the dollar threshold for certain contract awards and contract amendments from $50,000 to $75,000.

Supporters said increasing the threshold should reduce the number of items referred to the Ways and Means Committee for routine contract amendments. One committee member said the change would “cut down on the ways and means agenda.” Opponents or those reserving judgment said they would discuss the measure further in Ways and Means, where they anticipated differing votes.

The committee adopted the amendment and voted to send the local law forward with the changes. The measure will appear on the legislative calendar for subsequent committee review and full legislative consideration; the transcript did not record a final countywide effective date or implementation schedule.

Committee discussion also referenced the Charter Review Commission’s recommendations generally; no additional statutory citations or funding authorizations were required at this stage.