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July 2026 - The Ulster County Legislature on Tuesday approved a resolution authorizing it to impose a resident income tax surcharge on higher-income residents. 

The resolution on Tuesday passed 15-8 with four Democrats dissenting, including county Legislator Laura Donovan of the town of Marlborough. She said that while county residents are clearly feeling rising costs, she said the county should do a deeper study into all options available to them, and the potential effects of passing this surcharge.

July 2026 - To The Editorial Team: There is a broad agreement affordability is one of the greatest challenges facing residents of Ulster County.

July 2026 - The proposal, which requires state approval, would levy an 18.75% surcharge on state income taxes paid by individuals earning $250,000 and couples earning $500,000. Several legislators who voted against the measure also said they wanted more data and analysis before moving forward.

“I feel it is imperative to review independent data and evaluate all reasonable alternatives, carefully considering all the facts, hear from subject matter experts and weigh both the intended and unintended consequences,” Legislator Laura Donovan, D-Marlborough, said.

July 2026 - The Ulster County Legislature’s Ways and Means Committee Thursday approved a home rule request to the state legislature to impose a resident income tax surcharge on high-income residents.  By a vote of four to three, the committee voted to advance it to the full county legislature. One of the ‘no’ votes was cast by Legislator Laura Donovan.

July 2026 - A new state grant program is offering financial relief to New York farmers facing rising production costs, and local officials are encouraging Hudson Valley growers to take advantage of the opportunity. The New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets recently launched the Agricultural Resiliency Against Tariffs Grant Program, a $30 million initiative that provides eligible farms with grants ranging from $1,000 to $25,000 to help offset increased operating expenses tied to tariffs. Ulster County Legislator Laura Donovan, who represents the Marlborough and Milton area, said the funding comes at a critical time for local agriculture. 

June 2026 - Ulster County Legislator Laura Donovan is urging federal officials to provide disaster assistance to farmers affected by a late-season freeze that caused widespread damage to Hudson Valley fruit crops. Donovan, D-Marlborough, praised Gov. Kathy Hochul’s formal request to the U.S. Department of Agriculture seeking a disaster declaration for New York counties hardest hit by the freeze, which occurred last month. According to Hochul’s request to U.S. Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins, damage to fruit operations, including peach, grape and apple growers, is estimated to exceed $30 million.

June 2026 - The $3 per gallon sales tax cap on gas went into effect in participating counties on Monday, June 1. In Ulster County, Legislator Laura Donovan of Marlborough introduced the measure, and she said the savings per fill-up “may not be substantial (but) every little bit helps at a time when the cost of most goods and services continues to rise.”

May 2026 - Governor Kathy Hochul Friday asked the USDA to designate several Hudson Valley counties as disaster areas as a result of significant fruit crop loss from the April freeze. Farmers in impacted areas around New York have reported an estimated loss of more than $30 million in their apple, stone fruit, grape, and strawberry crops and the Governor is asking the federal government for aid. Counties hard hit by the frost include Columbia, Dutchess, Greene, Orange, Putnam, Sullivan, Ulster, and Westchester. Contiguous counties include Delaware, and Rockland, among others in various parts of the state.