KINGSTON – Congressional candidate Jackie Auringer (R-C, Kingston) has ripped a new proposal by Ulster County Executive Jen Metzger and state legislators to authorize a new income-based county tax surcharge, stating the plan is being sold as fairness but would actually be another new tax on residents already struggling with cost-of-living expenses.
Metzger, along with county legislators, Senator Michelle Hinchey (D, Saugerties) and Assemblywoman Sarahana Shrestha (D, Esopus) introduced the Ulster County for Fair Taxes Act, legislation that would impose income tax surcharges on the rich and potentially provide property tax relief for middle-and lower-income workers.
Auringer also called on her opponent in the 18th Congressional District, the heavily favored Pat Ryan, to oppose the proposal.
“This is an extraordinary and dangerous idea,” Auringer said. “Once government creates a new tax, it rarely stops with the people it first claims to target. Today it is higher-income earners. Tomorrow it will be small businesses, working families, homeowners, and anyone Albany decides can afford to pay a little more.”
The proposal would ask Albany to grant Ulster County the authority to impose a new surcharge on income above $200,000 for single filers and $400,000 for joint filers. Auringer contends the surcharge would not just affect the ultra-wealthy. It would also hit small business owners, entrepreneurs, family businesses, contractors, and professional practices whose income often flows through their personal tax returns.
Metzger said referring to someone who makes $300,000 a year as “struggling” is seriously out of touch with the realities facing working families and seniors living on far less.
“The Ulster County for Fair Taxes Act would place a modest surcharge on state income taxes paid by high-income households to help reduce the property tax burden on working families and seniors who are truly struggling,” Metzger added. “For someone who makes $300,000 a year, the surcharge amounts to less than one-half of one percent of their income.”
A Ryan campaign spokesperson noted that Auringer “has been in Florida for the past decade, so she may not know his record on lowering costs in the Hudson Valley.” As Ulster County Executive from 2019 to 2022, Ryan cut the gas tax in half and never once raised taxes, per his campaign team.
“Since he’s been in Congress, Pat has been laser-focused on making life more affordable, fighting to eliminate the SALT cap Republicans created, introducing new legislation to help families and small businesses getting crushed by Trump’s tariffs, and pushing for a middle-class tax cut,” the spokesperson added. “His opponent is running for Congress, not the County Legislature. Does she support Trump’s trillion-dollar tax break for billionaires paid for by cuts to health care and SNAP benefits for hungry kids?”
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