Greene County · issues
Civic issues
Topics getting the most attention in Greene County public meetings, ranked by how frequently they come up.
Agricultural District 124 Inclusion Requests
The county is adopting the state's Short Environmental Assessment Form for changes to agricultural districts, making SEQRA review faster and less duplicative. The legislature will serve as lead agency under a cooperative agreement with the state.
Sheriff's Authority to Execute Mandated Contracts
The Legislature approved a contract for speech services for preschoolers with disabilities, required by state education law — with Bulich dissenting.
Election Results
The 2026 midterm results are in for Greene County, but the source only flags that winners are set and there are county-level implications—not the details. If you care about local services, budgets, or representation, the real impact will depend on what the newly elected officials do next.
2027 STOP-DWI Plan
The county's annual plan for drunk-driving prevention and enforcement was up for committee review before going to the state. It underwrites local DUI patrols, education, and safety programs for the coming year.
Rapid Hepatitis C testing capability
Public Health proposed buying a machine that can detect active Hepatitis C from a fingerstick in about an hour, letting patients get tested and linked to treatment in one visit. The $26,407 cost is covered entirely by a state grant.
Public Health and Mental Health service agreements
The county's addiction treatment contractor is merging with the Addictions Care Center of Albany. Services continue unchanged under the Twin County name, and the committee advanced the contract transfer unanimously.
Calls for property tax levy reduction
Resident Joe Izzo argued the county's $102 million fund balance, $150 million in cumulative surpluses and growing sales tax mean the county should cut the levy, not just hold it flat — especially for seniors and fixed-income residents.
2026 Equalization Rates for County Towns
The committee advanced resolution 356-26 setting the state-mandated equalization rates for all 14 towns — these rates let the state compare property values across towns and factor into school aid and tax calculations.
Windham Transfer Station improvements
The new maintenance building and scale house in Catskill just reached substantial completion and staff are moving in. Windham's transfer station construction has begun, with a temporary drop-off area open and Hunter's station adding a day to absorb the extra volume.
Veterans Memorial Expansion at Catskill Point
A new 5-by-12-foot monument wall with bronze plaques for all six military branches, donor pavers and landscaping is coming to the Historic Catskill Point. It's funded by an endowment and brick sales rather than new taxes, and should be done by May 2027.
Public Health advisory committee appointment
Erin Hedges, the county's Supervising Public Health Nurse, was nominated to the Public Health Department's Medical Professional Advisory Committee.
Court-ordered competency evaluation services
The county Mental Health Department needed a licensed psychologist for court-ordered competency-to-stand-trial evaluations. The committee advanced a contract with Blue Line Psychological at $250 an hour, capped at four hours a month through 2026.
Preschool Special Education Contracting
The Legislature approved a contract for speech services for preschoolers with disabilities, required by state education law — with Bulich dissenting.
Chargebacks Assessed to Towns
Towns are being billed their shares of printing and mailing 2026 tax bills ($25,639) and exemption notices ($10,624). Chairman Linger voted no on both, the lone dissent both times.
Solid waste contract extensions
The maintenance building is nearly done, the Windham Transfer Station rebuild should break ground soon, and the department gets a new $139,900 excavator to keep operations running.
Surviving spouse tax exemption for fallen police officers
Greene County enacted Local Law 1 of 2026, cutting county property taxes by up to 50% for surviving spouses of officers killed in the line of duty who live in the county and haven't remarried.
Property Tax Exemption for Surviving Spouses of Fallen Police Officers
Local Law 1 of 2026 exempts up to 50% of the assessed value of a fallen officer's surviving spouse's primary residence from county property taxes. It's a cost of sympathy for fallen officers' families, but since the state provides no reimbursement, the lost county revenue is absorbed by other taxpayers. Lawmakers also flagged plans to extend similar benefits to corrections officers once pending state bills are signed.
Three-year contract agreement with UPSEU for county nurses
The county ratified its 2026-2028 agreement with the nurses union (UPSEU), which passed 12-2 with Bulich and Hobart opposed.
Matthew 25 Food Pantry lease renewal
The county is re-leasing 8 Union Street in Catskill to the Matthew 25 Food Pantry for five more years at nominal rent, keeping food assistance running in the community.
Regional Brownfield Assessment Coalition
Greene County is partnering with Columbia County and the Hunter Foundation to identify potentially contaminated sites across both counties. An informational open house was held July 16 on Zoom, and the county opened its web page for additional property nominations.
Greene County Office Building roof replacement
The main county office building roof is worn and damaged, and replacement bids are being sought to prevent water intrusion and structural damage. Two bid packages with 15- or 20-year warranty options are expected in August.
Cairo Senior Center Water and Sewer Extension
The county awarded a $544,900 bid to extend Cairo's water and sewer system to the new senior center, a major step in the long-planned Capital Project #161. Work waits on HUD environmental clearance.
First Responders Benefit Concert, June 19
Cairo's Ted Banta presented a June 19 benefit at the Barn at Bowery Creek Farm in Acra featuring local singer Logan Mudge, with proceeds going to first responders through his new Teddy Bear Heroes foundation. He's hoping for 300 attendees and a $4,000–$5,000 raise — and challenged Legislators to a line dance lesson.
Capital OTB Revenue Legislation Support
The county endorsed state bills that would send unclaimed OTB winnings and pari-mutuel tax revenue to participating Capital Region counties — money that supports county services.
Columbia-Greene Workforce Merger into Capital Region
The county is applying to merge its workforce development agency with the Capital Region's, aiming for better services for job seekers and employers and stronger federal funding competitiveness.
Cairo Senior Center Renovation Moving to Bid
The long-planned Cairo Senior Center renovation is being put out to bid, and a related CDBG amendment could fund a commercial kitchen and congregate dining space for seniors and homebound meals.
Haines Falls pedestrian trail connection
The county is applying for a $914,300 state grant to build a short but key sidewalk/trail extension in Haines Falls linking the Hunter Regional Trail to businesses. The 20% local match is expected to come from outside sources, not county taxes.
Affordable Housing Development
Greene County is getting 56 new affordable housing units, and construction is starting now. If rent has felt out of reach for you or someone you know, this adds more options—though it won’t solve the whole housing crunch overnight.