Mayor's Message

Mayor Noble's 2024 Budget Address

ARPA Business Promotion Grant Program Launched

Community Development Block Grant Process Open

Boo at the Zoo at Forsyth Park

Kingston Rail Crossing Public Meeting

Roadwork Update for the Week of October 23

Dietz Stadium Construction Update

City of Kingston Job Opportunities

Mayor's Message:

Dear Friends -

This week, I gave my annual Budget Address and delivered my 2024 Recommended Budget to the Common Council. My budget represents a fiscally restrained approach to ensure our City’s continued financial stability. Despite rising inflation rates and increased costs in everything from asphalt to chlorine, this budget continues to provide vital infrastructure, maintain City services, and accommodate staff pay and steep benefit increases.

I have steadily lowered the tax rate for the last eight years, which means this slight increase will revert the tax rate to the 2021 level. By investing in our City staff, we will continue to reliably deliver essential services for our residents.

I also want to wish Kingston High School a happy homecoming! Go Tigers!

-Steve

Mayor Noble Delivers 2024 Budget Address

Mayor Noble delivered his annual Budget Address on Wednesday to present his 2024 Recommended Budget.

A few of the 2024 Recommended Budget highlights include:

• Three new positions year over year
• Tax levy increases for the first time in 8 years, 9th year below the tax cap 
• Tax levy is increased by 1.94% to $17,941,969
• Modest change in the homestead rate from $8.81 to $8.98 (per 1000)
• Slight increase in non-homestead rate from $13.91 to $14.09 (per 1000)
• Low Fiscal Stress Score (1.7 out of 100) for the third year in a row
• Investment in retention of employees
• Investment in equipment across departments to maintain infrastructure
• Sewer Rate set at $7.13 per unit

The 2024 Recommended Budget includes a slight tax rate increase of 1.94%, staying below the tax cap for the ninth year in a row. The budget reflects inflationary increases, with rising personnel and benefit costs accounting for 55% of the increase in this year’s proposed budget.

Mayor Noble’s 2024 Recommended Budget, Capital Plan, and presentation can be found at https://kingston-ny.gov/budget2024.  

2024 Community Dev. Block Grant Process Has Begun

The 2024 Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) process has begun.

Groups and organizations operating within the City of Kingston may apply for 2024 CDBG funding for eligible programs here.

Examples of eligible programs and services and a list of threshold criteria are included in the application packet. In 2024, the City of Kingston will only be accepting applications for Public Service Programs, and per HUD guidelines, funding must be for either a new program or a significantly expanded program.

Public informational sessions will be held for interested applicants to discuss eligible programs, process, and application requirements. New and previous applicants are encouraged to attend at least one informational session.

The 2024 Community Development Block Grant schedule is:

October 31    Public Info Session, City Hall Conference Room #1, 12:00pm

Nov. 16          Public Info Session, City Hall Conference Room #1, 6:00pm

December 4   Applications are due at 12:00pm

Kingston’s Office of Community Development receives an annual CDBG Entitlement Grant from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). The City anticipates being awarded approximately $650,000 in CDBG funds for 2024, and of that amount no more than 15% is allowed to be used to fund program services. The funds are intended to assist in providing a suitable living environment, decent housing, and expanding economic opportunities for low- to moderate-income persons in our community.

To serve on the Community Development Advisory Board, please apply here.

ARPA Business Promotion Grant Launched

Mayor Noble is pleased to announce the launch of the APRA Business Promotion Grant, which is now open for applications.

The program is designed to assist in a campaign for promoting Kingston’s attractions. With funds from Kingston’s federal American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) grant, this program is intended to respond to the negative economic impacts of COVID-19 by focusing on the promotion of local small businesses, particularly public-facing and hospitality-oriented enterprises. Up to $50,000 has been allocated for this initiative.

“Our businesses are the lifeblood of Kingston. Using COVID recovery funds to assist our business community recover from the pandemic is an important use of our American Rescue Plan Act funding,” said Mayor Noble. “With this grant program, we are looking for marketing entities who can promote Kingston businesses to both locals and visitors alike and make sure our business community continues to thrive.”

To be eligible, applicants must demonstrate how their marketing/

promotional/advertising or other efforts will promote Kingston’s businesses. Preference will be given to Kingston-based applicants. The deadline for applying is Monday, November 6, 2023. Applicants should include promotional plans, sample efforts, and budget details with their completed application.



More information at www.engagekingston.com/arpa-business-promotion. 

Boo at the Zoo!

The Boo at the Zoo, the annual Forsyth Park event, will be held on Friday, October 27 and will include a viewing of Hocus Pocus!

Please note the date has been moved to Friday, October 27.

Kingston Rail Crossing Study Public Meeting

Join the virtual open house on October 25 from 6:00-8:00pm, to learn about and share your input on the Kingston Rail Crossing Study.

The Ulster County Transportation Council is undertaking a Rail Crossing Safety Study to evaluate and enhance safety along the regional West Shore Railroad Corridor in the City of Kingston. The study will focus on assessing existing street crossings, crashes, and trespass incidents along the rail corridor while considering the impact of surrounding land uses.

Public input is key to understanding how people interact within the corridor. We need your help identify areas of concerns, opportunities, and current conditions. Join the meeting here.

Paving & Roadwork Next Week

Paving on Cornell Street from Broadway to Foxhall Avenue was completed this week. Roosevelt Avenue from Albany Avenue to Kiersted Avenue will be milled and paved next week.

On Thursday, October 26, the Kingston Water Department will be working on a hydrant at Main and Clinton Ave. Some lane closures may be in place during this work. 

Central Hudson: Service replacements will continue next week on West Chestnut Street, Brewster Street, and Staples Street with lane changes and road closures.

Central Hudson’s Uptown restoration began this week with the paving of Crown Street. Next week the tentative schedule, weather permitting, will be John Street and Fair Street.

Henry Street Safe Routes to School Project: Henry Street from Wall Street to just short of Furnace Street was paved this week. Crews will continue repairing storm and sewer connections at Prospect Street and Henry Street.

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Citywide ADA curb ramps: construction of ramps on the north side of North Front Street from Frog Alley to the Front Street Tavern has begun, along with restoration of ramps on Walnut Street from Gill Street to Lindsley Ave. 

Wurts Street Bridge: Noise will continue to be loud on occasion while steel repairs are performed. Ongoing work includes: pave binder on the north end, expansion joints, crow’s nest connector ropes, crow’s nest access platforms, concrete removal on the south tower foundations. Continued in electrical work, formwork for barrier at approaches and continued steel repairs.



Regular roadwork updates can be found here.

Paving on Henry Street this week

Dietz Stadium Construction Update

As a reminder, the entire stadium site is now a construction zone and is closed to the public.

Exterior restoration of the grandstand continues, interior demolition of the grandstand has begun, and site demolition is complete. The mass re-grading of the site has started.

Click below to watch a drone video of the current construction work at Dietz!

City of Kingston Job & Board Opportunities

The City of Kingston is hiring! Current openings include:



• Motor Equipment Operator.

Job descriptions and details available at https://kingston-ny.gov/Employment.

Upcoming Civil Service Exams include:

Engineering Technician on December 2, 2023

Engineering Aide on December 2, 2023

Office Assistant on December 2, 2023

Office Assistant I on December 2, 2023

There are currently two openings on the Ethics Board. By the City of Kingston charter, Ethics Board members must be a resident of Kingston, and no more than two Ethics Board members may be registered in the same political party. Members serve a five-year term. Apply here.

The City of Kingston has over 25 boards & commissions, and we're always looking for volunteers to serve the community. Application at: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/KingstonBoards.