Mayor's 2022 Budget Address |
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ARPA Funding Public Meetings |
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Boo at the Zoo on October 29 |
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Climate Action Plan 2030 Update |
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Spotlight on Sustainability |
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Biddy League Basketball Registration |
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Mayor Noble's Tuesday Radio Show |
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A Message From Mayor Steve Noble:
Dear Friends,
This week, I delivered my 2022 Recommended Budget to the Common Council, which proposes a major investment in our City's economic recovery through a deeper commitment to essential services.
This budget proposes adding 23 additional positions across City Departments - police, DPW, Parks & Recreation, Engineering, and more. I believe that by investing in our staff, who worked bravely through the pandemic, by paying these workers a living wage, and by expanding the services that our residents receive, we will building back our community stronger than ever.
I'm proud that with this budget, the tax rate decreases for the seventh year in a row. The tax levy remains at $17,650,940 for the seventh year in row. Both homestead and non-homestead rates will decrease, all with added services and continued infrastructure improvements. I hope you'll take a look at the budget and give us your feedback!
-Steve
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Mayor Noble's 2022 Budget Address |
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Mayor Noble delivered his 2022 Budget Address on Monday, October 18 and presented the Common Council with his 2022 Recommended Budget.
Click below to her Mayor Noble's address during which he outlines his vision to Recover, Rebuild and Reimagine our City in the coming year.
The full 2022 Recommended Budget document along with the Budget Address, Mayor Noble's presentation, and a timeline of next steps can be found at https://kingston-ny.gov/budget2022
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Two Public Meeting Opportunities for ARPA Funding
The City of Kingston will host two public meetings to inform the City’s Economic Recovery Plan for American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funding.
The City of Kingston will receive approximately $17 million in ARPA funding over two years, and is currently working to create a comprehensive Economic Recovery Plan to best utilize these funds. The City has hired Laberge Group facilitate the creation of the plan. The Kingston Economic Recovery plan will be directed by federal guidelines, will incorporate community input, and will build upon existing community projects, while also supporting new initiatives that support recovery from the pandemic.
According to the Federal guidelines, the ARPA funds may be used by local governments for:
- Costs associated with responding to the Covid-19 public health emergency or its negative economic impacts
- To support workers performing essential work during the Covid-19 public health emergency
- To cover revenue losses caused by the Covid-19 public health emergency
- To make necessary investments in water, sewer, or broadband infrastructure
The City of Kingston will host two virtual public meetings to provide opportunities for the community to engage in discussion and provide input, which will be used to inform the Economic Recovery Plan. Both meetings will be conducted with the same presentation to increase availability.
American Rescue Plan Act Public Meetings
Monday, October 25, 2021
6:00–8:00pm
Tuesday, October 26, 2021
12:00–2:00pm
Representatives from the City of Kingston and Laberge Group will explain the Economic Recovery Plan process, identify strengths and opportunities for the City of Kingston, discuss challenges facing the City of Kingston’s economy recovery and solicit project ideas to advance economic recovery.
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Boo at the Zoo on October 29 |
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Climate Action Plan 2030 Workshops
The City of Kingston has been leader in sustainability for more than a decade, demonstrating an ongoing commitment to climate action progress and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions reductions. In 2010, the City of Kingston commissioned an initial 10-year Climate Action Plan, which laid out action-based emissions reduction goals and was primarily focused on municipal level actions and impacts.
Now, 10 years later, the City is embarking on our second Climate Action Plan: CAP 2030. With this new plan, the City seeks to develop a plan that moves beyond municipal action with a community-wide vision that is bold, transformative, engaging, and capable of achieving deep GHG emissions reductions. CAP 2030 will serve as a blueprint for the City of Kingston to address and plan for its future local climate and to radically reduce GHG emissions across the next 10 years.
The draft CAP 2030 plan will be launched soon! Please join us for an overview of the draft plan on November 8!
Once the draft plan is released, community members will have opportunities to provide feedback, which will be incorporated into the final plan that is then submitted to the Council for consideration and adoption in early 2022.
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Spotlight on Sustainability |
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In leading up to the release of the Draft Climate Action Plan 2030, we will be featuring key actions and initiatives the City has taken in the past 10 years which have truly advanced our climate goals.
In April 2019, the City of Kingston successfully transitioned our entire waste collection system to Dual Stream Recycling, per mandates from our waste processor, Ulster County Resource Recovery. Now every single household in Kingston has a dedicated recycling tote for paper and cardboard, and one for commingled recyclables.
We annually recycle approximately 2000 tons of paper, cardboard, glass, metal and plastic, ensuring that those materials are not sent to a landfill, 350 miles away in Central New York. And, we collect leaves and yard waste, to the tune of 1500 tons annually! Despite the population of Kingston rising, our waste and recycling numbers have held steady for 10 years.
And to go one step further, we will soon be releasing our Organic Waste Diversion Plan, an analysis of the feasibility of instituting a city-wide Composting program to divert an additional 30% of waste from our waste stream! For more information see www.kingston-ny.gov/recycle.
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Biddy League Registration is Open |
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Mayor Noble's Tuesday Radio Show |
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Mayor Noble's weekly radio show is back on Tuesdays at 5:00pm. It's the Mayor! airs live on Radio Kingston and the City of Kingston Facebook page.
Click below to hear Mayor Noble discuss the 2022 Budget process and next steps with Summer Smith, Director of Communication & Community Engagement.
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Sent on behalf of:
Mayor Steven T. Noble
845.334.3902
The purpose of this newsletter is to share important information, project updates, pictures and news from the City of Kingston. For more detailed information, visit:
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