Auringer to Metzger: Account for Ryan's Tax Collection Mess Before Seeking New Authority

KINGSTON, NY - May 26, 2026 - Jackie Auringer (R-C) today reiterated her opposition to a proposal by Ulster County Executive Jen Metzger to seek a new income-based tax surcharge on county residents, calling instead for a full public accounting of the fiscal mismanagement of tax collections under former County Executive Pat Ryan.

"This proposal is an insult to every Ulster County resident struggling with the cost of living. Hardworking families are barely making ends meet and county government wants to add a new surcharge on top of that. I am firmly opposed to it," Auringer said.

Auringer called for a full public accounting of the fiscal mismanagement under former County Executive Pat Ryan identified by the Ulster County Comptroller in 2023. The audit found serious failures on Ryan's watch: weak internal controls, unreconciled tax systems, properties pulled from foreclosure without justification, unnecessary penalties and overpayments, and millions in uncollectible back taxes, including one property carrying more than $11 million in delinquent taxes.

"Pat Ryan left tax collection in shambles. When county government fails to collect what is owed, the burden doesn't disappear, it falls on the taxpayers who paid on time and trusted government to manage public money responsibly," Auringer said. "Ulster County does not need a new surcharge, it needs to answer for the taxes they let slip away."

Auringer sent a letter to County Executive Metzger urging her to withdraw the proposal and account for what remains unresolved from the Comptroller's findings before pursuing any new taxing authority.

"Fairness means not asking families, small businesses, homeowners, and seniors, already struggling with New York's cost of living, to hand county government new taxing power before it has accounted for the mess it left behind," Auringer said.

Text of Letter to Metzger below:

Hon. Jen Metzger
Ulster County Executive
244 Fair Street
Kingston, NY 12401

Dear County Executive Metzger:

I am writing to raise serious concerns about your proposal to seek state authorization for a new income-based surcharge on Ulster County residents.

This proposal is deeply out of touch with the hardworking families who are barely making ends meet. It is an insult to every Ulster County resident struggling with the cost of living and I am firmly opposed to it.

Before Ulster County pursues new taxing authority, taxpayers deserve a full public accounting of the fiscal mismanagement under former County Executive Ryan identified by the Ulster County Comptroller in 2023.

The Comptroller's 2023 audit exposed significant failures under the Ryan administration: weak internal controls, unreconciled tax systems, properties withdrawn from foreclosure without justification, unnecessary interest and penalties, and overpayments of public funds. The consequences were concrete: hundreds of thousands of dollars in unnecessary costs, one property carrying more than $11 million in delinquent taxes, and $21 million in countywide uncollectible back taxes.

As County Executive, Pat Ryan left tax collection in shambles. When county government fails to collect what is owed, the burden doesn't disappear, it falls on taxpayers who paid on time and trusted government to manage public money responsibly. Before asking Albany for new revenue authority, Ulster County should demonstrate it has cleaned up Ryan's mess and is properly collecting, reconciling, and enforcing the taxes already on the books.

This proposal is being framed as a matter of fairness. But fairness means not asking families, small businesses, homeowners, and seniors already struggling with New York's cost of living to hand county government new taxing power before it has accounted for the mess it left behind.

Ulster County does not need a new surcharge. It needs to answer for the taxes that have gone uncollected.

I urge you to withdraw this proposal.

Sincerely,

Jackie Auringer
Candidate for Congress, NY-18