Patricia Doxsey is reporting in the Daily Freeman Ulster County property taxpayers could see a decrease in the amount they pay in county taxes under the $324 million spending plan adopted unanimously by the county Legislature December 6. The budget, as proposed by County Executive Michael Hein, calls for a 0.91 percent decrease in spending from the 2017 budget of $325 million. The overall county property tax levy will fall by two-tenths of 1 percent. Before the vote, legislators allocated additional funding to several not-for-profit agencies that provide services for the county, including the Ulster County Library Association and The ARC of Ulster-Greene. Lawmakers also authorized the transfer of money within the budget to cover the cost of a contract settlement with the Ulster County Staff Association. In addition, lawmakers rejected two amendments that would have provided funding to the county comptroller for a confidential secretary. The spending plan will now go to Hein, who is expected to sign it without further changes. Read the full story in the Daily Freeman.