Kingston
Local news and civic information for Kingston, New York
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Mayor Mamdani and City Council Reach $126B Budget Deal with Expanded Rental Vouchers
Mayor Zohran Mamdani and the City Council reached a budget agreement on Tuesday for the fiscal year ahead of the deadline, allocating $126 billion. The deal includes expanding rental assistance programs by adding $175 million in funding this year and an additional $125 million next year, totaling $300 million annually as initially proposed by the City Council. This expansion aims to provide more affordable housing options for New Yorkers while ensuring fiscal responsibility. Additionally, the agreement maintains the NYPD's headcount at 35,000 officers despite calls from some council members to reduce police funding.
Kingston City Council Considers Annexation Amid Budget Shortfall
At a recent meeting, Kingston's City Council discussed the possibility of annexing additional land to address financial challenges. Kevin Cardinal, the Community Development Director, presented information on potential areas for annexation. The city is facing revenue shortfalls that are larger than initially projected by the previous administration. Mayor Mike McFarland and council members explored ways to revise the budget in response to these unexpected financial difficulties.
Governor Hochul Announces $71.5 Million Affordable Housing Project in Brooklyn
Governor Kathy Hochul announced the groundbreaking of Bartlett Crossing, a $71.5 million affordable housing development in Brooklyn's Broadway Triangle neighborhood. The project will create 78 affordable apartments across two buildings as part of a larger community-led redevelopment initiative that aims to build 390 affordable homes on formerly vacant city-owned land. Governor Hochul emphasized the importance of government and community collaboration in transforming unused public land into housing for diverse New Yorkers. Bartlett Crossing is part of Governor Hochul’s $25 billion five-year Housing Plan, which seeks to create or preserve 100,000 affordable homes statewide.
Kingston City Council Considers Significant Pay Raise for Itself and Other NYC Politicians
The Kingston City Council is considering a substantial pay raise of up to 18.2% for itself and other New York City politicians, drawing attention from local watchdog groups and the public. The proposal has sparked debate over whether such an increase is justified given current economic conditions. Additionally, there are ongoing concerns about construction safety in Manhattan where buckling beams at a high-rise under development have led to evacuations of workers and residents.
Kingston Seeks State Grants for Wastewater Upgrades and Housing Projects
The city of Kingston is planning to apply for various state grants to fund multiple projects. The largest grant request is for $830,000 from the Environmental Facilities Corporation Water Infrastructure Improvement program to upgrade four priority wastewater pump stations at Stony Run, Block Park, Stone House, and Jane Street. This project requires a 75% match by the city, totaling $2,490,000 funded through bonding. Additionally, Kingston is seeking $230,444 for upgrades to its comprehensive plan, with a required $40,667 match from the city. Other projects include a new soccer field at Hasbrouck Park and solar panels at Dietz Stadium. The Finance and Audit Committee will review these proposals on July 6th before they are sent to the Common Council for approval.
Budget Car Rental Offers Discount Rates and Deals
Budget Car Rental provides car rental services at discounted rates for customers. The company offers various vehicle types including sedans, SUVs, trucks, and electric vehicles (EVs). To access the best deals, users need to sign into their Budget account or link their Amazon account with Budget. Customers are encouraged to log in to receive special benefits such as free rental days and upgrade options when available. However, certain conditions apply, including exclusions for package rates and pre-negotiated discounts.
Somali Flag Stolen From Buffalo's Niagara Square; Threats Against City Hall Investigated
The Somali flag was stolen from the City of Buffalo’s flagpole in Niagara Square shortly after it was raised to honor Somalian Independence Day. The incident occurred overnight on July 1, following a ceremony earlier that day organized by Heal International. Mayor Sean Ryan reported that vandals broke into the pole's access panel and cut cables to remove the flag. Additionally, police are investigating an online threat against City Hall related to the flag-raising event. Mayor Ryan stated there were bomb threats and other threats made against himself, council members, city property, and City Hall. He emphasized the need for increased security measures in response to these threats.
Mayoral Candidate Discusses Priorities for Kingston
Grant Bedard, a mayoral candidate in Kingston, NY, emphasizes the importance of addressing mental health, homelessness, and addiction issues. He advocates that council priorities should be determined collectively by all members of the council. The article also mentions various other local news items such as traffic charges laid by the Ontario Provincial Police during Canada Day week and updates on a gaming expo event.
Governor Hochul Announces Budget Priorities for Universal Child Care and Inflation Relief
In her FY 2027 Executive Budget, Governor Kathy Hochul aims to fund universal child care without increasing taxes on New Yorkers. The budget also includes historic investments in education by enacting a statewide ban on smartphone use during school hours from September 2025 onwards. Additionally, the state has distributed inflation refund checks up to $400 to over eight million households across New York State in fall 2025.
Hochul Signs New York State Budget Addressing Utility Costs and ICE Cooperation
New York Governor Kathy Hochul signed a $268.5 billion state budget that includes measures to address high utility costs and restrict cooperation with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). The budget enacts new reporting requirements for utilities seeking rate hikes, mandates lower-cost alternatives, and allows the Public Service Commission to appoint an independent affordability monitor if rate increases exceed 3%. Eligible households will receive rebate checks of $150 to $200 this fall. Additionally, the legislation prohibits local jails from holding individuals on behalf of ICE and bans formal agreements between local governments and ICE.
Mayor Mamdani and City Council Reach Budget Deal for Rental Vouchers and Police Funding
Mayor Zohran Mamdani and the City Council reached a budget agreement on Tuesday, just before the deadline, to allocate $126 billion for the upcoming fiscal year. The deal includes expanding rental assistance programs with an additional $175 million in funding this year and $125 million next year, totaling $300 million annually as initially proposed by City Council Speaker Julie Menin. Mayor Mamdani acknowledged the need to balance housing affordability with fiscal responsibility, stating that the budget supports a safer and more affordable city while maintaining police force levels at 35,000.
Kingston City Council Considers Annexation Amid Revenue Shortfall
At a recent meeting, the Kingston City Council discussed potential annexation to address financial challenges. The city's community development director highlighted revenue shortfalls that were not anticipated in previous budgets. Kevin Cardinal explained that current revenues are below projections and suggested revising the budget to reflect actual financial conditions rather than earlier predictions. This move aims to stabilize the city’s finances as it explores options for growth through annexation.
Kingston City Council Approves Budget with No Property Tax Increase but Higher Utility Fees
The Kingston City Council unanimously approved the city's Fiscal Year 2026-2027 budget during a brief meeting at Kingston City Hall. The budget avoids imposing a property tax increase, ensuring residents will not face higher taxes for the upcoming fiscal year. However, utility fees are set to rise: water and sewer rates will increase by 5%, and garbage collection fees will go up from $11.00 to $12.50 per month. City Manager David Bowling explained that these adjustments were necessary due to ongoing deficits in waste management costs under the current contract with Waste Connections.
Kingston City Council to Vote on Budget and Rate Increases Tuesday
The Kingston City Council will hold a public hearing and special meeting on June 30 at 6:00 p.m. at Kingston City Hall to review and vote on the city's proposed budget for the fiscal year 2026-2027. The council plans to maintain the current property tax rate of 82.34 cents per $100 of assessed value, but will increase water and sewer rates by 5%. Additionally, garbage collection fees are set to rise from $11.00 to $12.50 per month. Before voting on the new budget, the council will also consider final amendments to the current fiscal year's city and Water and Sewer Fund budgets. The meeting will be live-streamed on the city’s official Facebook page for those unable to attend in person.
Kingston City Council Considers Annexation to Address Revenue Shortfall
At a recent meeting, Kingston's City Council discussed potential annexation of surrounding areas to address financial challenges. The city’s Community Development Director Kevin Cardinal presented the idea as a way to enhance revenue and support local development projects. Additionally, Finance Officer Michael Pecchio reported that the city is experiencing lower-than-expected revenues compared to projections, leading to an anticipated budget shortfall larger than initially forecasted under the previous administration.
Kingston City Council to Vote on Budget and Rate Increases Tuesday
The Kingston City Council is scheduled to hold a public hearing and special meeting on June 30 at 6:00 p.m. at Kingston City Hall, where they will review and vote on the city's proposed budget for the fiscal year 2026-2027. The council plans to maintain the current property tax rate of 82.34 cents per $100 of assessed value but proposes a 5% increase in water and sewer rates, as well as an increase from $11.00 to $12.50 for monthly garbage collection fees. Before voting on the new budget, the council will also consider final amendments to the current fiscal year's city and Water and Sewer Fund budgets.
Governor Hochul's Budget Aims for Universal Child Care and More
In her FY 2027 Executive Budget, Governor Kathy Hochul proposes significant investments without increasing taxes on New Yorkers. The budget includes initiatives to fund universal child care and make historic investments in various sectors. Additionally, the governor highlights other key accomplishments such as enacting a statewide ban on smartphone use during school hours from September 2025 onwards and distributing inflation refund checks up to $400 to over eight million households across New York State.
Hochul and Kingston Mayor Disagree on State Budget Allocation
Mayor Zohran Mamdani of Kingston is seeking additional state funding to address a $5.4 billion budget gap over the next two years. However, Governor Kathy Hochul insists that the city needs to improve its financial management before she considers allocating more state resources. Meanwhile, New York State lawmakers are still working on passing a late state budget and have extended funding for state services until further notice.
Kingston City Council Approves Strategy for Supervised Drug Consumption Site Closure
Kingston City Council has approved a strategy to address the impending closure of a supervised drug consumption site. The council's decision is seen as a 'right step forward' in managing public health and safety concerns related to the facility's closure. Additionally, the city’s report on Ontario’s expanded Bring Your Own Bottle (BYOB) rules highlights complexities that require further study. Meanwhile, Kingston’s next mayor and councillors are set to receive salary increases, reflecting changes in municipal compensation structures.
Report Outlines Upgrades for Kingston City Facilities
A report to the arts, recreation and community policies committee in Kingston outlines initial steps towards upgrading city facilities including the Memorial Centre, Portsmouth Olympic Harbour, and Centre 70. The study by Sierra Planning and Management found that residents support renovations aimed at improving accessibility and year-round use of these buildings for various activities. For the Memorial Centre, a proposed renovation includes expanding the building and adding a second ice pad to address growing demand for rink space. Queen’s University has expressed interest in partnering with the city on this project, offering potential financial contributions towards the upgrades.
Upcoming Meetings
Kingston Common Council Regular Meeting
📅 2026-04-12 · 🕐 7:30 PM
📍 Kingston City Hall, 420 Broadway
Kingston Planning Board
📅 2026-04-26 · 🕐 6:00 PM
📍 Kingston City Hall, Conference Room B