Joint Tourism Effort Will Save Kingston $40K, Ulster County $15K

KINGSTON - Ulster County Executive Michael Hein and Kingston Mayor Shayne Gallo have forged a tentative agreement to eliminate the position of city tourism coordinator and have that job's responsibilities handled by the county's tourism office.

The new "shared services" agreement was announced during a press conference held Wednesday at the city's Heritage Area Visitors' Center on lower Broadway.

"In order for Ulster County to thrive, the city of Kingston must also thrive," Hein said in a press release issued during the conference. "Tourism is a $430 million part of the Ulster County economy. In difficult economic times, the ability to leverage the strength of the city and the county in order to best serve the collective taxpayer is essential."

Hein said the agreement - if approved by the Kingston Common Council and the county Legislature - will save the city $40,000 per year and the county $15,000.

Hein and Gallo said they hope to have the process completed by April.

If the deal is approved, the city's current tourism coordinator, Kate Cook, would go to work for the county, but not necessarily be the tourism office, Hein said.

Cook is the daughter of Kathy Mihm, a former Ulster County Legislature clerk and former Democratic commissioner of the county Board of Elections.

Mihm still is active in Kingston and Ulster County politics.

In her city job, Cook has made about $70,000 in salary and benefits. The city will pay the county $30,000 per year under the shared-services agreement, resulting in the $40,000 in savings.

Hein said the county's $15,000 in savings will be realized by moving county tourism operations out of their Westbrook Lane offices in Uptown Kingston and into the Heritage Area Visitors' Center.

During last year's budget sessions, then-Alderwoman Andi Turco-Levin, R-Ward 1, called for eliminating the position. Gallo opposed that proposal and suggested instead that the position be put under his direct management.

On Wednesday, though, Gallo said the city's tourism budget is too small for the job to be done right.

Gallo, who's been mayor for less than two weeks, said the new tourism arrangement with the county will add to "better promotion" of the city and benefit the city in may ways, including sales tax revenue and money spent at local businesses.

"Kingston is an incredible year-round destination with a beautiful waterfront, world-class festivals, amazing restaurants and places to stay and fascinating museums," Gallo said in a press release. "But unfortunately, the city does not have the resources to adequately advertise. The county executive's plan is a win-win for the city of Kingston and the county."

During the press conference, Gallo said he was uncertain if the savings would be put back in the city's general fund or used for "quality-of-life code enforcement," which he has focused on since he began running for mayor last year.