A.
There shall be a Department of Finance under the direction
of a Commissioner of Finance. The Commissioner of Finance shall be
appointed by and serve at the pleasure of the County Executive, subject
to confirmation by the County Legislature. He or she shall be appointed
on the basis of his or her experience and qualifications in financial
administration and other specified duties of this office and shall
be directly responsible to the County Executive.
B.
Powers and duties. The Commissioner of Finance shall:
(1)
Have charge of the administration of all the financial
affairs of the County;
(2)
Collect, receive, have custody of, deposit and disburse
all revenues, fees and other funds of the County or for which the
County is responsible;
(3)
Act as the enforcing officer of the County for the
purpose of the collection of tax liens on real property pursuant to
Article 11 of the Real Property Tax Law of the State of New York;
(4)
Have all the powers and duties conferred upon a public
administrator pursuant to the Surrogate's Court Procedure Act of the
State of New York, except that any and all fees received in the performance
of such duties shall be the property of the County of Ulster;
(5)
Perform all duties specified in law for County treasurers
or other County officers relating to the collection of taxes;
(6)
Submit a complete statement of County finance to the County Executive
and the County Legislature on or before the first day of March and
at such other times as either may require;
[Amended 8-14-2012 by L.L. No. 9-2012[1]]
[1]
Editor's Note: This local law was approved at referendum by
a majority of the duly qualified voters 11-6-2012.
(7)
Have all the powers and perform all the duties conferred or imposed
by law upon a County Commissioner of Finance and perform such other
duties required by the County Executive or County Legislature;
[Amended 8-14-2012 by L.L. No. 9-2012[2]]
[2]
Editor's Note: This local law was approved at referendum by
a majority of the duly qualified voters 11-6-2012.
C.
There shall be, within the Department of Finance, an independent
Division of Real Property Tax Service under the direction of a Deputy
Commissioner of Finance/Director of Real Property Tax Service, who
shall be appointed by the County Executive and serve at the pleasure
of the County Executive. At the time of his or her appointment, and
throughout his or her term of office, he or she shall possess such
qualifications that conform to those prescribed by the State of New
York for county directors of real property tax service agencies pursuant
to Article 15-A, Section 1530 of the New York State Real Property
Tax Law. He or she shall be appointed on the basis of his or her administrative
experience and other qualifications for the responsibilities of this
office, except that if the Deputy Commissioner of Finance/Director
of Real Property Tax Service is appointed for a fixed term of years
pursuant to a provision of state law, he or she may only be removed
for cause, after written notice of charges and an opportunity to be
heard.
[Added 8-14-2012 by L.L. No. 7-2012]
D.
The independent Division of Real Property Tax Service shall:
[Added 8-14-2012 by L.L. No. 7-2012]
(1)
Have all of the powers and perform all of the duties conferred or
imposed by Article 15-A of the Real Property Tax Law, including but
not limited to the extension of real estate taxes, the issuance of
tax bills, the maintenance of County assessment records, the submission
to the County Executive of tax equalization rates and the rendering
of assistance to assessors throughout the County in the performance
of their respective responsibilities;
(2)
Prepare tax maps for the use of the assessor of all the assessing
units in the County; on such maps shall be shown each separately assessed
parcel of real property with its boundaries properly marked, pursuant
to the Real Property Tax Law;
(3)
Shall perform such other and related duties as required by the County
Executive; and
(4)
On or before March 1 of each year, make an annual report to the County
Executive and County Legislature for the immediately preceding calendar
year, covering generally the work of the division. The Deputy Commissioner
of Finance/Director of Real Property Tax Service shall make such other
reports at such times as may be required by the County Executive,
County Legislature or any applicable law. Copies of all reports shall
be filed with the County Executive and the Clerk of the County Legislature.
The person serving as County Treasurer immediately
prior to the time this Charter takes effect shall serve as Commissioner
of Finance until the end of December 31, 2009, at which time the elected
office of County Treasurer shall be abolished, and after which the
Commissioner of Finance shall be appointed as provided herein.
The Commissioner of Finance, subject to approval
by the County Executive, shall designate in writing, and in order
of succession, the deputies and/or assistants who shall be Acting
Commissioner of Finance in the event of his or her absence from the
County or inability to perform and exercise the powers and duties
of his or her office. That designation shall be filed with the County
Clerk and the Clerk of the County Legislature and may be revoked at
any time by the Commissioner filing an approved new written designation
and order of succession. The Acting Commissioner of Finance shall
have all the powers and perform all the duties of the Commissioner.
