Starting Jan. 1, 2009 Ulster County government operates under a County Executive form of government. 
This new government has three branches.

County Executive

• Acts as chief executive and chief operating officer of the county
• Appoints and removes department heads
• Supervises, directs and controls the administration, structure and organization of all departments
• Can reorganize, combine, separate or eliminate duties of departments with legislative approval
• Appoints support staff to assist in day-to-day management of county business
• Negotiates labor contracts
• Prepares annual budget and capital program

Comptroller

• Examines, audits and verifies all books, records and accounts of all administrative units, offices and officials paid county money
• Audits any department, program or function of county government to assess operation regarding economy, efficiency or effectiveness
• Provides fiscal oversight of all County expenditures
• Ensures that our taxes are being used in the most efficient and effective manner with the power force changes

Legislature

• Responsible for policy making
• Adopts budget covering all spending, taxes and levies
• Approves Executive appointments
• Enacts or amends local laws and resolutions
• Approve all contracts and change orders over $50,000
• Approve labor contracts
• Set compensation and benefits of officers and employees not covered by labor contracts
• Authorize all borrowing
• Recommend and approve changes to charter
• Maintain Administrative Code
• Sets details of administration of County government within framework of charter
• Determine and fix real property tax equalization rates
• Appoint advisory committees, commissions and boards

Effective government requires strength in all branches of government.  The charter provided for a strong executive and comptroller.  It is important to have an equally strong legislature to continue to have the best government in Ulster County.