MAYVILLE – The Chautauqua County Legislature will be meeting today and tonight in Mayville for its monthly voting session. The Legislature will convene at 2 p.m. to vote on routine business. The body will then adjourn and reconvene at 6:30 p.m. to consider the 2015 budget.
In September, County Executive Vince Horrigan presented a $228.7 million budget that included a one percent increase in property taxes – with a tax rate increase that would equal 7 cents per thousand dollar assessed value.
However, County Legislature and Audit and Control Committee Chairman John Runkle tells WRFA that his committee was able to identify 10 amendments to the initial spending proposal that would result in a net savings of $771,560.
Those proposed amendments are as follows:
- $120,000 reduction in Sheriff’s Department Budget due to phone surcharge savings
- $100,000 increase in projected Sales Tax revenue
- Reduce CARTS Spending by $46,000 as a result of 2015 grant
- Decrease Jail Utility Costs by $21,000
- Reduce Environmental Health budget by $27,250 due to miscalculation
- Reduce Department of Social Services administrative budget by $100,000
- Reduce Public Defenders budget by $50,000
- Anticipate a state aid reimbursement of $400,000 for Health and Human Services budget
- Decrease Office for the Aging budget by $50,000
- Add $150,000 in additional revenue to the Department of Public Facilities’ Capital Reserve Fund
As a result, the tax rate would actually see a 2 cent per thousand dollar decrease, compared to the 2014 tax rate.
The legislature will allow the public to comment on the budget prior to the vote. A public comment is scheduled for both 2 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. during today’s meetings.
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