MAYVILLE – Chautauqua County Executive Vince Horrigan will provide his final County Budget proposal later Wednesday during the monthly meeting of the Chautauqua County Legislature.
This is Horrigan’s final year in office, as he has decided not to run for reelection in November.
Once the 2018 executive budget is presented, county legislators will begin their review of it by meeting with department heads and determining if any additional modifications are needed. They will then need to pass a final budget on or before December 1, 2017. In recent years they’ve been able to adopt a budget well in advance of the deadline, typically during the October voting session.
Tonight’s presentation will begin at 6:30 p.m. in the Legislative Chambers of the Gerace Office Building, Mayville.
SALE OF PROPERTY HIGHLIGHTS VOTING AGENDA
The Legislature will also consider selling three county-owned buildings, including one in downtown Jamestown, to a private business.
The three properties involved with the proposed sale are the South County Office Building on East Fourth Street in Jamestown for $1.7 million, the Frank W. Bratt Agricultural Center on Turner Road in Ellicott for $75,000, and the Sherman Shop Maintenance Facility on Route 430 for $750,000. All three would be sold to Jamestown Rental Properties, LLC.
According to officials, the South County Office Building in Jamestown is being considered for sale due to needed repairs to the structure and a desire to place the building back on the tax rolls.
The County Health and Human Services would continue to use the building, with rent costing $591,000 and an annual increase of 4 percent each year over the 10 year period.
The proposal has drawn criticism from some, including Chautauqua County Legislature Candidate Frank Besse of Jamestown, who says there is no long-term plan for the county’s social service operations in Jamestown – with only a 10-year lease agreement. In a post on his campaign facebook page, Besse says the county would be better suited to continue to run its social services operations out of facilities that it owns, especially since it already has spent money to provide some upgrades to the building.
PUBLIC HEARING ON NORTH COUNTY WATER DISTRICT FUNDING
The legislature will also host a public hearing on the adoption of the modified Map and Plan that includes changes to the improvements and financing of the North County Water District’s initial capital improvements.
The estimated maximum cost of the improvements as modified would increase from $11,750,000 to $15,068,000, but due to an increase in grants, contributions, and subsidized financing, the estimated annual District debt service of $292,500 is approximately the same as the original estimated annual debt service amount of $292,030.
All District costs are to be paid by municipalities receiving water from the District.
The public hearing will begin at 6:45 p.m. following the county executive’s budget presentation.
Leave a Reply