County Legislator Pierre Chagnon during the March 28, 2018 Chautauqua County Legislature meeting.

MAYVILLE – The chair of the Chautauqua County Legislature’s Audit and Control Committee chairman spent time Wednesday night commenting on several budget shortfalls for 2017.

It was reported last week that the county closed out the 2017 budget by balancing it with an additional $6.3 million in fund balance. The resolution authorizing that reconciliation was acted on by the full legislature on Wednesday night.

Audit and Control committee chair and legislator Pierre Chagnon (R-Bemus Point) informed his colleagues the committee has identified the primary reasons for the shortfall and will be working to address them so that there can be more accurate budgeting in the future.

Specifically, he said the committee will focus on the county fly car system, energy generation at the county landfill, the county sheriff’s office and the county jail, as well as the public defenders office. Chagnon also pointed to state issues that created challenges in the budget, including the failure  of the state to share revenue from the tribal compact because of the Seneca Nation’s unwillingness to pay the state revenue from its casino.

County Legislator Ron Lemon (R-Frewsburg) was one of several lawmakers who offered comments during the 2017 budget discussion that took place at the legislature’s October 26 voting session in Mayville.

MAYVILLE – The Chautauqua County Legislature has approved a $229 million spending plan for next year.

On Wednesday night lawmakers met to review proposed amendments for the budget and give it a final vote.  In the end, the legislature voted 18 to 0 on the spending plan that includes a property tax cut of just over half-a-percent, which equals a reduction in the tax rate of 7 cents per thousand assessed value.

The current property tax rate is $8.55 per $1000. Under the finalized spending plan, it will drop to $8.48 per $1000. Even with the drop in the tax rate, the tax levy is actually going up to $60.8 million – a $1 million increase over the current year’s tax levy.

The legislature approved a few minor adjustments to the spending plan that was put forward by county executive Vince Horrigan in September. Those amendments were finalized last week in the audit and control committee. They included an increase in funding for the local 4-H program from $25,000 to $50,000. In addition the legislature cut funding for the Sheriff’s office by $50,000 – which was money that was intended to be used to purchase in-car cameras for all patrol vehicles. However, the in-car camera fund will still receive $100,000.

11th HOUR AMENDMENT FAILS TO RECEIVE SUPPORT

Chautauqua County Executive Vince Horrigan speaking during the Oct. 26 county legislature meeting in Mayville.

One final amendment was put forward during Wednesday Night’s voting session. Legislator Terry Niebel (R-Sheridan) proposed using an additional $300,000 from an Intergovernmental Transfer payment to be used to further reduce property taxes.

Niebel’s reasoning was that the IGT payment came in $2.3 million higher than what was anticipated and as a result, some of that windfall should be used to further reduce the tax rate.

However, that proposal was defeated 16 to 2 – with the majority of lawmakers agreeing that the money should instead be used to build the county’s fund balance, so it can be used to help manage budgets in future years.

Following the vote, Horrigan said he was pleased with the final version of the spending plan and intends to sign off on it on Thursday.

Chautauqua County Executive Vince Horrigan.

MAYVILLE – Chautauqua County Executive Vince Horrigan (R-Bemus Point) has released his executive budget for 2017 and it contain a slight cut in property taxes.

• VIEW HORRIGAN’S 2017 BUDGET PRESENTATION
• VIEW THE 2017 TENTATIVE BUDGET

During Wednesday’s County Legislature Meeting, Horrigan unveiled the tentative $228.9 million spending plan, which contains a 1.6 percent increase in spending over the current year. In addition, the budget calls for a property tax cut of just over half-a-percent – or a rate reduction of 6 cents per thousand assessed value. The current property tax rate is $8.55 per $1000. Under Horrigan’s proposed spending plan, it would drop to $8.49 per $1000.

Among the highlights of the spending plan:

• A 6 cent decrease in the property tax rate;
• Ensures individuals with substance abuse issues same-day access to mental health clinics;
• Implements a countywide paramedic response team;
• Adds part-time correction officers for constant watch prisoners;
• Maintains support for both airports in Jamestown and Dunkirk;
• Allocates $1 million to replace aging DPF equipment;
• Includes funding to purchase in-vehicle cameras for all Sheriff’s Office Vehicles;
• uses $902,000 from the unrestricted fund balance account.

The county legislature will begin reviewing the spending plan next week and will hope to have a final version to act on by the October legislature meeting.

Budget Hearing Calendar

• Wed Oct. 5 at 9 a.m – Public Facilities and Audit & Control Committees Budget Hearing
• Wed Oct. 5 at 1:30 p.m. – Public Safety and Audit & Control Committees Budget Hearing
• Wed Oct. 5 at 4 p.m. – Planning & Economic Development and Audit & Control Committees Budget Hearing

The budget must be approved by Nov. 1.