WRFA’s Julia Ciesla-Hanley speaks with Chautauqua County Executive PJ Wendel about the 2023 County Budget, Opioid Settlement monies, and more.

PJ Wendel

Chautauqua County Legislature Meeting (October 26, 2022)

The Chautauqua County Legislature has approved the 2023 County Budget with a 30-cent tax decrease.

The new property tax rate will be $7.80 per $1,000 assessed value with a real property tax levy of $69,681,835.

There was no change in the approved levy and tax rate from what County Executive PJ Wendel proposed in his budget last month.

The Legislature also approved an emergency resolution regarding the lease of the Jamestown Airport Restaurant.

Airport Manager Shannon Barnhart read a letter from Studio D Catering Owner Diana Scott requesting the lease agreement, “We believe that the Jamestown Airport Restaurant would be a great fit as we expand our private catering, begin to offer grab-and-go breakfast and lunches to more than 150 employees within a three-mile radius of the Airport.”

Studio D Catering has been in operation since 2015 and had lost its lease for its space in downtown Jamestown in 2021. Barnhart said the necessity of the emergency resolution was due to the holiday season starting next month and the catering company’s need for event space.

Chautauqua County Executive PJ Wendel shares details about his proposed 2023 County Budget.

PJ Wendel

County Executive PJ Wendel presents proposed 2023 budget to Chautauqua County Legislature

Chautauqua County Executive PJ Wendel‘s proposed 2023 County budget reduces taxes by 30-cents.

Wendel said this is the third budget proposal he’s made that lowers county taxes.

He said the tax levy has an 4.1% increase, or an increase of $2.7 million, which is the maximum increase allowed by New York State, “But uniquely linked to that, our property tax value also went up 4.1%. So, it’s not like we increased spending frivolously. We increased it, what I feel, is a very moderate rate, taking into consideration the increase in the value of our homes. Along with that, we also saw inflation go up 8.2%. So, although you’re seeing increases in the levy, most, and I’d say the majority, of that, 90% or more, is based on unfunded mandates.”

Wendel said revenues increased by 6.9%. He said that was driven by a $5 million increase in sales tax. State aid also is up 16%, or $6.7 million.

When it comes to expenditures, Wendel said there has been a large increase in the number of full-time employees in County Government, going from 1,319 employees in 2022 to a proposed 1,353 in 2023, “But those, again, a large majority, if not all are funded by revenue or grant fundings. So, one of the goals I had, if you want to increase FTEs (full-time equivalency employees), make sure you have them funded, not ‘Let’s just try to make it happen later,’ but we have the funding as the positions are being created.”

Equipment costs are up 74% or $410,441. The proposed 2023 budget would use $4.5 million of the general fund to go toward $3.6 million in capital projects, $600,000 for a one time bonus for CSEA union members, and $292,000 for repayment of helicopter debt.

Wendel said the capital projects include investments in heavy equipment, the Dunkirk and Jamestown airports; information systems, emergency response systems, and at Jamestown Community College.
He said his goals for the 2023 budget were to present a structurally sound budget, maintain a general fund balance of five to 15% of revenues and present a budget with a tax levy at, or below, the tax levy limit.

An interview with County Executive Wendel on his proposed 2023 County budget can be heard on Community Matters at 5 p.m., September 29 on WRFA.

A public hearing on a potential Restore NY Communities Initiative Grant Application by The White Inn in Fredonia also will take place at tonight’s meeting at 6:35 p.m.

The Legislature’s meeting takes place at 6:30 p.m. in the Legislative Chambers of the Gerace Office Building. The public is welcome to attend and the meeting will be livestreamed on Facebook.

Chautauqua County Executive PJ Wendel discusses the incident at Chautauqua Institution on August 12, 2022 involving the attack on author Salman Rushdie and the County’s response. He also discusses work on the 2023 County Budget, new hires, a retirement, and more.

PJ Wendel