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MAYVILLE – Chautauqua County’s 2022 budget was approved by lawmakers Wednesday night, featuring a property tax and tax levy decrease.
County Executive PJ Wendel presented his budget to the Legislature last month. Since then, the group of lawmakers have reviewed the proposed spending plan, along with how the county should allocate their American Rescue Plan Act funding.
In the approved budget, the property tax rate is 40-cents lower than the current rate. Additionally, the tax levy is over $271,000 lower than the current levy.
As for the $24.6 million in ARPA funding, the group approved 13 resolutions allocating money to purchase property to prepare “shovel-ready sites” in order to better accommodate new businesses in the county, as well as purchase equipment and vehicles for the Department of Public Facilities.
A resolution that would have spent $72,000 to conduct a study on commercial air service at the Jamestown airport failed, however. As Legislator Elisabeth Rankin explains, she feels the money could be spent more wisely.
“I don’t think a study is going to tell us much more, we’ve tried unsuccessfully to bring airlines in, and they haven’t really succeeded,” explained Rankin. “I feel sad to say that, but I don’t think it would be worth the investment.”
Legislators also approved a contract with the Sheriff’s Supervisor’s Association which runs from 2022 to 2025 and includes adjustments to the employee health plan and retiree benefits.
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