Budget Hearings Day 3 Part 1 (Planning& Economic Dev. and Audit & Control Committees) 10/07/26

Chautauqua County’s Planning and Economic Development budget hearing on October 7, 2026, reviewed the tentative 2027 budget; the transcript does not include the Audit & Control Committee portion. The proposed countywide budget holds the tax levy level with no increase from 2026. The department budget rises about 40%, primarily reflecting proposed allocations of $250,000 to the Partnership for Economic Growth and $600,000 to the Chautauqua Lake Fund, up from $500,000. The committee also discussed a $200,000 county contribution to help the National Comedy Center match a Market New York grant. Existing agency contracts—including Cornell Cooperative Extension, the Fair Association, the Chamber of Commerce, the library system, SBDC, IDA, and Soil and Water—are generally budgeted for 3% increases; Soil and Water has an additional $20,000 increase. No budget vote or contract award is recorded, and staff agreed to provide committee members with operating-budget information for the Partnership and Comedy Center.

Capital and planning items included $125,000 toward the match and due diligence for the Eagle Bay Greenfield development site, intended to assess its development suitability and readiness; a proposed Complete Streets investment of roughly $135,000–$150,000 to help leverage nearly $2 million in state funding for the Millard Fillmore/Vineyard Drive corridor; and an off-highway vehicle strategy study for which staff said an RFP was being prepared for release. The county also discussed using economic-development funds to help municipalities plan projects and meet grant-match requirements, noting that prior county support had helped leverage outside funding. No procurement award or motion was identified.