Budget Hearings Day 5 (Audit & Control Committees) 10/09/26

Chautauqua County Government Audit & Control Committee budget hearing, October 9, 2026: Members reviewed amendments to the 2027 tentative budget, focusing on fund-balance use, the property-tax levy and rising operating costs. The committee approved a $500,500 reduction in the Public Defender’s local-share budget tied to vacancies, while noting that the funding would need to be restored if the positions are filled. Members also approved adding $175,167 in anticipated revenue for the county’s existing MAT program, based on a proposed award. The committee voted to recommend raising the levy to the tax-cap limit and forwarding the amended budget to the full Legislature; the vote to forward it passed with one member opposed. Final discussion cited remaining fund-balance use estimates that varied between roughly $8.7 million and $9.3 million across the scenarios discussed, and a projected tax rate of $5.46 per $1,000, down from $6.17.

Members also discussed, but did not take a procurement vote on, proposed funding for lake maintenance, the National Comedy Center, and exterior work on a county office building. Discussion included whether to continue a $600,000 lake-maintenance allocation, a $200,000 Comedy Center marketing contribution, and options to complete some building work in-house. Salt and fuel costs, safety-net spending, retirement costs, and potential future SNAP-related penalties were raised as budget risks. No contract awards, vendor selections, or bid approvals were identified.