Chautauqua County Legislature Meeting 10/28/29

The Chautauqua County Legislature meeting was held October 28, 2026. The Legislature approved the 2027 tentative budget, 10–9, after debate over using $11 million from the unobligated fund balance, tax relief, and future budget pressures. A motion to table the budget failed. A proposed local law concerning management benefits was tabled until a later meeting. The Legislature also approved a resolution authorizing a $250,000 application for New York State Community Development Block Grant funding to support microenterprise businesses; the presentation indicated that $212,500 of the request was intended for the program’s business assistance activities.

Other spending and infrastructure-related actions included approval of federal and state aid applications for the Jamestown Airport’s 2027–2031 capital improvement plan, an amendment to the Portland-Pomfret-Dunkirk sewer district budget for generators at pump stations 1–5, and acceptance of state mental-health grant funds with related budget amendments. The Legislature also authorized a lease for Public Defender office space with the City of Jamestown and a tower-space lease renewal with Verizon Wireless Services LLC. A resolution concerning limits on tax exemptions for data-center projects was referred to committee amid questions about the Legislature’s legal authority; the proposal could affect future incentives for developers. No contract award or competitive bid approval was identified.