Audit & Control Committee Meeting 06/18/26

The Chautauqua County Government Audit & Control Committee met on June 18, 2026, to discuss several budget amendments, contract-related issues, and procurement activities. Key procurement-related discussions included amending the 2026 budget for the County Law Department to add a paralegal position to handle increased contract volume and FOIL requests, with debate over the use of fund balance for this purpose. The committee approved a $39,936 fund balance expenditure for generator replacement at the Portland Perport Dunkirk Sewer District and accepted FAA and New York State DOT funds totaling $230,000 for security gate upgrades at Dunkirk Airport, noting successful bid reductions. They also amended capital project funds for Jamestown Community College and adjusted petty cash funds for DMV offices. Additionally, the committee discussed the management salary schedule and civil service classification complexities, including challenges with state exam processing and the potential for annual CPI-based salary range adjustments via local law. The committee proposed increased legislative involvement in collective bargaining negotiations through executive sessions to set negotiation parameters and improve transparency. Several budget amendments related to mental hygiene and social services safety net costs were debated, with concerns about recurring expenses and fund balance use. Overall, the meeting focused on budget management, staffing needs, capital improvements, and improving procurement and labor negotiation processes.