# Budget Hearings Day 1 Part 2 (Human Services and Audit & Control Committees) 10/05/26

Chautauqua County’s October 5, 2026 budget hearing for Human Services and Audit & Control committees reviewed 2027 budgets for Veterans Services, Office for Aging, and the Health Department. Veterans Services reported a $21,713 decrease in local share with staffing and services unchanged; officials discussed the county van’s declining use and likely replacement needs but made no purchasing decision. The Health Department proposed a 4.61% increase in local share, including use of $450,000 in opioid settlement funds, down from $750,000. Officials discussed jail nursing vacancies and potential travel-nurse costs of $82 per hour, as well as possible future wage comparisons; no salary or staffing procurement action was approved.

The Health Department also described an existing contract with NMS Labs for toxicology testing, which allows more cases to be handled locally and is expected to reduce medical-examiner costs of roughly $2,700–$3,000 per decedent. Other budget pressures included laptop replacements, rising mandated preschool special-education tuition and transportation costs (reported at 9–12% annual increases), and expiring or changing grant funding. No new contract award or procurement vote was identified; the only recorded motion was to adjourn.

**Jurisdictions:** sled
**Industries:** Healthcare, Public Safety, Education
**Topics:** Grants & Funding
**Published:** October 05, 2026

### Sources
- [Budget Hearings Day 1 Part 2 (Human Services and Audit & Control Committees) 10/05/26](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vn8aciJEClg) - Chautauqua County Government