By RICK MILLER
Olean Star
LITTLE VALLEY — Cattaraugus County lawmakers received a $239.7 million tentative budget Wednesday that cuts 14 jobs — mostly kitchen staff at the Pines Nursing Home in Machias.
The tentative budget cuts 13 kitchen staff at Machias plus a full-time typist in the County Treasurer’s office. In addition, all positions that were budgeted but have gone unfilled for a year, were removed from the budget. Twenty-six part-time and 22 full-time positions are being removed from the budget. The net county savings from cutting the 48 positions is $1.7 million.
A reorganization of the County Youth Bureau is also part of the budget, with no layoffs or cuts in service. The Youth Bureau will be split up into the Social Services Department, Probation and the Department of Aging and Youth Services.
The 2025 tentative budget, up just under $3 million from the current $290.8 million, includes a 2.3% increase in the property tax levy to $58.9 million.
The full value tax rate of $8.29 is down 65 cents, or 7.2%. It is the sixth consecutive year the tax rate has gone down. County Administrator Jack Searles said the state’s equalization rate is responsible for increased property values across the county. Property values increased 10.4% in 2024, the second consecutive year of substantial growth. Both cities and all but one of the 32 towns saw year-over-year growth this year.
The budget includes a $25.9 million capital program for the county’s road, bridges, culverts and buildings. It will be funded by a $4.4 million bond or bond anticipation note, available funds and county and state allocations.
The budget also uses $2.7 million from the county’s undesignated fund balance or surplus to support the general fund and $1.6 million in surplus from the Pines Nursing Home in Olean to support the Machias Pines, which does not have a surplus.
Both nursing homes are owed millions in delayed Intergovernmental Transfer (IGT) payments going back two years. This budget includes $3.8 million for matching funds for $7.7 million in additional IGT funds.
One of the many challenges facing the tentative budget is the decision by Searles to keep 2025 sales tax revenues flat. Sales tax projections are $21.9 million from the general sales tax and $13.8 million from the additional 1% sales tax earmarked for county roads and bridges.
Based on this year’s sales tax receipts, which are meeting, but not exceeding budget expectations, Searles said he could not “in good conscience” increase sales tax projections for 2025.
While uncertainty continues to linger of Tribal Contract revenues from the state, Searles said the county is conservatively budgeting $1 million for county property tax loss for properties in Salamanca purchase by tax exempt Native Americans.
Gov. Kathy Hochul recently announced the state’s advance payment of casino slot machine revenue to the City of Salamanca and Cattaraugus County. Seneca and state representatives continue negotiations for a new gaming compact, which is being extended quarterly by the state.
Eleven state mandates cited by Searles — from Medicaid and pensions (over 55%) to early child intervention/early care to youth detention/juvenile delinquency (about ¾ of 1%) add up to $46.6 million. That is a $2.1 million increase over 2024 that adds up to 79.1% of the tax levy, the county administrator pointed out.
This, Searles said, diminishes the amount of resources available for other county projects and initiatives.
Funding for the Olean Area Transportation System (OATS) is included in the budget, Searles said in his message to county legislators.
Olean city officials came to the county last March asking the county to take over the OATS bus service. Partners with the city include St. Bonaventure University, InTandem, the city of Salamanca and the Seneca Nation. The county issued a statement in April saying it was working with OATS partners to continue the service. Since 2008, the county has contributed $25,000 a year toward the OATS bus service.
Searles did not disclose details of the OATS funding, but said Legislature Chairman Andrew Burr, R-Gowanda, was active in the negotiations.
The issue is due to come up Nov. 18 when the County Legislature’s Human Services Committee meets at 3:45 p.m. to review portions of the budget it oversees. The Labor Relations Committee meets that same day at 3:30 p.m.
On Nov. 18, the Development and Agriculture Committee, the County Operations/Public Safety Committee and the Public Works Committee meet beginning at 3 p.m. The Finance Committee meets Nov. 20 following regular committee meetings.
A budget hearing is scheduled for 5 p.m. Nov. 26, followed by the adoption of the budget.
Burr commended Searles and his staff and department heads for their parts in preparing the 2025 county budget over the past months.
Nearly three-quarters of the 32 towns and two cities will see their tax rates drop in the 2025 budget.
This budget chart shows municipalities, their tentative 2025 tax rate (per $1,000) and the increase or decrease:
Allegany — $12.50, -0.70%
Ashford — $8.29, -7.28%
Carrollton — $13.81, 3.62%
Coldspring — $8.29, -7.3%
Conewango — $19.97, -7.25%
Dayton – $9.21, -6.26%
East Otto – $8.29, -7.29%
Ellicottville — $15.21, 10.58%
Farmersville — $8.29, -38.66%
Franklinville — $8.29, -58.26%
Freedom — $8.29, -7.25%
Great Valley — $13.16, 5.97%
Hinsdale — $12.95, 1.4%
Humphrey — $13.16 1.55%
Ischua — $12.951.42%
Leon — $12.37, -8.4%
Little Valley — $18.42, -0.97%
Lyndon — $12.19, -0.46%
Machias — $8.29, -7.25%
Mansfield — $10.11, 0.63%
Napoli — $8.92, -7.17%
New Albion — $8.29, -7.25%
Olean (City) — $11.20, -2.23%
Olean (Town) — $16.93, 6.19%
Otto — $8.29, -7.29%
Perrysburg — $8.29, -7.21%
Persia — $8.29, -7.17%
Portville —$14.05, 3.73%
Randolph — $15.49, -2.96%
Red House — $8.29, -7.29%
Salamanca (City) — $70.68, -0.91%
Salamanca (Town) — $12.95, -2.95%
South Valley — $15.94, 3.4%
Yorkshire — $75.39, -7.24%
