By RICK MILLER
Olean Star
LITTLE VALLEY — The Cattaraugus County Legislature’s Finance Committee unanimously approved the $293.7 million tentative 2025 budget on Wednesday with minor housekeeping changes.
The $58.9 million tax levy, or amount to be collected by property taxes, which is up 2.36%, remains unchanged as does the full value tax rate of $8.29, down 7.2%.
A public hearing on the tentative budget will be held at 5 p.m. Tuesday in the Legislative Chamber on the third floor of the County Center, here. Country lawmakers will vote on the budget after the public hearing.
Finance Committee Chairman Michael Brisky, R-Franklinville, said overall, this budget was more difficult than previous budgets driven largely by a $2.1 million increase in state mandated services.
Majority Whip Donald Benson, R-Allegany, who is also a member of the Finance Committee, said mandates make up 79% of the county budget today as compared to 69% 10 years ago.
The Finance Committee separately approved a $25.9 million capital program for 2025 — $20.7 million for roads and bridges and $5.1 million for buildings and grounds projects.
In 2024, the county is retiring $5.8 million in debt and taking on $4.4 million in new debt. The county has $13.7 million in available funds set aside toward the $25.9 million capital program, Brisky said.
Other funding sources include $1.21 million in project closeouts, $3.7 million in Consolidated Highway Improvement Program (CHIPS) funding, $957,000 from PAVE NY, $611,000 from the Extreme Weather Recovery program and $638,000 from PAVE our Potholes program.
The tentative budget presented by County Administrator Jack Searles on Nov. 6 includes a $120,000 loan to the City of Olean for Olean Area Transportation Service (OATS) buses and a $300,000 administrative fee to Allegany County for OATS administration.
Searles said the budget contains “flat” sales tax revenues of $24.3 million and the tax levy is up $1.2 million. The county is looking at a loss of revenue from the Tobacco Settlement, $50,000 from WNY Off Track Betting and $1 million from state casino revenues. Another $715,000 in revenue is coming from a prescription drug settlement and $234,392 is set aside for the contingency account.
The 2025 full value tax rotate will be $8.29 per $1,000, a drop of 65 cents, or 7.29%. The tentative tax levy of $58.9 million is up 2.36%.
The budget uses $2.7 million from the fund balance or surplus to reduce the tax levy.
