By RICK MILLER
Olean Star
LITTLE VALLEY — Cattaraugus County lawmakers have scheduled a public hearing on the $296.7 million tentative 2026 county budget for 6:31 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 19.
The budget, which was released Nov. 5 by County Administrator and Budget Director Kelly Reed, includes a $60.4 million tax levy, up about $1.5 million.
The full value tax rate in the tentative budget is $8.15 per $1,000, down 1.76%, the lowest since 1983, according to the county administrator.
The budget calls for the elimination of 84 positions across 10 departments. A majority of the positions are vacant, but 22 are currently filled. Reed said she expects all of about five of 22 county employees impacted by the cuts to find other county jobs.
Legislative committees are scheduled to meet Monday and Tuesday to review sections of the budget in the departments they oversee.
The Labor Relations and Human Services committees will meet Monday at 3 and 3:15 p.m. respectively. On Tuesday, the Development and Agriculture Committee will meet at 3 p.m., followed by County Operations/Public Safety at 3:30 and Public Works at 4 o’clock.
The Finance Committee will approve the actions of the other committees when it meets at 4 p.m. Wednesday. The special legislative meeting follows at 6 o’clock in the James J. Snyder Legislative Chamber on the third floor of the County Center.
The budget includes the proposed $32.9 million capital program for 2026. All but about $4 million is dedicated to county roads, bridges and culverts. To fund the capital package, a $6.5 million bond program has been proposed.
The county has $18.3 million in available capital funds, $1.6 million in close-out funding, $4 million in CHIPS funds, $957,241 from Pave NY, $611,996 in winter recovery funds and $638,160 from Pave Our Potholes.
Non-road capital funding includes $2.2 million for Buildings and Grounds, $50,000 each for the Pines Olean and Machias campuses and $331,200 for information technology projects that include email licensing and patch management.
This is the first budget since 1991 not to use fund balance or surplus to reduce the tax levy. Last year, $2.7 million from the fund balance was used to reduce the tax levy.
To join the special legislative meeting on the 2026 budget by telephone Wednesday, dial 1-408-418-9388. The access code for the call is 173 568 3119 (followed by #).
The tentative budget is on the county’s website at www.cattco.org or by copying and pasting in your browser: chrome-extension://efaidnbmnnnibpcajpcglclefindmkaj/https://www.cattco.gov/sites/default/files/2025-11/2026-Tentative-Budget-v20251106.pdf
The tentative 2026 town and city tax rates were also released with the tentative budget. The tentative 2026 tax rate and percent increase are:
Allegany — $12.53, 0.25%
Ashford — $8.14, -1.74%
Carrollton — $14.54, 5.28%
Coldspring — $8.14, -1.83%
Conewango — $19.86, -0.51%
Dayton – $9.41, 2.26%
East Otto – $8.14, -1.7%
Ellicottville — $15.22, 0.10%
Farmersville — $8.14, -1.75%
Franklinville — $8.15, -1.7%
Freedom — $8.31, 0.24%
Great Valley — $8.14, -38.09%
Hinsdale — $13.57, 5.4%
Humphrey — $13.80, 4.9%
Ischua — $13.57, 4.87%
Leon — $12.72, -2.88%
Little Valley — $20.36, 10.57%
Lyndon — $13.35, 9.59%
Machias — $8.85 6.78%
Mansfield — $10.11, 6.01%
Napoli — $8.14, -1.72%
New Albion — $8.14, -1.76%
Olean (City) — $11.47, 2.47%
Olean (Town) — $16.29, -3.76%
Otto — $8.14, -1.72%
Perrysburg — $8.14, -1.73%
Persia — $8.14, -1.7%
Portville —$14.54, 3.51%
Randolph — $16.45, 6.20%
Red House — $8.14, -1.76%
Salamanca (City) — $74.17, 5.9%
Salamanca (Town) — $13.35, 3.1%
South Valley — $16.97, 6.43%
Yorkshire — $74.07, -1.75%
